Rise of the Wattasid Dynasty in Morocco (1485)

Timeline

1. 1485Fez · MoroccoThe Wattasid family had served as governors of the Rif region in eastern Morocco since the late 13th century; in 1472 Muhammad ibn Yahya defeated the Wattasid rival Jutay ibn Zayyan and established an independent sultanate, ruling northern Morocco from Fez and replacing the declining Marinid dynasty.
2. 1485Alboran Sea coast · Western MediterraneanIn 1485 the Wattasid Sultanate and Castile reached an agreement: Morocco would not aid the Kingdom of Granada against reconquest, and Spain promised not to capture Moroccan merchant ships in the Alboran Sea. The treaty reflected the Wattasids' pragmatic diplomacy to safeguard maritime trade and regime security amid the expansion of Christian powers.
3. 1485Moroccan Atlantic coast · MoroccoDespite the tacit understanding with Spain, Portugal continued to expand its power along the Moroccan coast. Around 1485, while consolidating domestic affairs, the Wattasid regime had to face military pressure from multiple Portuguese strongholds, laying the groundwork for later conflicts such as the 1489 Siege of Graciosa.