The first Wattasid Sultan, Abu Abd Allah al-Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Mahdi, had controlled only the northern part of Morocco as the Wattasid sultanate, the south being dominated by the Saadi dynasty.

Under the regent Abu al Hasan Abu Hasun, the Wattasids, are able with Ottoman help to conquer Fes once more in 1554, but this conquest is short-lived.

With the final victory of the Saadi and the death of Abu al Hasan, the war is decided in favor of the southerners.