In Leo's days, Ceuta was a Portuguese city and a great threat to the Sultan of Fes. Captured by the Portuguese in 1415, the city retained its strategic value (at the mouth of the Gibraltar Strait), but lost most of its commercial value, as caravans no longer traveled there. Here is Leo's description of Ceuta:

"Sebta is a great town. The Romans called it "Civitas". The Portuguese call it Seupta. It was built by the Romans, near the Pillars of Hercules. (...) Over the years, Sebta grew in beauty and wealth, and soon became the greatest and most beautiful town of Mauritania [North Africa]. It had many mosques and universities, many craftsmen, wise men and people of culture."
"Looking out from the city, one can see the coast of Granada. You can even spot animals, as the distance separating both coasts is less than 12 miles."
"But the city was quite devastated by Habdulmamen, a Sultan which it had offended. It was also invaded by the Sultan of Granada, who pillaged it and brought all the wealthy and talented people to Granada. Again, in 818 [1415], the city was destroyed, this time by the King of Portugal. The inhabitants waited for the King of Fes to come and retaliate, but being a coward, he never did. When he heard the news, he was attending a party, and asked that the festivities be not disturbed!" (Leo, 267)