Leo notes

Pirate notes

Cristel notes

Leo's main concern with Asilah (Arzilla) is its place in the wars that opposed the Sultan of Fes Mohammed the Portuguese, and the King of Portugal:

"Arzilla was built by the Romans on the coast, 70 miles from the Pillars of Hercules and 140 miles from Fez. This town was part of the Kingdom of Ceuta, tributary to the Romans. Later, it was invaded by the Goths, until the Muslims took hold of it in the year 94 of the Hegira [713]. They kept it for 220 years, until the English took it by surprise, with the help of the Goths.Though English and Goths were ennemies as the Goths were Christian while the English were pagan, the Goths wanted to chase the Muslims out of Europe. The British captured
the city and destroyed it. Arzilla remained empty and ruined for thirty years, until the Sultan of Cordoba rebuilt it. Its people became tremendously wealthy, educated and good warriors.
                  
                       Streets of Asilah

The country around it is rich in grain and fruit. But the city is 10 miles from the mountain, so there is very little wood and people use coal, which they bring from Lharais [Larache].

In 882 [1471], the town was attacked and made captive by the Portuguese. Its people were all taken to Portugal as slaves. Amongst them was Mohammed, the present Sultan of Fes. He was only seven years old at the time, and was captured along with one of his sisters. In those days, their father was leading a rebellion in the province of Habat, and living in Arzilla.

After the fall of Habdaluc, last Merinide Sultan, his murderer Es-Serif was made Sultan by the people of Fes. His authority was questioned by a certain Saic Abra, who claimed to be the legitimate Sultan. Es-Serif,                         Canons pointing towards the ocean
counselled by his closest advisers, and cousin of Saic, exiled the latter from Fes. Later, he sent his advisor to the province of Temesna to help pacify its population. During that time, Saic returned to Fes with an army of 8000 men. He set siege to Fes el Djedid [The 'new' Fes] and after a year, successfully entered thanks to the help of the population who could not endure the siege any longer. Es-Serif and his family fled to Tunis. It was during Saic's siege that the King of Portugal attacked Arzilla.

The present Sultan and his sister were taken to Portugal. He stayed there 7 years, and learnt to speak the language. Finally, his father bought him back. This is why they now call him Sultan Mohammed the Portuguese. Many of time he has tried to avenge himself by attempting to seize Arzilla from the Portuguese.

The first time he took the city by surprise. He destroyed a large part of the walls, entered the city and freed many of the Moorish slaves. But the Chistians locked themselves up in the castle and stayed there until Pierre Navarro came with several ships. He chased the Sultan out of the city, obliging him even the leave the area. Since then, the Portuguese have fortified the city.
                          The city walls

The Sultan tried two or three other times. But all think this to be lunacy for there is no way to take the city with an army.

I was present for each of the Sultan's attacks on Arzilla. I saw that we incurred more than 500 deaths at each attempt. These attempts all took place between the year 914 and 921 of the Hegira [1509 to 1515]." (Leo, 260)

                                                                    Inside the city walls