Abu Zayyan Ahmad II

أبو زيان أحمد الثاني

The Zayyanid ruler of Tlemcen; raised to power with Ottoman support but — in al-Salabi's telling — drawn by foreign intrigue toward the Spanish, so the people resolved to depose him for his brother al-Hasan. He sought Oran's help, pledging loyalty; the governor sent an army joined by the Spanish-subject tribes under al-Mansur b. Bu Ghannam, but Hasan b. Khayr al-Din barred his restoration 1.

Depth

At a glance

Roles
Ruler
Era
The Gunpowder Empires
Region
Maghreb
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Summary

The Zayyanid ruler of Tlemcen, raised to power with Ottoman support 1.

The turn to Spain

Al-Salabi says foreign intrigues drew him close to Spain; the people, hating him, resolved to depose him and acclaim his brother al-Hasan. He went to Oran seeking Spanish help with pledges of loyalty; the governor sent an army joined by the Spanish-subject tribes — Bani 'Amir, Fulitta and Bani Rashid — under al-Mansur b. Bu Ghannam, but Hasan b. Khayr al-Din barred his restoration 1.

Connections

Explore the connections

Ruler of
Tlemcen
Opposed
Hasan b. Khayr al-Din Barbarossa
Sibling of
al-Hasan al-Zayyani

People and things also explored

al-Hasan al-Zayyani· Tlemcen· Battle of Mostaganem (965/1558)· the Sa'di attack on Tlemcen (963/1556)· Great Siege of Malta (973/1565)· Siege of Tlemcen by Abu Ya'qub the Marinid· Siege of Oran and Mers El Kébir (971/1563)· Abd al-Aziz b. Abbas

Sources

  1. al-Dawla al-Uthmaniyya — Ali Muhammad al-Salabi (2001) , p. 230
  • al-Alam — al-Zirikli
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Abu Zayyan Ahmad II”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/abu-zayyan-ahmad/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Wing

People

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Related

al-Hasan al-Zayyani

Brother of Abu Zayyan Ahmad II, whom the people of Tlemcen acclaimed in his stead for the other's leanings to Spain; backed by Hasan b. Khayr al-Din he acknowledged Ottoman authority, an Ottoman garrison remaining at al-Mashwar castle.