The Hafsid empire had undergone a temporary…
1402 CE
The Hafsid empire had undergone a temporary decline in the fourteenth century.
Although the Hafsids had succeeded for a time in subjugating the empire of the Abdalwids of Tlemcen, between 1347 and 1357 it had been twice conquered by the Marinids in Morocco.
These however could not defeat the Bedouin, so that the Hafsids had been able to regain their empire.
As at the same time, epidemics of plague had caused a considerable fall in population, further weakening Hafsid rule.
Under the Hafsids, piracy against Christian shipping has grown stronger in the fourteenth century, particularly under Abd al-Aziz II, who had become caliph in 1394.
The profits are used for a great building program and for the support of art and culture.
However, piracy also provokes retaliation from Aragon and Venice, which several times attack Tunisian coastal cities.