The Marinid dynasty in North Africa, which had established itself in Morocco in the mid-13th century, expanded its influence in the early 14th century. They began to involve themselves more directly in the Iberian Peninsula, aligning with the Emirate of Granada and confronting Christian kingdoms. This expansion led to increased contact and conflict along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.

The Marinid expansion is reflected in the Ghazi literature of North Africa, which praised the jihad against the Christian kingdoms. It also appeared in the Castilian and Portuguese poetry of the Reconquista, which depicted the Marinids as the main Muslim enemy. The cultural and literary exchanges between Marinid North Africa and Spain enriched both traditions.