Abd al-Malek won over his rival at the battle of ar-Rukn, also er-Roken. Mulay Muhammed fled to Marrakesh and would continue resisting Abd al-Malek for a long time. Abd al-Malek entered Fez victoriously in March 1576. Abd al-Malek recognized the Ottoman sultan Murad III as his Caliph, and reorganized his army on Ottoman lines and adopted Ottoman customs, but negotiated for the Ottoman troops to leave his country, in exchange for a large payment in gold. These events left the Ottomans in a very strong position in the Maghreb, becoming a direct threat the Spanish heartland.