years of shifting alliances between England and Morocco, related to European conflicts, trade issues, Barbary Coast pirates and the exchange of captives. One of the high points of these contacts occurred in 1720–21, when English ambassadors John Windus and Commodore Hon. Charles Stewart visited Morocco. They succeeded in signing a diplomatic treaty with Morocco for the first time, and returned home with 296 released British slaves. Moroccan ambassadors were again sent to England in 1726 ("Mahomet" and "Bo-ally"), and in 1727 a new treaty was signed by John Russel with Mulay Ismail's successor. A further treaty was signed by John Drummond-Hay in 1865. Impact on literature These intense relations between England and Morocco are thought to have had a direct impact on the literary productions of the age in England, especially the works of Shakespeare, or The Battle of Alcazar by George Peele. These contacts possibly influenced the creation of the characters of Shylock, or the Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice. It has even been suggested that the figure of Abd el-Ouahed ben Messaoud may have inspired the character of Shakespeare's Moorish hero Othello. See also Morocco–United Kingdom relations List of Ambassadors of Morocco to the United Kingdom Islam and Protestantism Islam in England Notes References Khalid Ben Srhir, Malcolm Williams, Gavin Waterson Britain and Morocco during the embassy of John Drummond Hay, 1845-1886 Routledge, 2005 Jamil M. Abun-Nasr A history of the Maghrib in the Islamic period Cambridge University Press, 1987 Gustav Ungerer Portia and the Prince of Morocco, in Shakespeare Studies Vol XXXI Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1983 Elizabethan era Morocco–United Kingdom relations 16th century in England 17th century in England 16th century in Morocco 17th century in Morocco