Arab geographer. With his real name Alhasan ben Mohammed Alvazas Alfasi. Born in Granada. When the city was besieged by the Spanish troops in 1491, his parents left for Morocco, where their son received a good education in Fez. From his 16th year on he travelled throughout the Moslim world. Taken prisoner by Christian privateers near the Tripolis coast in 1517, he was presented to Pope Leo X, who got interested in him and had him christianized as Joannes Leo. What happened to 'Leon l'Africain' after the death of Leo X is not certain. It is possible that he returned to Tunisia.