In March 1173, a Castilian army led by Count Sancho Jiminez left the city of Ávila and crossed the River of Guadalquivir.

[4][5] News of this raid reached Seville and an Almohad army was dispatched to face the Castilians led by Abu Zakariya Yahya alongside his brother, Abu Ibrahim Ismail, and Arab knights.

Meanwhile, Sancho was watching from his tent the battle at the top of the mountain, encouraging his soldiers to fight.

The victory encouraged the Almohads to launch a successful raid with a force of 4,000 cavalry into Castile.

The first was Count Nuno de Lara, governor of Toldeo, then Alfonso VIII of Castile, and Afonso I of Portugal.