[6] In 88 BC Lucius Cornelius Sulla marched his legions on Rome, starting a period of civil wars.

After the death of Lucius Cornelius Cinna and Gaius Marius, Sertorius lost faith with his faction's leadership.

[7] Unfortunately his faction, the Marians, lost the war in Italy right after his departure and in 81 BC Sulla sent Gaius Annius Luscus with several legions to take the Iberian provinces from Sertorius.

Threatened by Sertorius' success the Senate in Rome upgraded Hispania Ulterior to a proconsular province and sent the proconsul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius with a large army to fight him.

Sertorius wanted to prevent Pompey from linking up with Metellus and also punish Lauron for siding with his opponents.

He ordered his men to concentrate on the forage parties in the nearby areas but to leave the Pompeians in the more distant tracts.

The charge broke the Roman battle line and routed the entire foraging party, which ran for the safety of Pompey's camp.

At this point the Sertorian cavalry was unleashed and started riding down the fleeing Pompeians, turning the rout into a massacre.

Furthermore a squadron of 250 cavalry had set out for Pompey's camp the moment the opening attack started and were now working their way back, killing every Pompeian they encountered.

[17] When Pompey became aware of his foragers' predicament, he sent one of his legates, Decimus Laelius, with his legion to cover his men's retreat.

If, on the other hand, he would advance on Sertorius then his retreating force would probably be destroyed and he still would have to fight an uphill battle, this seriously increased the odds of Pompey's army suffering a crippling defeat.

[19] The battle was spectacular victory but not a decisive one, for Pompey and his army remained a force to be reckoned with and Sertorius had to withdraw when Metellus arrived on the scene.