In 1063, Fernando I of Leon sent his son, the infante Sancho to the aid of his vassal, Ahmad al-Muqtadir, king of the Taifa of Zaragoza when his city of Graus was being besieged by the forces of Ramiro I of Aragon.

To appease public support, Ahmad al-Muqtadir stopped paying his vassal tribute to the Kingdom of León.

King Fernando responded in 1065 by launching an expedition into the valley of the Ebro River, devastating the land and defeating al-Muqtadir, once again forcing him into a vassal state.

At Paterna, approximately five kilometers from Valencia on the left bank of the Turia, the Leonese troops set an ambush for the pursuing forces.

[2] The poet Abu Ishaq al-Tarasuní related the occurrences of the battle in the following verses translated from Spanish: "The Christians were clad in bright armour, but ye were arrayed in silken robes of various colours.