After the Umayyad victory at the Battle of Guadalete and the death of King Roderic, the Visigothic kingdom was torn apart by internal conflicts.

To prevent the Visigoths from reuniting, Tariq ibn Ziyad decided to strike the capital, Toledo, while also dispatching several units to capture other cities.

Tariq dispatched a Byzantine convert from north Africa named Mughith al-Rumi to capture Córdoba.

[5][6] The governor and his men escaped towards a church called San Acisclo, which was fortified like a citadel and had supplies that could last a long time.

Frustrated with no results, Mughith decided to send one of his slaves to enter the garden of the church and hide behind shrubs to capture one of the goths.

The Umayyads managed to breach the citadel and slay the entire garrison, and, by the end of October, the Muslims now controlled Córdoba.