Alarcos in History

A Battle between an alliance of Almohads led by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur and some Castilian cavalry led by Pedro Fernendez de Castro versus King Alfonso VIII King of Castille

Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur lands at Tarifa, crooses the Sevilla province the main Almohad army reached Cordoba on June 30, reinforced by the few troops raised by the local governors and by a Christian cavalry contingent under Pedro Fernendez de Castro

Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur lands at Tarifa, crooses the Sevilla province the main Almohad army reached Cordoba on June 30, reinforced by the few troops raised by the local governors and by a Christian cavalry contingent under Pedro Fernendez de Castro

The Almohad host came in view, Alfonso found himself outnumbered but rashly formed his army next day, offering battle, instead of retreating towards Talavera, which the Leonese troops had already reached

A Battle between an alliance of Almohads led by Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur and some Castilian cavalry led by Pedro Fernendez de Castro versus King Alfonso VIII King of Castille

Determined to bar the enemy access to the rich Tagus valley, and in his haste he did not wait for the reinforcements the King's Alfonso IX of Leon and Sancho of Navarra.

For the next two years, al-Mansurs forces devastated Extremadura, the Tagus valley, La Mancha and even the area around Toledo.

Suffers a heavy defeat. Fortunately for the Christians Abu Yusuf Yaqub al-Mansur moves back to Sevilla to make good his own considerable losses; there he takes the title of al-Mansur Billah (Made victorious by God).