The nobles of Salamanca, motivated by the victory of Rodrigo over the Almoravids at the Battle of Aljarafe decided to raid the Almoravid territory near the city of Badajoz. When the Salamancas arrived at Badajoz, they looted the settlements taking both valuables and livestock; they murdered citizens and took others captive; they destroyed structures, orchards and agricultural fields. When Tasfin bin Ali, the governor of Cordoba, learned of the raid, he assembled an army and struck out to confront the raiders. Tashfin’s force caught up with the raiders late in the day, east of Badajoz, close to the Sagrajas Hills at a site where his grandfather had previously
defeated the Castilians. In preparation for a battle the next morning, Tashfin organized his troops with Zenata Berbers in the front, Andalusian forces on the flanks, and Almoravid troops in the center. Confronted with the upcoming battle with the Almoravids army the next morning, many of the Salamancan nobility in the raiding party fled during the night. The next morning a battle ensued and the Salamancans were soundly defeated with only a small number of the raiders surviving the massacre. The Almoravids captured the Salamancan camp intact which allowed them to recover the looted materials and livestock. It was also reported that Tashfin liberated the captives that had been taken by the Salamancans although other reports claim that the captives were executed before the battle took place. == Aftermath ==