At the beginning of the 13th century, the King of Castile, Alfonso VIII, formed a great alliance with the Kings of Aragon and Navarra to confront the Almohads. This alliance defeated the Muslims in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212. From this moment on, the Crowns of Aragon and Castile made a great advance so that during the 14th century only the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada remained.

The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212 was a major battle in the Reconquista. The Almohads experienced a severe defeat by the Christian armies from Castile, Navarre, Aragon and Portugal.

Alfonso VIII of Castile in conjunction with the archbishop of Toledo obtained a proclamation of Crusade from Pope Innocent III to form an international army to battle the Muslims. Due to the support of French bishops, French knights and Knights Templars came to Toledo where they united to armies of Aragon, Castile and Portugal. Some non-Spanish troops soon returned home but recruited forces from Navarre joined the Christian army.

The Almohads tried to cut off the Christian advance at the plain of Las Navas de Tolosa. With the help of a shepherd, who directed the Christians to an alternative route, the Christians surprised the Almohads.

Using a well-planned strategy, the Christian army defeated the Almohads. Next, Alfonso VIII took Ubeda and Baeza. The important effects of the defeat were seen in 1233 when the Almohad empire disintegrated due to succession problems and the lack of a leader.

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