Out of all Spanish nationalities, the Andalusians were the most represented, and one particular ethnic group, the Basques were present in main cities like Bogota, though Castilians are influential in the administration of the then Spanish colony of New Granada.
Subsequently Jean de Béthencourt was proclaimed king of the Canaries by Pope Innocent VII, even though he recognized the Castilians as overlords.
Rueda is a rather common name in several places in Spain, but Rueda de Jalón had been always a pivotal center to control and to close, eventually, access by the Castilians to the river Ebro, through the river Jalón, whose sources, located near Medinaceli area, a Castilian area, provided water and fodder for the brisky trade outspots along the river, heavily populated by Muslim farmers and Jewish traders and money changing quarters.
His objective was to occupy and reinforce the strongholds of Mérida and Medellín, controlled by Beatriz Pacheco, Countess of Medellin and supporter of Afonso V. According to Palencia, the Portuguese army was composed of about 1,000 Knights (of which 250 were Castilians), plus infantry.
At the beginning of 1361, the Castilians conquered the fortresses of Verdejo, Torrijos, Alhama, and other places.