The victory of Aliatar in the siege of Loja in July 1482 served to consolidate in the throne his son-in-law: the young Sultan Boabdil. While the astonishing release of Aliatar in November of that year seemed to give the impression that Allah was supporting the political faction formed by Boabdil, the sultan mother – Axia – the Abencerrage’s clan and Aliatar himself in the civil war of Granada. The deposed Sultan Muley Hacen and his brother El Zagal – father and uncle of Boabdil – were supported by the other rival group of the Abencerrages: the clan of the Zegríes. In the winter of 1483, Muley Hacen’s army also succeeded in defeating the Christian troops of the Catholic Monarchs; which occurred in the mountainous area of the Axarquía region of Malaga (to the northeast of the current province, in the area between Archidona and Frigiliana), that was part of the Muslim territory controlled by the Zegríes.
The news about the victory of Muley Hacen, upon arriving in Granada, was a great popular jubilation; so the fallen spirit of the people of Granada was filled with hope; the good news was especially celebrated by the Zegríes of the city, enemies of Boabdil and the Abencerrages. To regain popularity in Granada, the young Boabdil decided to prove that he was a military commander as good as his father; thus preparing to gather enough forces to defeat the Christians.