On October 28, 1339, forces loyal to King Alfonso XI of Castile engaged a Marinid and Granadan army at the Battle of Vega de Pagana, near Alcalá de los Gazules. The Castilians achieved a victory, but the Marinid general Abu Malik, who had reconquered Gibraltar in 1333, was killed in the fighting. The battle was a precursor to the larger and more decisive Battle of Río Salado in 1340, which ended the Marinid threat to Spain.

The Battle of Vega de Pagana was celebrated in Castilian romancero and chronicle poetry, praising Alfonso XI's role in the Reconquista. The death of Abu Malik added a tragic dimension to the narrative, which was later incorporated into ballads and epic poems. This battle contributed to the rich tradition of Spanish frontier poetry that blended chivalric ideals, religious fervor, and the historical memory of the Reconquista.