On February 28, 1246, the Treaty of Jaén was signed between King Ferdinand III of Castile and Muhammad I of Granada, the first Nasrid emir. The treaty established a peace between the two kingdoms, defined their border, and made Granada a tributary state of Castile. This agreement allowed the Nasrid dynasty to survive and flourish for the next two and a half centuries, while Castile was free to focus its military efforts on other fronts.

The Treaty of Jaén marked a period of relative stability on the Castilian-Granadan frontier, which fostered cultural and literary exchange between the Christian and Muslim courts. This period saw the flourishing of the Spanish epic and lyric traditions, as well as the translation of Arabic works into Castilian. The treaty's significance is reflected in chronicles and poems of the time, which often celebrated the diplomacy and military prowess of Ferdinand III.