The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa took place in 1212 and was an important turning point in the medieval history of Spain. In 1211, the Almohad caliph, Muhammad al-Nasir, had invaded the Christian territory with a powerful army. He wanted to conquer Rome. The threat was so great for the Christian kingdoms that Pope Innocent III called European knights to a crusade. The Christians crossed the mountain range that defended the Almohad base. The Caliph had his tent surrounded with a bodyguard of negro warriors who were chained together as a defense. The Navarrese cavalry led by King Sancho VII broke through this bodyguard.
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