A noble knight from Leon, Don Suero de Quinones, had been rejected by his target of amor. This is not surprising since the rules of courtly love required a knight to seek an impossible lover, either already married or well above his station. The rejection caused him to put on an iron collar of enslavement to his impossible love. He then threw down a gauntlet to any knight who would dare pass over the bridge. He would prevent passage across the bridge and his honor against all comers. The king authorized that this challenge should be promoted. Knights from all over Europe arrived to take up Don Sueno’s challenge.