EL CID

El Cid was the title given to Rodrigo Diaz, a Castilian hero of the eleventh century who came to be the national hero of Spain. The legend of El Cid is best preserved in Cantar de mio Cid, the oldest epic poem in the Spanish language. It tells the tale of a man who was not only a military hero, but also embodied couragous and noble personal characteristics that exemplified the very ideal of chivalry. He loved and protected wife and daughters, and he served his king faithfully in spite of many abuses and opportunties to revolt. He showed great heroism in war, but also magnimity in victory, and was reverenced by his Moorish as well as his Christian subjects.

Cid rose to fame during a very complicated period in Spanish history. Just about the time he was born, the Moorish chieftain Almanzor died, and his Moslem empire broke into dozens of feuding city-states. Likewise, the Christian kingdoms in the north were frequently engaged in civil wars. Ferdinand I of Castile did much to unify the Christians and gain territory from the Moors, but on his death he divided his kingdom among his five children. El Cid began his career serving Ferdinand I, and later Sancho the eldest of his sons. Although El Cid counseled against war, Sancho tried to regain his father's kingdom at the expense of his siblings, and was killed as a result. El Cid then served Alfonso VI, a younger brother. The jealousies and distrust among courtiers which occurred as a result of these civil wars does much to explain El Cid's unfortunate relationship with Alfonso. Although El Cid swore loyalty to him, Alfonso feared and distruted El Cid and treated him badly.

To make matters more complex still, the Moors were just as divided as the Christians, and in addition to the Spanish Moors, ambitious African Moorish chieftains were involved in the mix. During El Cid's long exile from Castile he served Moorish kings as well as Christian ones, and his private army contained warriors both Moors and Christians.

The legend of El Cid, which unfolds during these troublous times, tells stories of his persistant heroism and forbearance. He counsels against war, but fights bravely for his king. He fights champions in single combat to restore his family's honor. When King Alfonso betrays him, he does not return the slight and endures five years of exile with courage and humility. He wins the respect of the Moors as well as the Christians, and conquers the Moorish city of Valencia. As conqueror of Valencia he might have declared himself a king, but instead maintained his loyalty to Alfonso. He might have treated his conquered subjects with cruelty, but instead won their trust. He might have strayed from his wife, but was a faithful husband as well as a loyal subject. The Song of Cid is not just the story of a warrior, but that of an ideal hero of chivalry.

Key events during the life of El Cid:

Year	Event
1040	Birth of Rodrigo to a Castilian noble family.
	Serves as a knight under Ferdinand I of Castile.
1065	Serves Ferdinand's son Sancho of Castile after the death of Ferdinand I.
	Slays the champion of Navarre in single combat.
1072	Sancho killed during the siege of Zamora.
1074	Married to Ximena
1079	Siege of Seville.
1080	Cid is banished from Castile due to jealousy of king courtiers.
	Cid is a soldier of fortune, fighting for and against Moslem kingdoms.
1085	Moslem kingdom of Toledo falls to Alfonso VI.
1092	Conquers the Moorish city of Valencia.
1099	Dies during a battle against the Almoravids.

Book Links
Story of the Cid for Young People  by  C. D. Wilson

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
The Cid Campaedor  in	A Child's History of Spain  by  John Bonner
The Cid Wins his Name  in	Old Time Tales  by  Lawton B. Evans
The Cid  in	Famous Men of the Middle Ages  by  John H. Haaren
Rise of the Christian Kingdoms in	Story of the Greatest Nations: Spain  by  Charles F. Horne
Cid  in	Heroes Every Child Should Know  by  H. W. Mabie
Ruy Diaz, the Cid Campeador  in	Historical Tales: Spanish  by  Charles Morris
Decline of the Moors  in	Spain: A History for Young Readers  by  Frederick A. Ober
Spanish Hero  in	The Discovery of New Worlds  by  M. B. Synge
Cid Captures Valencia  in	European Hero Stories  by  Eva March Tappan

Image Links
El Cid.  in The Story of the Cid For Young People	She greeted him cordially  in The Story of the Cid For Young People	The Cid overcame this knight  in The Story of the Cid For Young People
The Cid waited for Martin and took him by the hand  in The Story of the Cid For Young People	He took him by the mane and led him back to the court  in The Story of the Cid For Young People	And Muno turned to Suero as he lay on the ground, and lifted his spear against him  in The Story of the Cid For Young People

Contemporary	Short Biography
Ferdinand I of Castile	King who unified many of the Christian kingdoms, but split them upon his death.
Sancho of Castile	Eldest son of Ferdiand I, who claimed his entire kingdom.
Alfonso VI	King of Castile, who with his great warrior El Cid, reconquered Toledo from the Moors.
Ximena	Beloved wife of El Cid and mother of his two daughters.