EL CID

CAMPEADOR
 EL CID

 ElCid(El Cid Compeador) (epic of Spain)

 El Cid is a famous Spanish national folk hero and the

embodiment of chivalry and virtue
El – is the Spanish for “the” Cid – is an Arabic title “Sidi” which means
“lord” .Therefore, the title means “The Lord”

Some writers added the epithet “Compeador” which means “Champion”El

Cid Compeador means “The Lord Champion”
 Cantar De Mio Cid

“Cantar de mio Cid” - The most rich source with the facts of his life is
an epic poem “Cantar de mio Cid” written by an unknown author. 
 Characters
King Ferdinand – the ruler of Spain

- father of three sons: Sancho, Alfonso, Garcia , and two daughters: Elvira
and Urraca

King Alfonso – the king who El Cid served for.

Jimena Diaz – spouse of El Cid

- succeeded him as ruler of Valencia
 Setting
The epic took place in Spain somewhere in Castile. This is where El
Cid serves as a knight to King Alfonso. Some parts of the story,
especially El Cid’s exile, happened in the land near the small Moorish
state of Aragon. This is where he recovers his power by having a
Christian-Moorish army that made him able to conquer the city of
Valencia. Most incidents happened in Spain where the real life of the
real man, El Cid, occurred.
 Theme
One of the abiding themes of the poem is loyalty. Despite his unjust
treatment at the hands of King Alfonso, banished from Castile on
trumped-up charges of corruption, El Cid still maintains unswerving
loyalty to his lord and master.
 
 Summary
• He was born Rodrigo (or Ruy) Díaz de Vivar.  Vivar being the town
where he was born.  It is near Burgos.  He was born either in 1040
or 1043. Historians are not sure of the date.  He died in Valencia in
1099.    His name, "El Cid" was given to him by the Moors.  In the
mixture of the Spanish and Arabic language they used, they called
him "As-Sid" (Lord or Chief).  This was pronounced by the
Spaniards as "El Cid", but they themselves actually called him
"Campeador" (Champion).
• El Cid was brought up in the court of King Fernand I and he lived in the
household of the King's eldest son, who was to be the future Sancho II.  In
1065 Fernand I died.  He divided his kingdom among his three sons,
Sancho, Alfonso and Garcia, and his two daughters, Elvira and Urraca. 
(Unlike today, Spain was not one kingdom, but ruled by many kings
including some Arabics.  The kingdom that Fernand left his children was
only a portion of modern day Spain.) Fernand had hoped that his children
would be happy with their lands.  Sancho being the eldest thought that he
should have inherited all of his father's lands.  Sancho first needed to do
battle with the Kingdom of Aragon which was not under control of any of
his family. El Cid proved to be such a help in defeating the Kingdom of
Aragon that he was named Commander of the Royal Armies.  At this time
he was only about 23 years old. 
• About 1070 Sancho began his war against his brothers and sisters.  He
first waged war against his brothers in Leon and Galicia.  Both victories
were accomplished with the great assistance of El Cid who turned almost
certain defeats into victories.  Sancho exiled his brothers to the city of
Toledo.  Sancho then took the city of Toro which was the domain of his
sister, Elvira.  He then began a battle with his sister Urraca and her city of
Zamora in 1072.  However Sancho was killed by one of Urraca's soldiers
right at the city gates.  Upon hearing of his brother's death, Alfonso rushed
to Zamora to claim his brother's lands and most importantly the throne. 
He became Alfonso VI. El Cid became concerned for his life.  He had after
all helped Sancho wage war against Alfonso who was now the King.  But
El Cid had a couple of things in his favor.  One he was a very good
soldier.  Alfonso knew that he would need a leader like El Cid.  Also the
people in Castile were not happy that they were being led by a king from
Leon.  El Cid was from Castile and was liked by the people. 
• Although the Alfonso removed El Cid as Commander of the Royal Armies,
in 1074 he married El Cid to his niece, Jimena.  El Cid was now related to
Alfonso. 
• Alfonso did not really like El Cid.  He was afraid that El Cid might attempt
to take the throne.  Alfonso sent El Cid to the king of Seville to collect
money.  When El Cid returned he accused El Cid of keeping some of the
money.  He banished El Cid from his kingdom and from then on El Cid
was not able to live safely in any area ruled by Alfonso. El Cid now needed
not only money, but also protection of a king.  He offered his services to
the Ruler of Saragossa in northeastern Spain.  The Ruler of Saragossa
was the arabic leader, al-Mu'tamin.   Unlike Alfonso, al-Mu'tamin was quite
happy to have such as successful soldier as El Cid.  El Cid served al-
Mu'tamin and his successor, al-Musta'in for nearly 10 years.
• In 1082 he defeated the Moorish (arabic) king of Lérida and the king's ally,
the Count of Barcelona.  In 1084 he defeated a large army lead by King
SanchoRamírez of Aragon.  In 1086 Alfonso VI came under attack from
the Almoravid armies from North Africa.  He suffered a great defeat at
Sagrajas on October 23rd.  Realizing that he needed El Cid's help to save
his Kingdom, Alfonso recalled El Cid from exile. El Cid returned to Alfonso,
but now he had his own plans.  He only stayed a short while and returned
to Saragossa.  El Cid was content to let the Almoravid armies and the
armies of Alfonso fight without his help.  Even when there was a chance
that the armies of Almoravid might defeat Alfonso and take over all of
Alfonso's lands.  The reason El Cid did not want to fight was because he
was hoping that both armies would become weak.  That would make it
easier for him to carry out his own plan which was to become ruler of the
Kingdom of Valencia.
• The first thing El Cid needed to do was to remove the influence of the
Count of Barcelona.  Barcelona was the major city in the area and the
Count was a powerful man.  He defeated the Count (Berenguer Ramón II)
at the battle of Tébar in May 1090.  Valencia, however was stilled ruled by
an Arabic leader, al-Qadir.  El Cid became lucky when in October 1092 al-
Qadir was killed by one of his noblemen, IbnJahhaf.  The city of Valencia
was thrown into confusion.  It was at this time that El Cid decided to
attack. He surrounded the city and began a long siege.  In May, 1094
IbnJahhaf surrendered the city.
• Although El Cid was a soldier he understood some of the politics of being a
ruler.  Through his service to Sancho II and then Alfonso VI he learned about
Spanish politics.  Through his service to al-Mu'tamin and al-Musta'in he
learned about Arabic politics.  He knew that because Valencia contained a
great number of Moors (Arabs) that he would have to have the support of
IbnJahhaf.  He forgave IbnJahhaf of all of his crimes including the killing of
al-Qadir.  IbnJahhaf agreed to use his influence over the Moors so that they
would accept El Cid as their ruler.  Once this was accomplished, El Cid
decided that he did not need IbnJahhaf and had him arrested and killed. El
Cid technically ruled Valencia for Alfonso.  But, Alfonso was not about to
wage war against El Cid, so he let him rule with almost no control.  El Cid
began to act as a king.  He appointed a Bishop and he encouraged people
to settle in Valencia.  He married one daughter, Cristina to a prince of
Aragon, Ramiro and his other daughter María to Count of Barcelona, Ramón
Berenguer III, whose father he had earlier defeated.
• El Cid ruled Valencia until his death.  After his death the Almoravids
attacked the city and Alfonso had to personally go there to save it.  
However, he decided that he could not defend unless he kept a great
number of soldiers there permanently.  So he decided to abandon the city
and ordered it burned.  On May 5, 1102, the Almoravids occupied Valencia
and ruled it until 1238.
• The body of El Cid was returned to Burgos and buried in a monastery.  
Almost immediately he became regarded as a national hero of Castile.  In
the 12th century a 3700 line poem "El Cantar de Mío Cid" (The Song of
the Cid) was written about him.  The poem and later writings such as a
play in 1637 made his exploits almost legendary to the point that some
people began to doubt that whether El Cid was ever a real person.  Unlike
King Arthur of English legend, El Cid really did exist.  And the poem about
him (although it does in some cases stretch the truth), is considered to be
the beginning of Spanish literature.
 Moral
The story is about how someone must fight for his honor. We must
fight for our own rights. And why is that? Because the life you are
having is yours and you are responsible of it. That’s the only one that
the epic wants to emphasize. And of course,never give up for yourself
not only in protecting it but also enhancing, raising and developing it.