Difference between revisions of "El Cid"
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Díaz de Vivar found himself in Al-Andalus, the Muslim controlled kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula. Díaz de Vivar served Yusuf al-Mu'taman Billah, King of the Taifa of Zaragoza, and fought alongside Muslim armies against the Christian armies of Aragon. It was likely around this time that Díaz de Vivar acquired the title of السَّيِّد (''as-Sayyid'', i.e., "the Lord"). This title would eventually be transliterated as El Çid. | Díaz de Vivar found himself in Al-Andalus, the Muslim controlled kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula. Díaz de Vivar served Yusuf al-Mu'taman Billah, King of the Taifa of Zaragoza, and fought alongside Muslim armies against the Christian armies of Aragon. It was likely around this time that Díaz de Vivar acquired the title of السَّيِّد (''as-Sayyid'', i.e., "the Lord"). This title would eventually be transliterated as El Çid. | ||
| − | King Alfonso eventually relented by 1086 and El Cid left Zaragoza. After the Taifa of Toledo lost control of the Taifa of Valencia, it drew the attention of El Cid, who now saw the Taifa as his newfound protectorate. El Cid eventually besieged Valencia in October 1092, finally taking control of the city in May 1094. As a result, El Cid became Prince of Valencia, with the support of the city's Christians and Muslims. | + | King Alfonso eventually relented by 1086 and El Cid left Zaragoza. After the Taifa of Toledo lost control of the Taifa of [[Valencia]], it drew the attention of El Cid, who now saw the Taifa as his newfound protectorate. El Cid eventually besieged Valencia in October 1092, finally taking control of the city in May 1094. As a result, El Cid became Prince of Valencia, with the support of the city's Christians and Muslims. |
El Cid died in 1099, with his wife Jimena Díaz succeeding him as Princess of Valencia until the city was abandoned by King Alfonso in 1102 – who set fire to it, yielding control to Yusuf ibn Tashfin, Emir of the Almoravid Empire. | El Cid died in 1099, with his wife Jimena Díaz succeeding him as Princess of Valencia until the city was abandoned by King Alfonso in 1102 – who set fire to it, yielding control to Yusuf ibn Tashfin, Emir of the Almoravid Empire. | ||
Latest revision as of 18:52, 17 October 2025
El Cid was a knight in the 11th Century.
History
Before sailing with King Sigurd Magnusson, Demona and Angelika worked with (not "for") El Cid for five years. Demona acknowledged that El Cid kept his promises, while ensuring that she nor Angelika were ever in a situation that depended on having to trust him. So much so that, during the day, Demona and Angelika hid in the hills every night to prevent any ambush while they slept during the day. ("Fortune Favors the Brave...")
Real World Background
Born around 1043 AD, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar was brought up in the court of Ferdinand the Great, serving his son, Sancho, future King of Castille, Galicia, and León. Known today for his skills as a military strategist, he fought Sancho's brothers and ultimately expanded Castile's territory. In 1072, Sancho was assassinated. When Sancho's brother Alfonso assumed power, Díaz de Vivar was not trusted by the new monarch and, by 1081, was exiled.
Díaz de Vivar found himself in Al-Andalus, the Muslim controlled kingdoms on the Iberian peninsula. Díaz de Vivar served Yusuf al-Mu'taman Billah, King of the Taifa of Zaragoza, and fought alongside Muslim armies against the Christian armies of Aragon. It was likely around this time that Díaz de Vivar acquired the title of السَّيِّد (as-Sayyid, i.e., "the Lord"). This title would eventually be transliterated as El Çid.
King Alfonso eventually relented by 1086 and El Cid left Zaragoza. After the Taifa of Toledo lost control of the Taifa of Valencia, it drew the attention of El Cid, who now saw the Taifa as his newfound protectorate. El Cid eventually besieged Valencia in October 1092, finally taking control of the city in May 1094. As a result, El Cid became Prince of Valencia, with the support of the city's Christians and Muslims.
El Cid died in 1099, with his wife Jimena Díaz succeeding him as Princess of Valencia until the city was abandoned by King Alfonso in 1102 – who set fire to it, yielding control to Yusuf ibn Tashfin, Emir of the Almoravid Empire.
El Cid's exploits, beginning with his exile, were eventually immortalized in the 12th Century with the epic poem, El Cantar de mio Cid (The Song of My Cid). The oldest known copy dates to the 14th Century and is missing three pages (the first page and two in the middle).
See Also
- El Cid at Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
