El Cid

By Zachary Kidson

FQ: Were the titles of Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar justified?

Overview•Background

•El Cid, El Champeador of Spain

•Fiction behind the Epic El Cid

•Facts behind the Epic El Cid

•Were the titles justified?

•Conclusion

Map of Spain

Background• Born in Vivar, around 1040 or 1043

•Served Sancho II and Alfonso

•Exiled by Alfonso

•Served the Moorish Lord of Saragossa

•Became ruler of Valencia in 1094, later died in that year

El Cid, El Champeador of Spain• After his death, an epic poem of El Cid, the “El Cantar de Mio Cid” was written in the 12th century.

•Seen as a hero and Champeador to the people of Spain

•Portrayal as a noble, Christian and merciful knight. Similar to the Robin Hood stories, a good man, shunned by his king, who is evil and wicked

Fiction Behind El Cid• Surprisingly, the poem of El Cid has it’s truth, if not embellished

• A Spanish Christian view of El Cid, due to his actions against the Moors

• Portrayed as hateful of the Moors, yet it is hard proven that he served the Moors of Saragossa

• Written as if a protector and working for the betterment of Spain

Facts Behind El Cid• Didn’t have any defeats in his career

• He was seen by the people of Castile, his home area, as a champion and a hero.

• The Moor and El Cid did have a relationship with one another. Evident in his name.

• Alfonso did hate and distrust El Cid, even though he was serving his kingdom loyally

Were the titles justified?

• Yes the first title which comes to mind is El Cid. But he was a commander before he was given the title

• He had respect from the Spanish Christians and the Moors

• Yet some of his titles, like hero, can still be debated by modern historians

Conclusion

BibliographyWebsites

• http://www.ctspanish.com/legends/elcid.htm

• http://www.orbilat.com/Languages/Spanish/Texts/01-Medieval_period/1150-El_Cantar_de_mio_Cid.html

• http://www.badassoftheweek.com/elcid.html

•http://www.paradoxplace.com/Photo%20Pages/Spain/Spain_History/Al-Andalus_Chronology.htm

• http://perso.wanadoo.es/ibg3/med/cid.html