El Cid Campeador was a legendary military leader during the Christian reconquest of Spain in the 11th century. He was born Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar in a small village in Burgos, Spain and came from a noble family. As a general under King Alfonso VI of León, El Cid conquered significant Muslim territories in what is now Valencia, Castellón, Alicante, and Murcia, though he also fought against some Christian kingdoms. After his death, his lands were retaken by the Muslims before ultimately being recovered by the Crown of Aragon. To this day, there is debate around what parts of El Cid's story are historical fact versus legend.

1. El Cid Campeador
By: Daniel Rodríguez Martínez

2. Index
Who was he?
Family and life
Military aspects
Myth or legend

3. Who was he?
El Cid or Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar was one of the
most iconic people around the Christian
reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
He was basically a general that under the reign
and orders of Alfonso VI of León conquered a lot
of Muslim territories, but against what it´s
common to think he also conquered Christian
territories around Portugal or Castilla.
He also was the local governor of Murcia and ally
of some taifas through a period.
Today he is considered one of the most important
warriors of the history of Europe.

4. Family and life
He was born in a little village, Vivar, located in
Burgos. He was born in 1043, he belonged to a
family of infanzones (which had less power than
some nobles but more than the hidalgos). This was
possible because his grandfather was a judge (that
in those times was like being an advisor of the
king). His father that was a blacksmith couldn´t be
with his son much time because he usually went to
the local monastery, where he learned the Christian
religion, to read and write.
When he was a teenager he entered in the court of
Alfonso IV, who later will be his worst enemy.
Finally he got married with Jimena, the niece of the
Count of Oviedo, and had 2 daughters, María and
Cristina, and 1 son, Diego.

5. Military aspects
As military leader he conquered all
the territory of the actual Valencia,
Castellón, Alicante and Murcia, but he
also was at war with the Kingdom of
Galicia, and later of his conquest with
Alfonso VI, who years after helped
him.
He had constant conflicts with some
taifas but he also was in peace with
others, like with the Taifa of Sevilla
governed by Almaz who always was
ally of his territories.
After his dead all his lands were
conquered by the Muslims and finally
recovered by the Crown of Aragón.
He died in Murcia but now he is buried
with his wife Jimena in the Burgos
Cathedral.

6. Myth or legend
There are so many theories
about the existence of the
Cid. Some historians say that
all is real, others say that
almost and some say that
nothing about him wasn´t
real. Obviously there are
things, like his last battle or
his horse Babieca that aren´t
true, but another facts like
his conquests could be real.

7. Have you
got any
question?

8. I hope
that you
enjoyed
it