El Cid essays

El Cid essays Spanish Rodrigo Diaz was born at Burgos, Spain in 1043 and died in Valencia in 1099. El Cid's Father, Diego Lainez was of minor nobility in the region of Castile and lived in the family home in Bivar. His mother however was of a higher degree of nobility. He is often known as either El Cid (Lord) or El Campeador, which means "The Champion." He became commander of King Sancho's Army and then when banished by the next King, Alfonso VI, he served the King of Zaragoza. He later reconciled with Alfonso and at the end of his life he set out on a conquest of Valencia, which he sieged for many months before conquering it and becoming its ruler. Rodrigo was raised in the courts of King Ferdinand and had his education and military training taken care of by Prince Sancho as thanks for his father's services to the state. In 1063, Sancho dubbed Rodrigo a knight. At this time, Spain was not united but was composed of several smaller Christian kingdoms to the north and a large empire to the south of Muslim Moors. A war slowly developed between the north and south, but neither side could rally a force great enough to defeat their opponent. King Ferdinand had united much of the north of Spain and later divided his Kingdoms among his 5 children at his death in 1065. His first son, Sancho received the Muslim City of Zaragoza and the large area of Castile, while his second son, Alfonso gained the large area of Leon. His third son, Garcia received Galicia and the Moorish kingdoms of Seville and Badajoz. His two daughters were given monasteries. At this time, Rodrigo was still reasonably young and Sancho was trying to lift a siege on Graus made by the small region of Aragon. When Sancho was crowned King in 1067 he made Rodrigo the chief marshal of his troops. After ending the war with Aragon, Sancho turned his focus to capturing the kingdoms of his brothers. Sancho first laid siege to Zaragoza with Rodrigo as his general, but was so...