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Portrait of El Cid, from The Historians' History of the World, 1904.
Portrait of El Cid, from The Historians' History of the World, 1904.
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Medieval Iberia

El Cid

From Melissa Snell,
Your Guide to Medieval History.
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This profile of El Cid is part of
Who's Who in Medieval History

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

El Cid was also known as:

Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, Ruy Díaz de Vivar (also spelled Bivar), and El Campeador ("the Champion"). His title of "the Cid" comes from a Spanish dialect of Arabic, sidi, meaning "sir" or "lord," and was a title he acquired during his lifetime.

El Cid was noted for:

Being the national hero of Spain. El Cid displayed remarkable military ability in his conquest of Valencia, and after his death he became the subject of many legends, stories, and poems, including the 12th-century epic El cantar de mío Cid ("The Song of the Cid").

Occupations & Roles in Society:

    Ruler
    Military Leader

Places of Residence and Influence:

    Iberia

Important Dates:

    Died: July 10, 1099

About El Cid:

For information about El Cid's life and achievements, see your Guide's concise biography.

El Cid Resources:

Concise Biography of El Cid
El Cid in Print
El Cid on the Web



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