Rodrigo became known throughout Spain as, “El Cid Campeador”, (My Lord, the Champion) which is a mixed Spanish dialect of Arabic.
The word "El", is Spanish and means "The" or "Sir", and "Cid" is Arab which means "Lord".
So, "El Cid", loosely translated, means "The Lord" or "The Sir", a title of respect.
The title ‘Campeador’ was given by his Spanish admirers and could mean the following definition:
El Campeador, the name by which Rodrigo is also distinguished, means in Spanish something more special than ‘champion.’ A Campeador was a man who had fought and beaten the select fighting-man of the opposite side, in the presence of the two armies. (Watts)
or . . .
the title "Campeador" is a vulgar Latin word that could be translated, "Master of Military Arts".
b. 1040? - d. 1099El Cid lived during the time of Alfonso the Brave, who became King of León and Castile following Alfonso's brother, King Sancho the Strong's, short reign and untimely death or assassination and reigned from 1065 to 1072. (There is a mysterious vagueness surrounding Sancho's death).
Because of the suspicion surrounding Alfonso's king brother Sancho's death, there is a famous legend about El Cid, who was of Castilian nobility, and a dozen other Castilian nobleman, (who were "oath-helpers") that together they forced the newly crowned King Alfonso, to swear a public oath on sacred church relics, that he did not participate in his brother Sancho's mysterious death.
Whether, the legend is true or not, it is believed because it adds to the accounts of The Cid's bravery. In any case, because of this, El Cid lost his position as armiger regis, (commanding the armies of Castille), which was taken away and given to El Cid's enemy, Count García Ordóñez.
The relationship, however, did improve somewhat between El Cid and King Alfonso, when El Cid married the King’s niece, Jimena (which is sometimes spelled Ximena). It is said that Jimena was beautiful and that El Cid loved her and together they had three children, two daughters and a son.
El Cid was the King's most valuable strength and advantage in the fight and power struggle against the Moors (Muslim Arabs) because The Cid was a brilliant military leader and commander and so became the chief general of King Alfonso. Accounts have said that El Cid would order books by classic Roman and Greek authors, who wrote on military themes, to be read in loud voices to him and his soldiers before and during battle. He was a man who valued, wanted and allowed input from his soldiers on battle strategy and warfare.
He was also, an educated and cultivated man, serving as a judge under King Alfonso. He kept detailed public office and private records with copies of letters he mailed and important documents he signed.
El Cid was forced into exile by King Alfonso for a period of time. The exile was a accumulation of events and flow of feeling toward El Cid in court life at that time. Among these it was that during the Battle of Cabra (1079), El Cid had rallied his troops and and made an unauthorized expedition into Grenada, which was ruled by Emir Abd Allah of Granada, who's ally was Count García Ordíñez, El Cid's old enemy.
This greatly angered King Alfonso and this is the general given reason for El Cid’s exile, although several other contributing factors were: jealously among the other nobles in court and thus turning the King against El Cid. The King’s own animosity towards The Cid. Accusations of stealing tribute money that was supposed to go into the King's treasury and, also, (apparently), El Cid's “penchant” for insulting powerful men, all of which contributed to his exile. So, forced into exile, El Cid became a mercenary, offering his services to other kings and countries. (King Alfonso did recall El Cid back after a devastating defeat in battle and El Cid complied, but, generally El Cid was on his own from that time forward).
Tired and wanting to "retire" El Cid laid siege to the City of Valencia. The siege lasted several years. Finally, though, the long siege ended and El Cid carved out his own kingdom on the Mediterranean coast.
Officially, El Cid ruled in the name of King Alfonso. But, in reality, he was fully independent. Eventually, he died and opposite of what is generally believed, he died peaceably and not in battle.
One other famous legend about The Cid is how he acquired his famous war-horse, the white stallion Babieca (which means "Stupid!").
According to this story, El Cid's godfather, a monk Pedro El Grande, gave to El Cid, a coming-of-age gift his pick of a horse from an Andalusian herd. El Cid picked a horse that his godfather though was a poor choice, causing the monk to exclaim “Babieca!” (stupid!) and this became the name of El Cid’s horse.
Anyway, Babieca became a great warhorse loved by El Cid, who allegedly requested that the white stallion be buried with him (he wasn't).
No comments:
Post a Comment