I knew from early on after starting my research that I had noble Spanish ancestors through my great grandmother Emilia Caracciolo, but I did not know about Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar “El Cid”, until he showed up on my chart drawn by Ky White. As “baby Boomer”. I remember the great movie starring Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren as my 27th great grandparents. My interest was renewed as I began watching the new series on Amazon.
El Cid came from a minor noble family and was a Castilian Knight and warlord. El Cid, the name, most like comes from the Arabic al-Sayyid, or the Lord. His story is closely intertwined with several other great grandparents, such as King Ferdinand the Great, and his son Sancho II. I do not descend from Sancho, but his brother Alfonso “the brave” of Castile.
El Cid lived from 1043 to 1099 and served many masters. In 1057, he fought against the Moors in Zaragoza. In 1063, he served with Sancho against his uncle and cousin from Aragon. When Sancho was assassinated in 1072, most likely by his brother Alfonso and sister Urraca, It is thought by some that El Cid had Alfonso swear that he was not part of this plot. In any event, he served Alfonso VI and was sent to the court of al-Mutamid to collect the tribute due.
In 1079 he was exiled by Alfonso for an unauthorized expedition into Granada. He attempted to serve Ramon Berenguer of Barcelona ( another GG ) but was refused. So he went to Zaragoza and served the Moorish King al-Andalus in 1081. In 1084 he defeated the Aragonese. In 1087 he was recalled by Alfonso, but eventually returned to Zaragoza, but had his eye on Valencia.
In 1090, El Cid defeated Ramon Berenguer II, who’s son, Ramon Berenguer III married El Cid’s daughter Maria to create and alliance. In 1093, he began a siege of Valencia and by 1094 he was in control. He died on July 10th 1099. Valencia was taken by the Moors in 1102 and did not become Christian again for another 125 years. El Cid’s wife Jimena returned to Catile in 1101, with his body.
El Cid Relationship
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