By Calvin Dill Wilson. The story of Spain’s national hero, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (1043–1099) who helped liberate his nation from the Muslims, is retold in vivid detail in this superb work originally designed for younger readers—but easily readable for adults as well.
It tells the inspiring story of the Castilian nobleman given the name “El Cid” (the Lord) by the Moors and “El Campeador” (the Champion) by the Europeans and his decades-long war against the Islamic invaders of the Iberian Peninsula.
Caught in the intrigue of the Middle Ages, El Cid was forced to wage war against Christian armies as well, but his real foe remained the ultimate enemy, as is so brilliantly explained in this work. His seizure of Valencia in 1094 established El Cid as a ruler in his own right, while his final years were spent in fighting the Almoravid Berbers.
This is the real story of El Cid, divorced from the Hollywood myth, which serves as an immortal reminder of the price paid by medieval Europeans to resist the Islamic attempt to invade Europe.
No brutal detail is spared in this sometimes shocking account of the wars waged by El Cid in his quest to liberate his part of Europe. “In spite of all the myths, it is beyond doubt that the real Rodrigo was one of the most wonderful men who has ever lived, and that he was the greatest warrior who fought in the long and fierce struggles between the Christians and the Mahometans.”—From the first chapter.
Completely reset and reformatted. Illustrated.
Calvin Dill Wilson (1857–1932). Born in Baltimore in 1857, he graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in 1876 and Western Theological Seminary (Pittsburgh) in 1879. He served churches in Pennsylvania and Ohio. During World War I, Dr. Wilson served in the Glendale company of the Cincinnati Home Guards and was active in Liberty Loan, Red Cross and YMCA campaigns. He was a well-published author of prose and poetry.
Contents
Chapter I : The Cid.—The Moors In Spain.—Rodrigo Slays Count Gomez.—He Gives Battle To The Moors And Captures Five Kings.—He Marries The Daughter Of Count Gomez.
Chapter II: Rodrigo’s Vision.—His Combat With Don Martin Gonzales For Calahorra.—The Envy Of The Counts Of Castile.—A Plot Against His Life.
Chapter III: A Raid Of The Moors.—The Sieges Of Viseu And Lamego And Coimbra.—The Monks Of Lorvam.—Rodrigo Is Made A Knight.—Henceforth He Is Called The Cid.
Chapter IV: The Cid Advises Don Ferrando Not To Pay Tribute, And Fights Great Battles.—The Pope Declares That Spain Should Never Be Asked For Tribute.—Don Ferrando Divides His Kingdom.
Chapter V: One Of The New Kings, Don Garcia, Robs His Sister.—Don Sancho Makes War Against His Brother, Don Garcia, Defeats Him, And Takes His Kingdom.—He Also Defeats Don Alfonso.—The Cid Rescues Don Sancho.
Chapter VI: Don Alfonso Enters A Monastery, And Then Flees To Toledo.—Don Sancho Takes His Brother’s Kingdom, And Goes Against His Sister’s.—The Cid Refuses To Fight.—The Siege Of Zamora.—Don Sancho Is Killed. Don Alfonso Becomes King.
Chapter VII: The Cid Fights Against Don Garcia Ordonez.—Don Alfonso Renews His Friendship With The King Of Toledo.—The Cid Gives Battle To The King Of Granada.—The Cid Is Banished.—He Borrows Money And Leaves Chests Of Sand In Pawn.—He Leaves Don Alfonso’s Kingdom With A Company Of Knights.
Chapter VIII: The Cid In The Land Of The Moors.—Alvar Forages The Country, And The Cid Captures Castrejon.—The Siege And Capture Of Alcocer.—A Great Army Of Moors Comes Against The Cid.—A Great Battle Takes Place In Which The Cid Is Victorious.—The Cid Sends A Present Of Thirty Horses To Don Alfonso.
Chapter IX: The Cid Leaves Alcocer, And Camps In The Forest Of Tebar.—He Makes Friends With The King Of Zaragoza.—Alvar Brings Him More Knights From Castile.—The Cid Fights With The King Of Zaragoza Against The King Of Denia And Don Ramon, And Defeats Them And Captures The Sword Colada.—The Cid Takes Great Spoils.—He Helps The King Of Zaragoza A Second Time Against The King Of Denia.—The Cid Also Helps His King, Don Alfonso, Against A Castle, And Is Pardoned.—After Another Great Battle He Returns To Castile.
Chapter X: The Cid In Favor With Don Alfonso.—Don Alfonso Makes War On Yahia, The Grandson Of His Old Friend, The King Of Toledo.—The City Of Toledo Is Taken.—Moors From North Africa Trouble Don Alfonso.—The Cid Makes The French Depart.—Weaker Kingdoms Seek The Protection Of The Cid.
Chapter XI: The Cid Is Summoned To Help Don Alfonso Against The Almoravides.—The Cid’s Enemies Again Vex Don Alfonso Against Him.—Again They Become Friends.—Abeniaf Takes Valencia.—King Yahia Is Slain.
Chapter XII: The Cid Makes Ready To Avenge Yahia.—He Takes His Army Toward Valencia.—He Captures A Suburb.—He Punishes A False Friend.
Chapter XIII: News Of The Almoravides.—A Mighty Rain And Flood Frightens The Africans.—The Cid Besieges The City.—The Despair Of The Valencians.—The Cid Turns Against Abeniaf.
Chapter XIV: The Riot Of Abenmoxis.—The Cid Makes An Attack.—Moors Are Burned Alive.—The Awful Famine In Valencia.—How Martin Pelaez Became A Brave Knight.
Chapter XV: Messengers Are Sent From Valencia To Zaragoza And The Almoravides.—Valencia Surrenders To The Cid.—The Terms.—The Cid Demands The Surrender Of Abeniaf.—The Cid Enters Valencia.—The Cid Takes The Treasures Of Abeniaf And Has Him Stoned.
Chapter XVI: The King Of Seville With Thirty Thousand Men Is Defeated By The Cid.—The Cid’s Beard.—The Bishop Don Hieronymo.—The Cid Sends For His Family.—He Sends Presents To The King And To The Monastery, And Redeems The Chests Of Sand.—His Wife And Daughters Arrive At Valencia.
Chapter XVII: King Yucef From Morocco Comes To Besiege Valencia.—Doña Ximena’s Fear.—The First Charge Under Alvar Salvadores.—The Cid Defeats This Vast Host And Gathers Immense Spoils.—The Cid Takes King Yucef’s Sword Tizona.—The Cid Sends King Alfonso A Present Of Two Hundred And Fifty Horses And King Yucef’s Tent.—The Infantes Of Carrion Ask For The Cid’s Daughters.
Chapter XVIII: The Cid And Part Of His Knights Visit Alfonso.—The King Arranges The Marriage Of The Cid’s Daughters.—The Infantes Return With The Cid To Valencia.—The Great Wedding.
Chapter XIX: The Cid’s Pet Lion.—The Anger Of The Infantes.—King Bucar From Africa Comes With A Great Army.—A Great Victory For The Cid.—The Vast Spoils.
Chapter XX: The Infantes Ask The Cid To Let Them And Their Wives Return To Carrion.—The Infantes Start On Their Journey And Abuse Their Wives On The Way.
Chapter XXI: The Case Of The Cid’s Daughters Is Reported To King Alfonso.—The King Assembles The Cortes To Do Justice In The Matter.—The Daughters Are Brought Safe To Valencia.—The Cid Goes To The Cortes At Toledo.—His Enemies Make Sport Of The Cid’s Ivory Seat.
Chapter XXII: How The Cid Dressed For The Cortes.—He And His Companions Enter The Cortes.—The Cid Demands The Swords Colada And Tizona.—He Demands The Presents He Had Given The Infantes.—The Cid Challenges The Infantes And Their Uncle To Mortal Combat.—Messengers From The Kings Of Aragon And Navarre Ask For The Cid’s Daughters To Be Given To The Sons Of Those Kings.
Chapter XXIII: The King Takes The Knights And His Company To Carrion For The Combat With The Infantes.—The Combat.—Pero Bermudez Slays Ferrando.—Martin Antolinez Drives Diego From The Lists, And Muno Defeats Suero.—The Infantes And Their Uncle Declared Traitors.—The Cid’s Knights Return To Valencia And Rejoice Him With The News.
Chapter XXIV: The Great Sultan Of Persia Sends Presents To The Cid.—His Messenger Trembles Before The Cid.—The Messenger Is Honorably Treated And Explains To The Governor Why His Master Wished The Friendship Of The Cid.—The Marriage Of The Cid’s Daughters To The Princes.
Chapter XXV: News Comes Of Another Invasion By King Bucar.—The Vision Of The Cid.—He Tells His Friends Of His End.—The Death Of The Cid.—His Company Leaves Valencia With His Body On His Horse.
Chapter XXVI: The Final Victory Over Bucar.—The Great Spoils.—They Go Toward Castile With The Body Of The Cid.—The Funeral Of The Cid.—His Body Is Set On A Throne.—The Death Of Bavieca.—The Death Of Doña Ximena.
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