El Cid

El Cid (Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar) 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 …

…soon laid siege to Valencia and Alfonso, deciding it would be impossible to hold the city burnt it and took Rodrigo's body to Castille. He was buried in the Monastery of San Pedro de Cardena. Since his death, there have been many poems and plays written about his life, this includes the 12th century epic poem El cantar de mio Cid or the song of the Cid and the movie El Cid starring Charlton Heston.