El Cid

The Cid

The Cid (seed), or Ruy Díaz (rrewee DEE-ahs), the lord of Bivar. Banished from Christian Spain by Alfonso VI of Castile, he enters, with a company of his vassals, on a series of heroic exploits designed to impress the king and cause him to revoke the edict of banishment. The royal favor is finally won, but only after the Cid becomes powerful enough to be a threat to the throne. A period of happiness and peace lasts until the Cid is forced to subdue his treacherous sons-in-law, Diego and Fernando, princes of Carrion. When the princes are banished, the Cid is free to marry his daughters to the rulers of Aragón and Navarre. He rejoices to count among his family two kings of Spain, and he finally dies in peace as lord of Valencia.

Alfonso VI

Alfonso VI (ahl-FOHN-soh), the king of León. He banishes the Cid from Christian Spain, then reinstates the hero when his growing power becomes a threat to the throne.

Doña Elvira

Doña Elvira (ehl-VEE-rah) and

Doña Sol

Doña Sol (sohl), the Cid’s daughters, who are married to Diego and Fernando, princes of Carrion, by whom the noble ladies are robbed and beaten. They are finally married to the kings of Aragón and Navarre.

Diego

Diego (dee-A-goh) and

Fernando González

Fernando González (fehr-NAHN-doh gohn-SAH-lehs), princes of Carrion and the Cid’s cowardly sons-in-law. Resentful of the scorn heaped on them by the Cid’s vassals, they seek revenge on their lord by ostensibly taking his daughters on a triumphant tour to Carrion. On the way, they beat and rob the ladies and leave them for dead. For this deed, the princes are stripped of property and honor.

Doña Ximena

Doña Ximena (hee-MEHN-ah), the Cid’s wife.

Martín Antolínez

Martín Antolínez (mahr-TEEN ahn-toh-LEE -nehs), a...