A Noted Warrior who Led his Troops Into Battle after his Death

The history of Roderigo Diaz the Cid Campeador (or "Lord Champion"), the noted Spanish warrior, is so intermingled with fable, that it is almost impossible to sift out the truth.

One of the oldest poems in the Spanish language, the epic "Poem of the Cid" (q.v.), gives a long account of him, and of his battles against the Moors.

From this poem, and other Spanish works, Southey translated and compiled his "Chronicle of the Cid."

The Cid is supposed to have been born about the year 1026, and to have died at Valencia, 1099. His real name was Ruy or Rodrigo Diaz: but he was such a terror to the Moors, and seemed so superior to all others, that they called him El Seid (Arabic for the Lord); and he was finally called Cid Campeador (Lord Champion).

In the eleventh book of the "Chronicle of the Cid," Southey relates that after the Cid had won Valencia from the Moors, and had held possession of it for five years (during which time the Moors and Christians had lived peaceably together), tidings reached him that King Bucar of Morocco, whom he had conquered, was coming to take his revenge with thirty-six Moorish kings and an army so great that it could not be numbered.

The Cid at once began to devise measures for withstanding this great force: his first act was to banish the Moors from Valencia until the result of the invasion should be known. The same night he had a vision, in which St. Peter appeared to him, saying, "Sleepest thou, Rodrigo, or what art thou doing?" And the Cid made answer, "What man art thou who askest me?" And he said, "I am St. Peter, the Prince of the apostles, who come unto thee with more urgent tidings than those for which thou art taking thought concerning King Bucar; and it is, that thou art to leave this world, and go to that which hath no end; and this will be in thirty days. But God will show favor unto thee, so that thy people shall discomfort King Bucar, and thou, being dead, shalt win this battle." . . .

This vision had great effect upon the Cid; and he was "as certain that all this would come to pass, as if it were already over." So great was his faith, that, on the twenty-ninth day, he assembled his people, and spoke to them as follows: "Ye know that King Bucar will presently be here to besiege this city, with seven and thirty kings whom he bringeth with him, and with a mighty power of Moors. Now, therefore, the first thing which ye do after I am departed, wash my body with rose-water many times and well. And when it has been well washed and made clean, ye shall dry it well, and anoint it with myrrh and balsam, from these golden caskets, from head to foot, so that every part shall be anointed, till none be left. And you, Dona Ximena, and your women, see that ye utter no cries, neither make any lamentation for me, that the Moors may not know of my death. And when the day shall come in which King Bucar arrives, order all the people of Valencia to go upon the walls, and sound your trumpets and tambours, and make the greatest rejoicings that ye can. And when ye would set out for Castille, let all the people know in secret, that they make themselves ready, and take with them all that they have, so that none of the Moors in the suburb may know thereof; for certes ye cannot keep the city, neither abide therein after my death. . . . Then saddle ye my horse Bavieca, and arm him well; and ye shall apparel my body full seemlily, and place me upon the horse, and fasten and tie me thereon so that it cannot fall; and fasten my sword Tizona in my hand. And let the Bishop Don Hieronymo go on one side of me, and my trusty Gil Diaz on the other, and he shall lead my horse. You, Pero Bermudez, shall bear my banner, as you were wont to bear it; and you, Alvar Fanez, my cousin, gather your company together, and put your host in order as you are wont to do. And go ye forth and fight with King Bucar, for be ye certain and doubt not that ye shall win this battle: God hath granted me this."

According to "The Chronicle," the Cid, having appointed what should be done after his death, on the morning of the thirtieth day made his testament, received the sacrament, "yielded up his soul, which was pure and without spot, to God, on that Sunday which is called Quinquagesima, being the twenty and ninth of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand and ninety and nine, and in the seventy and third year of his life."

Three days after the death of the Cid, King Bucar and his countless host of Moors arrived, and encamped in "fifteen thousand tents" about Valencia. While they were busy preparing bastilles and engines wherewith to combat the city, the Christians were preparing to carry out the directions of the Cid. Gil Diaz had embalmed the body, and placed it in a frame upon the saddle. On the twelfth day after his death, when all else was in readiness, "The Chronicle" goes on to relate, "they took the body of the Cid, fastened to the saddle as it was, upon his horse Bavieca, and fastened the saddle well; and the body sate so upright and well it seemed as if he was alive; . . . and his shield was hung round his neck, and they placed the sword Tizona in his hand, and they raised his arm, and fastened it up so subtilly that it was a marvel to see how upright he held his sword. And when all this had been made ready, they went out from Valencia at midnight, through the gate Roseros which is towards Castille. Pero Bermudez went first with the banner of the Cid, and with him five hundred knights who guarded it, all well appointed. And after these came all the baggage. Then came the body of the Cid with an hundred knights, all chosen men, and behind them Dona Ximena with all her company, and six hundred knights in the rear. All these went out so silently, and with such a measured pace, that it seemed as if there were only a score. And by the time that they had all gone out it was broad day. . . . Now Alvar Fanez Minaya had set the host in order, and attacked the tents which lay nearest the city; and this onset was so sudden, that they killed full a hundred and fifty Moors before they had time to take arms; . . . and so great was the uproar and confusion, that few there were who took arms, but instead thereof turned their backs and fled towards the sea. And when King Bucar and his kings saw this they were astonished. And it seemed to them that there came against them on the part of the Christians full seventy thousand knights, all as white as snow: and before them a Knight of great stature upon a white horse with a bloody cross, who bore in one hand a white banner, and in the other a sword which seemed to be of fire, and he made a great mortality among the Moors who were flying. And King Bucar and the other kings were so greatly dismayed that they never checked the reins till they had ridden into the sea; and the company of the Cid rode after them, smiting and slaying and giving no respite; and they smote down so many that it was marvellous, for the Moors did not turn their heads to defend themselves. And when they came to the sea, so great was the press among them to get to the ships, that more than ten thousand died in the water. And of the six and thirty kings, twenty and two were slain. And King Bucar and they who escaped with him hoisted sails and went their way, and never more turned their heads. . . . And so great was the spoil of that day, that . . . the poorest man among the Christians became rich. . . . And when they were all met together, they took the road towards Castille." Thus was fulfilled the prophecy of the Vision,--"Thou being dead shalt win this battle."