CID CATIPADOR is the name given in histories, traditions, and songs to the most celebrated of Spain's national heroes. There is so much of the mythical inthe history of this personage, that hypercritical writers, such as Masdea, have doubted his exist ence; but recent researches, more particularly those of Dozy, and the investigation of newly discovered Arabic sources, have succeeded in separating the historical from the romantic. See Dozy's Rgeherches sir l'Ilistoire Politique et Litteraire de l'Eepagne pen dant le moyen age (Leyden, 1849). The following is the result of these inquiries: Roderigo Ruy Diaz (Roderic the son of Diego) was descended from one of the proudest families of Castile. His name first appears in a document written in 1064, during the reign of Ferdinand of Leon. Under Sancho II., son of Ferdinand, he became standard bearer and commander of the royal troops. In a, war between the two brothers, Sancho II. and Alfonso VI. of Leon, it was a stratagem of Roderic's—which, according to modern notions, was anything but honorable—that secured the victory of Sancho at Liantada (1068) over his brother, who was forced to seek refuge with the Moorish king of Toledo. He appears at this time to have already been called the campeador, a word supposed to answer to our champion.
Upon the assassination of his friend and patron, king Sancho, he required the next heir, don Alonzo, to clear hituself by oath of any participation in his brother's murder, ere the nobles of Leon and Castile should do homage to him. By this act, he incurred the new monarch's enmity; an enmity which, however, the king's policy concealed in the hour of danger, and he even consented to Roderic's marriage with his cousin Ximena—daughter of Diego, duke of Asturia. But when the king thought the services of Roderic no longer necessary to his own safety, he lent a willing ear to the latter's personal enemies, and banished him in 1081. Roderic then joined the Moorish kings of Saragossa, in whose service he fought against both Moslems and Christians. It was probably during this exile that he was first called the Cid or Sid, an Arabic title which means lord. He frequently defeated the king of Aragon and the count of Barcelona,
the latter of whom, Berenguer Ramon II., be took prisoner.
He was again reconciled to the king, but only for a short time, when he was con demned to a second exile. In order to support his family and numerous followers, he now saw himself forced to carry his sword against the Moors, over whom he gained a victory, and established himself as sovereign or lord of Valencia (1094). Ile retained possession of Valencia five years, during which time he took many neighboring fortresses. He died of grief in 1009, on learning that his relative and comrade in arms, Alvar Fanez, had been vanquished by the Moors, and that the army which he had sent to his assistance bad been defeated near Alcira. After the Cid's death, his widow held Valencia till 1102, when she was obliged to capitulate to the Almoravides, and fly to Castile, where she died in 1104. Her remains were placed by those of her lord in the monastery of San Pedro de Cadent. The Cid had a son, who was slain by the Moors in a battle near Consuegra. He also left behind him two daughters, one of whom was married to the count of Barcelona; the other to an infant of Navarre, through whom the kings of Spain and many royal houses of Europe claim kindred With " .1lio Cid el Campeador." Relics of the "Blessed Cid," as he is still called in Spain, such as his sword, shield, banner, and drinking-cup, are still held in great reverence by the popu lace. The numerous Cid romances that were first published in the 16th c., contain the most romantic improbabilities concerning the life and deeds of the Cid. See Silva de Varios Romances (1550), and 1?ontancero General (1604). These romances were taken from the ancient eantares (national songs) and poemas, most of which are entirely lost. The most important of modern works on this subject, besides that of Dozy above men tioned, are Huber's Geschichte des Oid, etc. (Bremen, 1829), and Southey's fascinating Chronicle of the Cid (Loud. 1808). The former of these is, however, the more valuable in a historical point of view. See also Willernaers, Le Cid (Bruns. 181'3).