His name was Rodrigo but they called him El Cid for the battles he won on the plain He fought amongst Muslim Christian and Jew in a war torn land called Spain He came from a town called Burgos and was born at a very good hour He was in Castile's army and rose to a seat of power Rodrigo's love was named Ximena and her beauty eclipsed them all Except for their daughters Dona Elvira and Doña Sol With his famed horse Babieca and his blades Colada and Tizón Rodrigo swept through Al Andalus to win cities for Castile and León
Rodrigo was feared by his enemies but they respected him all the same The Moors were impressed by his tactics and called him by another name Al Sayyid was the word in Arabic lord or master in the English tongue In Spanish simply El Cid and it stuck when his tale was sung Rodrigo fought for Castile and his skill won him many new friends Among them Martin Antolinez Pedro the Mute and Álvar Fáñez Rodrigo's army grew Men joined him from far and wide To fight for El Cid Campeador was a source of great pride
But something irked King Alfonso to this day it is still unknown why did he exile my Cid Because Cid's fame surpassed his own The good knight took his gear He said goodbye to his children and wife He rode out on Babieca to build his family a better life 0001 But Rodrigo did not ride alone so loved was El Campeador His men did not leave his side Cid left Castile a thousand strong 157 El Cid bore Alfonso no grievance he had more pressing concerns To feed and manage an army left him few places to turn
