by Honi A.

Created on: November 24, 2009

"The Lay of the Cid" represents the first big break through of the Spanish literature which was kept almost entirely. In opinion of Ramon Mendez Pidal, the poem was created around the year 1140 and the version we know now is a merger between two versions of the poem: an older one, belonging to an author from San Estela de Gormaz and created around 1097 and a newer one, sort of a rehearsal of the first one, created by an author from Medinaceli.

"The Lay of the Cid" can be divided into three parts: the Exile, the Wedding of the daughters of the Cid and the Offense from the Cortes forest. King Alfonso the fourth, the sovereign of Castillia sends Rodrigo Diaz de Binar, the Cid to collect all the tributes from the Moormen from Andalusian. Meanwhile the Cid finds out that a group of castilian nobles, lead by don Garcia Ordonez was getting ready to attack the king of Seville, the liege of king Alfonso, who owned him protection.

The Cid tries to put a stop to this plan, through some messages he sends to the rebels but when they show no understanding he resorts to the use of weapons. Garcia Ordonez gets caught, situation that makes him to become an unappeased enemy of the Cid. When the Cid comes back from the Moormen, his enemies blame him in front of the king of stealing from the prey and the king sends him into exile.

Followed by the few people who still believed in him, the Cid begins his journey. In his way, he conquers numerous boroughs and most of his preys, he sends back to the king, who accepts them without changing his decision. The Cid becomes famous when he conquers Valencia, and the king allows his family to join him there. Everything is settled with the marriages between the daughters of the Cid and the nephews of Garcia Ordonez. But unfortunately, the infants are just two cowards afraid of everything and they plot to steal all the Cid's fortune.

On the road back to their homes, the brothers beat their wives and abandon them in the Cortes forest. Luckily, a servant finds them and brings them back to the Cid. He ask for justice in front of the king, considering him part guilty of the offense he received, because he intermediated the weddings. The kings allows him the recover his honor by fight and the brothers and Garcia Ordonez are defeated.

Learn more about this author, Honi A..
Click here to send this author comments or questions.