El Cid was the nickname given to Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a military leader born in 1043 near Burgos, Spain. El Cid is derived from the Arabic word sayyid meaning sir or lord. Rodrigo was born into a noble family and was raised in the court of King Ferdinand the Great (1015-1065). As a young man he served the king’s son, Sancho II and ascended to the level of commander when Sancho became king in 1065. He quickly became famous for his military prowess in particular in several campaigns against the Muslim Kingdoms in southern Spain in the area known as Al-Andaluz, modern day Andalusia.
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