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fred
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E CIDIn his early twenties Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, nicknamed "EL CID"(from the Arabic,"Lord"),served in the army of the futuer Sancho 11 of Castille.In 1081, however he fell out with Alfonso V1 of Castile and was exiled.He served as a mersenary in eastern Spain, fighting for both Christian and Muslims-ironically,in view of his status as an icon of the Reconquista.Christian rule over Valencia did not survive El Cid,s death in 1099.In 1102 his widow,Ximena, who had held the city after he died,burned it rather than let fall intact to the Muslims.
From the Battle. Fred
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segolden
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One of the reasons, Fred, that I've always felt Vivar was more sophisticated than historians have given him credit for. Considering the outright insane policies that the Christian princedoms had toward their own citizens, especially when compared to some of the Moorish kingdoms at the time, it wouldn't surprise me if the Cid felt there was something a more tolerant Muslim administration had to offer that the squabbling feudal elite couldn't. Also, the Moors were always willing to employ mercenaries if they had something significant to offer. Christians and Jews fought for them regularly. 
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fred
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EL CIDTo change the subject a little I would value you opinion a my now page on my web site.From what I think most knights of that time were mercinaries Fighting for the highest bidder.Some had land and owed to a king or whatever.
Fred
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Robin Hood
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El Cid was constanlty fighting the moors he never fought Alfonso directly because of the vows he took. he helped Alfonso several times and when Alfonso was done wit him each time he exiled the cid but in the end Alfonso made sure the Cid had a proper funeral and wasnt to be buried until he was there to see him off.
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segolden
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 Often wondered if some of the stories about Vivar weren't simply propaganda to clean up the image. Sounds a little too close to the Saul/David go-round to me, but that's just my opinion.
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Robin Hood
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i dont know but thats what i have found out.
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segolden
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Oh, not saying it isn't necessarily true, RH, just that there's a lot of contradictory documentation floating around. When it comes to politics and image, I tend to lean toward the more pragmatic view of history. Or cynical, if you prefer.
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