El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar)

El Cid, whose real name was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, was a Spanish nobleman and military leader in the late 11th century. He became a national hero known for his skills in battle during the Reconquista, when Christians sought to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule. El Cid is celebrated for his noble character and strategic prowess, often fighting for both Christian kings and Muslim leaders. His story is immortalized in the epic poem "El Cantar de mío Cid," which highlights themes of loyalty, honor, and the complexities of loyalty in a divided society.