El Cid, whose real name was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, was one of the most iconic figures of medieval Spain and a central character of the Reconquista, the long struggle between Christian and Muslim powers on the Iberian Peninsula. Born around 1043 near Burgos in the Kingdom of Castile, Rodrigo earned the title El Cid from the Arabic word al-Sayyid, meaning “the Lord,” and Campeador, meaning “master of the battlefield.” These names reflected the respect he commanded from both allies and enemies. Rod