El Cid is an epic tale that tells of legendary warriors and kings. It was written about the year eleven hundred and has unkown author. The story centers on Ruy Diaz, more commonly known as El Cid. El Cid losses his king’s respect and admiration. Exactly why El Cid lost the king’s favor is nor known, but his heroic struggle to regain it is well documented.
He overcame the great odd placed against him and became an excellent vassa. El Cid is a perfect medieval vassal because he follows his faith, is a great leader, and shows homage to his king. El Cid devotes his entire life to following what he feels are God’s wishes. The most notable occasion where El Cid shows his devotion to his faith is in teh first verse. As El Cid is being exiled he said, “I give Thee thanks, O God, our father in heaven. My wicked enemies have contrived this plot against me.” This shows even in his lowest moment he still thanks Gos for all he has given him.
El Cid shows the deepness of his faith before going into battle He always asks God to be with him, and after he and his men win each battle El Cid always thanks God for letting it happen. He believes God let it happen, he never thought it is him. Ruy Diaz is an extrodinary leader. He is always fearless before going into battle; he does not even consider that he might not be victorious. When El Cid is badly outnumbered his tactics and battle plans always cause him to come out hte clear victor.
An example where El Cid shows his superior tactics is in page 53, verse 27. El Cid was encamped in front of Alcocer for fifteen weeks. El Cid realizes that Alcocer was not going to give up without a fight so he devises a plan. He tricks the people of Alcocer to come out.
The Essay on O great god-king Xerxes
O great god-king Xerxes, I have heard that you are planning to launch a full-scale invasion of the Greek nations following on the steps of your father, Darius. I come here before you to attempt to dissuade you of your plans for Greece. As I am once a prominent citizen of one of the many city-states in the nation, it would do you well to listen to my advice as it contains extensive knowledge of ...
El Cid began picking up parts of his camp and leavin as if he was out of reserves. The people of Alcocer fall for this trick, and they think El Cid would lose badly in battle. The people of Alcocer fall for this trick and leave thinking about all the treasures that they were going to win. However, once the people of Alcocer are a good distance from the city El Cid attacks easily defeating them.
This is only one example where El Cid shows his superior leadership ability. On major aspect of being a leader, that is usually overlooked, is having a great love for one’s followers. El Cid always is looking out for his men’s best interests. He is not a dictator to his men; El Cid always shod they did not have to fallow him into battle. El Cid only wants to a chive glory with men that were willing to fight and die for him.
After the battles he gave a large amount of the treasure to his soldiers. By giving such a large amount of treasure to his men it kept his men happy and made them more likely to fallow him. In the feudal system it is the vassal’s duty to show homage to the authority above them. El Cid does this throughout teh book. While El Cid was exiled he no longer was obligated to show er spect to Alfonso, his king, but he continued to regard it as his duty.
Whenever El Cid won a battle or receives a significant amount of riches he sent mre than the king’s share to him. When El Cid returns to Burgos he shows his admiration to the king by kneeling before him and picking grass with his teeth. This act shows king Alfonso that El Cid is below him, and it shows how much respect El Cid has for Alfonso. The story of El Cid is an inspirational tale of a person overcoming the odds placed against him. Most people would not have acted as honorably as El Cid when done such an injustice.
However, El Cid overcame these obstacles by having faith, being a leader, and showing respect to his king. For these reasons El Cid is a classic novel not just in Spain but throughout the entire world.
