El Cid: A Time of Loyalty, Bravery, and Compassion - Essay Example

El Cid: A Time of Loyalty, Bravery, and Compassion The Poem of El Cid illustrates the life of the historical Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (c. 1045-1099), also called as Cid (Arabic word sayyid, “lord” or “master”) and Campeador (“Battler” or “Victor”). The poem starts when Rodrigo leaves his home in Vivar, after being exiled by Alfonso VI, king of Castile and Leon (1065-1109). Cid is actually exiled twice by King Alfonso, but during these times, he attacked several Muslim communities and soon, he conquered the Moorish kingdom of Valencia (1094), in a series of battles that are part of the Reconquista. This essay explores the values, relationships and lifestyle that the author of The Poem of El Cid see as praiseworthy, and it also examines the political, economic, social and religious conditions that these values, relationships and lifestyle reflect. The Poem of El Cid finds the values of loyalty to the king and to one’s army and community, compassion for conquered Moors and bravery, and bravery as praiseworthy, and this reflects the political conditions of monarchic authority, the economic conditions of poverty and uncertainty, the social conditions of vassalage, and the religious conditions of Christianity that shaped the ideals of The Crusades and The Reconquista. The Poem of El Cid revolves around Christian knights and it is not surprising that the poem’s author capitalized on Cid’s loyalty to the king, despite his exile. The King exiled Cid for taking gold and other riches during their last Crusade. Even when banned, however, the Campeador participated in the Reconquista, where several Christian kingdoms were successful in retaking Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula generally called as Al-Andalus. El Cid attacks and retakes Castejón, for instance: “The Campeador charged out of hiding, he plundered Castejón without fail,/Moorish men and women they had them as booty…” (The Poem of El Cid 10r). Still, Cid knows that King Alfonso will come after him and he does not want to fight his King. He evades the King’s soldiers and forwards to other territories of the Moors. This action shows his unwavering loyalty to the King. Furthermore, in Burgos, where Cid first knows of his exile, no one gives him lodging. One girl explains their predicament: “Cid, in our suffering you gain nothing,/but may God help you with all his holy powers” (01v). Cid does not insist on his people and he respects the decision of the king to ban him. Indeed, Cid is most loyal to the King, despite what the latter has done to him. The poem also values loyalties to one’s army and community. Cid certainly looks after the welfare of his loyal men. He explains to Martín Antolínez: “I have spent the gold and all the silver,/you well see that I carry no wealth/and I would need it for all my men” (02v). Cid follows his promises of riches and glory to his men, every step of the way. It is no wonder that his men remain more loyal to him than the King and this loyalty can be perceived from this passage: “[Cid] told them all how he wanted to ride through the night,/such good vassals take it to heart,/an order from their lord they will do it all” (09v). Cid is also loyal to friends and people whom he can trust. He entrusted his vaults of riches to Rachel and Vidas, and the two respond that they are satisfied with the promise of interests for their roles in protecting Cid’s wealth: “Said Rachel and Vidas, -We are satisfied with that,/once the chests arrive, take six hundred marks” (03v). Truly, Cid provides for his loyal friends: “…now I am quitting this land, for I am banished by the king,/ as it seems to me, you'll have some of my riches,/ as long as you live you will not be in need” (04v). Loyalty is a virtue that can regain loyalty too, a virtue that the poem extols. Compassion to non-Christians is also a praiseworthy value for the poem. Cid shows uncommon compassion to conquered Moors and he treats them like human beings, instead of seeing them as slaves or animals. While other leaders would have slaughtered the Moors and treated them as the worst kind of slaves, Cid tells his troops: “the Moorish men and women we will not be able to sell them,/ by cutting off their heads nothing will we gain” (13v). Instead, he recommends allowing the Moors to serve them, so that by granting them life, they can opt for loyalty to the new Christian owners of their land. Bravery is also a value that is commendable during these times. Cid is known for defeating the Moors and he is blessed by his people to further pursue his goals. The people in Burgos, for instance, are sorry that they cannot even extend any form of help, in goods or money to Cid, even after bringing pride to the King with his victories. Cid is, furthermore, so famous for his bravery, that even after his exile, knights sought him and wanted to serve him: “On that day at the Arlanzón bridge,/ one hundred and fifteen knights have all come together,/ all are inquiring after my Cid the Campeador” (06v). These knights increased the number of Cid’s army, which pleased him a great deal. This overwhelming support for Cid reinforces the value of bravery for knights and warriors; they pay allegiance to the brave and no one else. These values reflect the political conditions of monarchy. King Alfonso already has a centralized kingdom, where he is able to try pursuing Cid after exiling him. Furthermore, economic conditions focus on poverty and uncertainty. The people are poor, because they are vassals to the king. Even lords of these vassals, however, are somewhat seen as slaves to the king. In addition, knights are supposed to have some share over their plunder, as their just compensation, but it can be seen that Alfonso wants the riches for himself. Hence, uncertainty in economic conditions lingers even for knights. Fervor for Christianity dominates the actions and goals of the knights. Cid prays for his safety and his men’s wellbeing during his exile: “If you do so and fortune is favorable toward me,/ I'll send to your altar fine and rich offerings, this I have in debt, that I'll have one thousand Masses sung there” (05v). Cid even dreams of angel promising him victory. Clearly, Cid believes that his mission is blessed by God Himself. Political and economic uncertainties during Cid’s time filled people with fear, and yet the more they are fuelled to ask for God’s guidance and blessings. The Poem of El Cid finds the values of loyalty to the king and to one’s army and community, consideration for conquered Moors and bravery, and bravery as exemplary, and this reflects the political conditions of monarchic authority, the economic conditions of poverty and insecurity, the social conditions of vassalage, and the religious conditions of Christianity. It is a poem that underscores loyalty so much that in the end, King Alfonso rewards Cid’s loyalty. Hence, it promotes loyalty to various social relationships, but most especially, to the King above all. Work Cited Per Abbat. Poem of my Cid. Web. 20 June 2011 . Read More