In 'The Quest for El Cid', Richard A. Fletcher delves into the life of one of Spain's most legendary figures, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid. This riveting exploration intertwines history and myth, revealing how El Cid became a symbol of national identity. As Fletcher navigates the tumultuous politics of medieval Spain, readers are drawn into the epic battles and intricate alliances that defined an era. Each chapter peels back layers of time, challenging perceptions of heroism and legacy. What truly shaped the man behind the legend? This book promises to leave you questioning the line between history and fiction.
By Richard A. Fletcher
Published: 1991
"In the fierce shadows of history, where ambition and honor entwine, the legacy of a knight transcends time, revealing that true valor lies in the pursuit of justice and the quest for one's own identity."
Rodrigo Díaz, the legendary warrior-knight of eleventh-century Castile known as El Cid, is still honored in Spain as a national hero for liberating the fatherland from the occupying Moors. Yet, as this book reveals, there are many contradictions between eleventh-century reality and the mythology that developed later. By placing El Cid in a fresh, historical context, Fletcher shows us an adventurous soldier of fortune who was of a type, one of a number of "cids," or "bosses," who flourished in eleventh-century Spain. But the El Cid of legend--the national hero -- was unique in stature even in his lifetime. Before his death El Cid was already celebrated in a poem; posthumously he was immortalized in the great epic Poema de Mío Cid. When he died in Valencia in 1099, he was ruler of an independent principality he had carved for himself in Eastern Spain. Rather than the zealous Christian leader many believe him to have been, Rodrigo emerges in Fletcher's study as a mercenary equally at home in the feudal kingdoms of northern Spain and the exotic Moorish lands of the south, selling his martial skills to Christian and Muslim alike. Indeed, his very title derives from the Arabic word sayyid, meaning 'lord' or 'master.' And as there was little if any sense of Spanish nationhood in the eleventh century, he can hardly be credited for uniting a medieval Spanish nation. This ground-breaking inquiry into the life and times of El Cid disentangles fact from myth to create a striking portrait of an extraordinary man, clearly showing how and why legend transformed him into something he was not during his lifetime.--From publisher description.
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“In the fierce shadows of history, where ambition and honor entwine, the legacy of a knight transcends time, revealing that true valor lies in the pursuit of justice and the quest for one's own identity.”
The Quest for El Cid
By Richard A. Fletcher
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Richard A. Fletcher is a distinguished author and historian, renowned for his in-depth explorations of medieval history and the intricacies of the Crusades. His notable works include 'The Cross and the Crescent' and 'The History of the English Church and People', which showcase his academic rigor and engaging narrative style. Fletcher's writing is characterized by its clarity, insight, and ability to bring historical figures and events to life, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience. He holds a significant reputation in the field, contributing extensively to our understanding of historical contexts and their implications.
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