The article recounts the tumultuous 11th-century narrative of El Cid, originally Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, a mercenary who pillaged the lands of La Rioja, which were uninhabited buffer zones during the conflict between Christians and Muslims. His brutal actions contrast sharply with the heroic legacy that emerged over centuries, particularly in Franco's era. Nora Berend's book examines various portrayals of El Cid across literature, including medieval chronicles, poems, and plays that shaped his persona as a national hero, revealing the discrepancies between fact and myth in historical storytelling.
Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, is depicted in historical texts as a mercenary who ruthlessly laid waste to lands despite his eventual legend as a Christian hero.
Nora Berend's book, El Cid: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary, uncovers the complex narratives surrounding El Cid, contrasting historical accounts and modern interpretations.
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