SPANISH HEROES AND LEGENDS
The Legend of El Cid
Rodrigo Diaz Vivar (1040 – 1099) - "El Cid Campeador".
The Legend of El Cid , and his horse Babieca, has been told in many forms since the 12th century A.D. He is a Spanish national hero, probably the best known outside Spain – Largely due to the 1961 Hollywood movie in which he was played by Charlton Heston.
Born near Burgos ( the Castillian Capital) he first served as a general under
Sancho II up until the king was murdered. Suspicion fell upon his successor King Alfonso VI and according to the legends El Cid made him swear an oath that he had nothing to do with the assassination of his brother.
El Cid was later forced into exile and became a mercenary at the head of his own combined Christian / Muslim army and even fought for the Moors before being recalled to fight for a now threatened King Alfonso.
It was around this time that his army reconquered Valencia and the surrounding towns in the name of King Alfonso. He then governed the city up until his death in 1099.
The Legend of Guzman "The Good"
Alonso Perez de Guzmán (1255 – 1309)
Another hero of the Spanish "Reconquista" Alonso Perez de Guzmán was the illegitimate son of a minor Castilian Noble . He left Castile after arguments with his brothers and , like El Cid,became a mercenary fighting for both the Christians and the Moors in Spain and North Africa, where he earned the reputation of being a great warrior.
In 1294 King Sancho IV put him in charge of the town of Tarifa , recently recovered from the Moors. Shortly after this the town was besieged by Moorish troops under Ibn Yaqub. The town was totally cut off and awaiting the arrival of Aragonese reinforcements by sea when Guzman's son and heir was taken hostage.
The Moorish leader told Guzman that if he didn't surrender the town then he would cut his son's throat. To which Guzman replied by throwing him his dagger and saying:
"I did not beget a son to be made use of against my country, but that he should serve her against her foes"
Thus, his son was killed but the town saved and Alonso Perez de Guzman became known as Guzman "The Good". Later, after successfully defending Gibraltar, he became Duke of Medina Sidonaia (near Malaga) and continued fighting against the Moors up until his death in 1309.
The legend of Wilfred "The Hairy"
Guifre "el Pilós" ( ? - 897)
Although the year of his birth is unknown Wilfred "The Hairy" was of Hispanofranco descent and son of Sunifred of Urgel. He became Count of Urgel and Cerdenyá and in 877 was named Count of Barcelona, Besalú and Girona by French King Charles "The Bald" as reward for his services. Wilfred worked to repopulate and link the 5 counties and built fortifications in towns as far South as the River Llobregat.
This strengthening of his territories caused the Moors to fortify Lleida. Wilfred in turn saw this as a direct threat and led a failed attack on the city which in turn provoked the Moors into attacking Barcelona. When Wilfred died in battle defending Barcelona against the Moors in 897 A.D. his titles passed to his son.
Legend has it that the Catalan flag has its origins in the coat of arms presented to Wilfred by Charles the Bald as a reward for his bravery after he was injured in battle. According to the legend the King visited Wilfred in his tent where he lay bleeding, wet his fingers with Wilfred's blood and traced four lines across the injured Count's golden shield.
Whether or not the legend is true the design was used as the coat of arms of Aragon .Today it forms the basis of the flags of the 4 Autonomous Comunities which made up the Kingdom of Aragon; Aragón, Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands.