El Cid: Exile, Battles, and Legacy in Medieval Spain
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Song of Exile
El Cid is banished by King Alfonso VI because some envious individuals have accused him of keeping a portion of the taxes collected from Andalusia. He leaves his wife, Jimena, and daughters in the Monastery of Cárdena. Soon after, he begins his military campaigns against the Moors, operating from Teruel to Zaragoza. The conquest culminates with the liberation of the Count of Barcelona, whom El Cid had previously taken prisoner.
Song of the Wedding
El Cid continues his military activities, reaching the Mediterranean and conquering Valencia. He then begs the King to allow Jimena and his daughters to join him in the city. El Cid shows off his conquered lands, having become rich and powerful. Because of this, the Infantes of Carrión seek marriage to his daughters. The song ends with El Cid accepting these weddings.
Song of the Affront of Corpes
The Infantes of Carrión demonstrate cowardice and plot revenge. El Cid asks permission to take his daughters to Carrión's lands. In Castile, in the oak woods of Corpes, they abandon and brutally beat them. El Cid calls for justice. The King summons the Court in Toledo, and the Infantes are proven to be cowards. The poem ends with the marriage of El Cid's daughters to the Infantes of Navarre and Aragon.
Middle Ages
Two major genres cultivated during this period are the epic (epic songs) and the poetry of the clergy (Hita). When the nobility becomes more refined, courtly poetry appears (Jorge Manrique). Meanwhile, the common people grew and orally transmitted traditional poetry. With the appearance of the bourgeoisie, the people found a new genre of traditional character to meet their wishes: the ballad.
In the Middle Ages, three major groups coexisted: Arabs, Jews, and Christians. Jarchas appear later, representing the first documents in our literature. Regarding culture, the Toledo School of Translators was the great center of culture, promoted by Alfonso X. The Camino de Santiago and our literature marked the first cultural contact between Spain and France, and later with Italy.
14th Century
The Middle Ages is a world of darkness and mystery. Until this century, man lives among anonymous literature. With the first contacts with Europe, man lives attached to his traditions. At the beginning of this century, there is a change in the medieval mindset; man begins to regain faith and become aware of his individuality. In the late Middle Ages, a jovial spirit, love of life, and Christianity were embraced.