The Poem of the Cid: Summary and Historical Context
The Poem of the Cid: A Medieval Epic
Historical Context
Much has been written about the date and composition of the Poem of the Cid. However, some facts are now clear:
- The date on the codex is 1245 of the Hispanic Era, which corresponds to the year 1207.
- The current manuscript, from the 14th century, maintains the date of the original copy: 1207. Although Menéndez Pidal proposed 1140 as a possible year of original composition, the only certain date is that of the manuscript – 1245 of the Hispanic Era, or 1207.
- Pere Abbot appears as a copyist. His exact role and involvement in the current draft of the song are unknown. He was likely a man of letters rather than an illiterate minstrel, but the extent to which he altered the wording of the Poem of the Cid during the copying process remains unclear.
Themes and Synopsis
Theme: The poem narrates the exploits of a medieval hero with humor, grace, poetry, epic strength, and a deep understanding of the human soul.
Synopsis: The Poem of the Cid recounts the deeds of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, a Castilian knight who lived in the 11th century and was given the name “Cid” by the Moors.
The poem is divided into three parts or “cantares”:
Cantar del Destierro (Song of Exile)
El Cid, unjustly banished from Castile by King Alfonso VI, leaves the village of Vivar accompanied by his family and loyal knights. As he passes through Burgos, no one dares to offer him shelter, as the king has forbidden it under threat of severe penalties. El Cid then goes to the monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, where he leaves his wife, Jimena, and his two daughters, Doña Elvira and Doña Sol. Once outside Castile, El Cid embarks on a series of military campaigns against both Moors and Christians, seeking fame, wealth, and land.
Cantar de las Bodas (Song of the Weddings)
El Cid marches towards Valencia, which was under Moorish control, and captures it. He then sends gifts to the king of Castile and begs him to allow his family to join him in Valencia. The king agrees to this request and lifts the punishment that hung over El Cid and his men.
Great celebrations are held in Valencia to welcome El Cid’s wife and daughters. Meanwhile, the king of Morocco sends an expedition to retake the city. El Cid defeats the Moors, securing Valencia for the Christians.
Desirous of El Cid’s wealth, two Castilian noblemen, the Infantes of Carrión, ask for Doña Elvira and Doña Sol in marriage. The weddings are celebrated solemnly, and the monarch grants a royal pardon to El Cid for his loyalty.
Cantar de la Afrenta de Corpes (Song of the Shame of Corpes)
The Infantes of Carrión soon reveal their cowardice, first when a lion escapes from El Cid’s palace, and later during a battle against the Moors.
Feeling humiliated, the Infantes decide to take revenge. They embark on a journey to Carrión with their wives and, upon reaching the oak grove of Corpes, they beat them and leave them for dead.
Upon learning of this infamy, El Cid demands justice from the king. A duel is held, in which El Cid’s warriors defeat the Infantes. The Infantes are dishonored, and their marriages are annulled. The poem concludes with the plans for the marriages of El Cid’s daughters to the Infantes of Navarre and Aragon.