El Cid by Nora Berend - ISBN: 9781399709637
Paperback
Warrior, mercenary, myth: How did El Cid become a hero?

El Cid

The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Mercenary

$31.93

  • Paperback

    256 pages

  • Release Date

    12 November 2024

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Summary

‘A fascinating study of historical mythmaking… Concise and absorbing’ — Paul Freedman, author of Out of the East

Rodrigo Diaz lived a violently colourful life in eleventh-century Spain. An ambitious military leader, exile and brutal mercenary, he served Christian kings, fought against Christian princes in service of Muslim rulers, raided and killed Muslims and eventually struck out on his own, carving out an independent principality.

While Rodrigo the man is long dead, El Cid …

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781399709637
ISBN-10:1399709631
Author:Nora Berend
Publisher:Hodder & Stoughton
Imprint:Sceptre
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:256
Release Date:12 November 2024
Weight:326g
Dimensions:30mm x 234mm x 153mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

A fascinating study of historical mythmaking. Nora Berend shows what can be pieced together about the eleventh-century mercenary known as El Cid, as well as the complicated legendary “afterlife” built on his career. How did this opportunistic knight, who served Christian kings, Arab rulers and most of all his own interests, became a symbol of Spanish unity and Castilian-dominated national identity? Concisely and absorbingly, Berend supplies the answers – Paul Freedman, author of Out of the East

About The Author

Nora Berend

Nora Berend is Professor of European History at the University of Cambridge. She has published extensively on medieval history and has written for History Today among others.

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