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Diaz was born in 1043 in the Castilian city of Vivar; his father was of minor nobility, while on his mother’s side he was part of the landed aristocracy, and through this he was essentially brought up in the court of Ferdinand I, king of Castile.  In 1065 Sancho II became king on his father’s death, and Diaz was appointed commander of the royal troops with the title of ''armiger regis'' (standard bearer), and at the age of 22 it is suggestive of his own growing reputation as a military leader.  Two years later he accompanied Sancho in arms against Zaragoza and its Moorish king Muqtadir, successfully making that kingdom a Castilian tributary.  It was in this campaign as a victor and negotiator that Diaz earned the respect of the Moors, who gave him his title of "El Cid."

Diaz was born in 1043 in the Castilian city of Vivar; his father was of minor nobility, while on his mother’s side he was part of the landed aristocracy, and through this he was essentially brought up in the court of Ferdinand I, king of Castile.  In 1065 Sancho II became king on his father’s death, and Diaz was appointed commander of the royal troops with the title of ''armiger regis'' (standard bearer), and at the age of 22 it is suggestive of his own growing reputation as a military leader.  Two years later he accompanied Sancho in arms against Zaragoza and its Moorish king Muqtadir, successfully making that kingdom a Castilian tributary.  It was in this campaign as a victor and negotiator that Diaz earned the respect of the Moors, who gave him his title of "El Cid."

Upon his death Ferdinand had his kingdom divided among his children; his three sons, Sancho, Alfonso, and Garcia were given Castile, Leon and Galicia respectively; his two daughters, Elvira and Urraca, were given Toro and Zamora.  However, Sancho, first-born and believing himself to be the heir to all of the kingdom, declared war on the others in 1067.  Leon, Galicia, and Toro fell with relative ease, and Alphonso escaped to Toledo and exile.  The siege of Zamora was to prove fatal; in 1072 Sancho was killed near the city’s gate – possibly through treachery through Urraca – and since Sancho was childless his brother was able to take the throne as Alphonso VI.  Despite the Cid’s presence in battle against him, albeit reluctantly, Alphonso did what he could to win his allegiance, although the Cid would lose his title of ''armiger regis'' (to Count García Ordóñez) and his influence in the court was reduced.  It is speculated that the Cid was allowed to remain at the king’s court through his marriage to Jimena, the daughter of the Count of Oviedo (July 1074), but this is not known.

Upon his death Ferdinand had his kingdom divided among his children; his three sons, Sancho, Alfonso, and Garcia were given Castile, Leon and Galicia respectively; his two daughters, Elvira and Urraca, were given Toro and Zamora.  However, Sancho, first-born and believing himself to be the heir to all of the kingdom, declared war on the others in 1067.  Leon, Galicia, and Toro fell with relative ease, and Alphonso escaped to Toledo and exile.  The siege of Zamora was to prove fatal; in 1072 Sancho was killed near the city’s gate – possibly by treachery involving Urraca – and since Sancho was childless his brother was able to take the throne as Alphonso VI.  Despite the Cid’s presence in battle against him, albeit reluctantly, Alphonso did what he could to win his allegiance, although the Cid would lose his title of ''armiger regis'' (to Count García Ordóñez) and his influence in the court was reduced.  It is speculated that the Cid was allowed to remain at the king’s court through his marriage to Jimena, the daughter of the Count of Oviedo (July 1074), but this is not known.

His position in the king’s court was precarious.  He was known to be a leader of Castilians who refused to submit to a king from Leon; he did not like the influence over Alphonso by the landed aristocracy.  But above all was a habit of humiliating powerful men in public for wrongs committed against the kingdom; chief among them was King Alphonso himself who, to placate the Castilians, was forced by the Cid to swear on a Bible that he had no involvement in Sancho’s death.  This, plus his defeat of a Granadine army (capturing Count Ordóñez with it) while in defense of Sevilla (1079); as well as an unauthorized raid into the Moorish kingdom of Toledo (which had Alphonso’s protection), caused the Cid’s exile from his kingdoms.

His position in the king’s court was precarious.  He was known to be a leader of Castilians who refused to submit to a king from Leon; he did not like the influence over Alphonso by the landed aristocracy.  But above all was a habit of humiliating powerful men in public for wrongs committed against the kingdom; chief among them was King Alphonso himself who, to placate the Castilians, was forced by the Cid to swear on a Bible that he had no involvement in Sancho’s death.  This, plus his defeat of a Granadine army (capturing Count Ordóñez with it) while in defense of Sevilla (1079); as well as an unauthorized raid into the Moorish kingdom of Toledo (which had Alphonso’s protection), caused the Cid’s exile from his kingdoms.

==Moorish support==

==Moorish support==