The Knight of Sticks and Straw Read Free Page A

history books … and so is the tale of El Cid’s last battle – the knight of sticks and straw.
    The girl turned to the horse. “I’ll never be scared of scarecrows again,” she said.
    You never know how brave you are until you are tested.
    Cristina the babieca had passed the test.

Epilogue
    Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, was born around the year 1040, so he was almost 60 years old when he died in battle with the Berbers. He lived in Castile in Spain and his country was for ever under attack from armies from North Africa – enemies like the Berbers.
    Rodrigo trained as a knight, and was so good the king made him Chief General of the Castile army. In one battle against Aragon, Rodrigo faced a mighty enemy knight. The two men fought hand to hand while their armies looked on. Rodrigo won, and from then on he was known as El Cid – The Champion.
    El Cid was a great war leader because he found new ways to defeat the enemies of Castile. He would surprise enemy armies by doing something they didn’t expect. He also liked to frighten his enemies – he thought a scared enemy was a beaten enemy, even before the battle started.
    In 1074 (aged 34), Rodrigo married Jimena of Oviedo. (She may have been the daughter of El Cid’s greatest enemy.) She was said to be one of the most beautiful women in the world.
    For about seven years, Rodrigo was sent away from Castile because he upset King Alfonso. He often upset great lords! But when Castile was under attack, the king begged El Cid to come home. Rodrigo became so powerful he was almost a king in his own land.
    Then, in 1099, the Berbers attacked Valencia. Rodrigo rode out to attack Berber food and treasure stores, but was hit by an arrow and died.
    It is said that Queen Jimena had the idea of tying his corpse to the horse so he could ride out one last time. The Berbers had thought he was dead … and they were right! When El Cid appeared, they were so terrified they ran away, back to their boats.
    The story of his horse – Babieca the stupid – is supposed to be true. The horse lived to the age of 40, but after his master died no one ever rode him again. Babieca died two years after El Cid.