My main focus of writing is investing but with time I realized that investing is part of life and how you invest depends on how you perceive life. History and your understanding of it define your perception of life and the world around you. That is why here and there I will do some writing on historical topics as well. A couple of weeks ago I finished a book called "Defenders of the West" by Raymond Ibrahim and I found it quite fascinating.

One of the stories was about Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (or more known as El Cid one of the biggest Spanish heroes). I watched a TV series called El Cid and then continued to read some more about Spain and - how it was created and some more on the Reconquista - a period of the Iberian history where Christian Kingdoms fought and recovered territory from Muslim rule from 8th century to 1492 when the fall of Grenada led to the unification of Spain. But the history of unified Spain has its roots in the history of Leon and Castile:

Background: The Kingdoms of León and Castile 1. Origins León was the heir of the Asturian kingdom, a bastion of Christian resistance against the Muslim Umayyad Caliphate in al-Andalus. It became a prominent Christian kingdom by the 10th century. Castile began as a county under León’s authority, but grew in military strength and autonomy due to its frontier position with Muslim lands. In 1035, Castile was elevated to a kingdom by Ferdinand I of León and Castile, who was originally Count of Castile and became King of León through his marriage and military victories.

Ferdinand I and the Division of His Realm Ferdinand I "the Great" ( 1037–1065) ruled both León and Castile, and upon his death in 1065, he divided his kingdom among his children—reviving the old Visigothic tradition of partible inheritance.

The Division: Sancho II received Castile (the warrior-heavy frontier kingdom). Alfonso VI received León (the senior and wealthier kingdom). García II received Galicia (and the recently conquered Muslim taifa of Coimbra). Urraca, the eldest daughter, received the important city of Zamora. Elvira, another daughter, received Toro. This division set the stage for fraternal conflict. Sancho and Alfonso both aspired to be sole ruler over the whole realm.

The War of the Siblings (1065–1072)

1. Sancho II of Castile (r. 1065–1072) Ambitious and martial, Sancho believed in primogeniture and sought to reunify his father's kingdom under himself. He allied with his brother Alfonso VI, and together they defeated García of Galicia, exiling him. But then Sancho turned on Alfonso, defeated him, and forced him into exile in the Taifa of Toledo (a Muslim-ruled city).

2. Siege of Zamora (1072) The last obstacle to total power was Urraca, who held Zamora. Sancho besieged it. During the siege, Sancho was assassinated by a nobleman from Zamora named Vellido Dolfos, possibly with Urraca’s connivance.

Alfonso VI Returns After Sancho’s death, Alfonso VI returned from exile and became King of León, Castile, and eventually Galicia—unifying the three realms. He styled himself "Emperor of all Spain" (Imperator totius Hispaniae). His rule marked a turning point in the Reconquista, with major campaigns against Muslim taifas.

The Role of El Cid (Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar) Who was El Cid? Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (c. 1043–1099), a Castilian nobleman and knight, was known by the title El Cid Campeador (the Champion). He began his career serving Sancho II of Castile and fought in many of Sancho’s battles to reunite the kingdom.

El Cid’s Role: Loyal to Sancho II, El Cid served as his chief military commander and was likely present at key campaigns such as Zamora. After Sancho’s death, El Cid swore fealty to Alfonso VI, but tensions existed. Alfonso likely resented El Cid's role under Sancho and forced him to swear publicly he had no part in Sancho's death. Later, El Cid was exiled from Alfonso’s court (possibly due to court intrigues or unauthorized campaigns). During his exile, El Cid offered his services to Muslim and Christian lords alike, eventually carving out his own principality in Valencia, which he ruled until his death in 1099.

Significance and Legacy The civil war between the brothers was a pivotal moment in medieval Iberia, reshaping the balance of power and accelerating the process of Christian consolidation. Alfonso VI’s unification of León and Castile created the foundation for what would later become the Kingdom of Spain.

El Cid’s legend, immortalized in the epic Cantar de mio Cid, became a symbol of Christian chivalry, martial prowess, and complex frontier diplomacy in a multicultural Iberia. Now I am planning my trip to Spain and will definitely look, experience and feel from another angle, from another prism, the prism of History.

Thank you for reading