I enjoy history, genealogy, legends, and curiosities. When I discovered that I was the 26th great-grandson of El Cid, I decided to research and gather information about this historical and legendary Spanish figure. Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid Campeador, was born in 1049 in Vivar, Burgos, Spain, and passed away on July 10, 1099, in Valencia, Spain. The biography and genealogy of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid, present special challenges for historians because he was quickly elevated to the status of a national hero in Castile, with much legend surrounding his name.