He was born Rodrigo (or Ruy) Díaz de Vivar. Vivar being the town where he was born. It is near Burgos. He was born either in 1040 or 1043. Historians are not sure of the date. He died in Valencia in 1099. His name, "El Cid" was given to him by the Moors. In the mixture of the Spanish and Arabic language they used, they called him "As-Sid" (Lord or Chief). This was pronounced by the Spaniards as "El Cid", but they themselves actually called him "Campeador" (Champion)
