(Reconquista)
Jun. 11th, 2008 04:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talonkarrdeIt must’ve been a great and terrible sight to the Moors – the leader of the beseiging infidels, whom they swore was dead, returning unharmed to the battlefield. His famous warhorse, Babieca, slowly trotting to the front lines, with the famous knight riding strong and tall upon the steed, parting the army before them like Moses did the Red Sea. He would have been resplendent in his shining armor, a diamond glinting in a grey field, giving the Muslims a sign they could not ignore.
And what were the defenders of Valencia to do when the chain-mail glove came up with the sword of El Cid and pointed at the Castle, when the deep voice called out 'Charge!'? The call was taken up by the entire army and the attackers swept forward, a relentless tide that rolled onto and over the defenders' lines, sweeping them away as the ocean sweeps away the sand castles of children.
It would’ve been different, perhaps, if El Cid had not reappeared, had not taken his place at the head of the army, had not urged them on. But he had, and the Moors broke and ran – there was no other way it could have ended. What else could happen, with their faith in Allah broken – how could Allah be on their side if He had allowed the great general of the Infidels to come back to life after they had killed him?
So they ran, and El Cid's soldiers swept through Valencia like a flash flood, quickly quelling the small pockets of resistance. Less than three hours after the battle began, his soldiers had secured the city, and everyone waited for the surrender ceremony.
It was a victory, no doubt, and one that proved to all that El Cid was as great a military commander as they had all known. But soon after they had secured the city, the whispers began – why hadn’t El Cid taken the charge himself, as was his style? Why had he not already taken the surrender of the city and moved on to the next conquest?
Only then was it discovered that El Cid was dead, had been dead since before the battle. When his body was taken to his wife, she immediately strapped him to Babieca in his armor and told his generals to carry him to the front and act as if he were still alive. And to their credit, they did – and in doing so, secured El Cid’s final victory: one he won after his death.
And what were the defenders of Valencia to do when the chain-mail glove came up with the sword of El Cid and pointed at the Castle, when the deep voice called out 'Charge!'? The call was taken up by the entire army and the attackers swept forward, a relentless tide that rolled onto and over the defenders' lines, sweeping them away as the ocean sweeps away the sand castles of children.
It would’ve been different, perhaps, if El Cid had not reappeared, had not taken his place at the head of the army, had not urged them on. But he had, and the Moors broke and ran – there was no other way it could have ended. What else could happen, with their faith in Allah broken – how could Allah be on their side if He had allowed the great general of the Infidels to come back to life after they had killed him?
So they ran, and El Cid's soldiers swept through Valencia like a flash flood, quickly quelling the small pockets of resistance. Less than three hours after the battle began, his soldiers had secured the city, and everyone waited for the surrender ceremony.
It was a victory, no doubt, and one that proved to all that El Cid was as great a military commander as they had all known. But soon after they had secured the city, the whispers began – why hadn’t El Cid taken the charge himself, as was his style? Why had he not already taken the surrender of the city and moved on to the next conquest?
Only then was it discovered that El Cid was dead, had been dead since before the battle. When his body was taken to his wife, she immediately strapped him to Babieca in his armor and told his generals to carry him to the front and act as if he were still alive. And to their credit, they did – and in doing so, secured El Cid’s final victory: one he won after his death.
