The Dead Warrior Society
Exploring history's greatest soldiers, warriors, and armies throughout the ages. The Dead Warrior Society uses contemporary accounts of what actually happened from those who saw it as well as scholarly research.
For full length episodes and video visit https://www.youtube.com/@DeadWarriorSociety
The Dead Warrior Society
El Cid: A Medieval Soldier of Fortune
Welcome back to The Dead Warrior Society, the podcast where history’s fiercest fighters live again. In this episode, we dive into the early life and legendary exploits of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar—better known as El Cid. From his rise through the ranks of Castilian nobility to his battlefield brilliance and uneasy alliances with both Christian and Muslim rulers, El Cid's story is as complex as it is iconic.
But this isn't just a tale of swords and sieges. Throughout the episode, we explore the broader world of the Reconquista: who actually fought in it, what weapons and tactics were used, and how power was structured in medieval Iberia. We examine the layers of feudal obligation, beginning with the king himself and working down through his royal entourage, noble vassals, and military retainers, highlighting how governance, loyalty, and warfare were all deeply intertwined.