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The reproduction Steel Shield of El Cid Campeador by Marto of Toledo Spain belonged to the Castilian knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as "El Cid Campeador" in the 11th century. He was the prototype of the knight and a loyal vassal who took part with his king, Alphonse VI, in the conquest of Toledo. Subsequently, El Cid conquered the city, and kingdom of Valencia (which he ruled there until his death in 1099) from the Arabians (Moors). El Cid was a great war hero, a superior and extremely successful soldier of fortune, who apparently never lost a battle. To this day, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is known as a hero of Christian Spain, due to his excellent acheivements in the the Reconquest of Spain from the Moors. His title, El Cid Campeador, derives from: "El Cid" , a Moorish title of respect, from Arabic al sayyid "Lord"; "Campeador" is Spanish for "Champion".
The ornamental triangular shield of El Cid Campeador by Marto of Toledo Spain is made in steel, painted in white with a black cross and a craquele finish. In the center is riveted a 24K Gold plated metal sheet depicting Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, best known as El Cid, a spanish hero of the Reconquista.
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