Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (1040 - 1099), known as El Cid, was a nobleman, a gifted military leader and diplomat who, after being exiled, conquered and governed the city of Valencia. El Cid was educated in the royal court of Castile and became the chief general, of Alfonso VI, and his most valuable asset in the fight against the Moors. The nickname "El Cid" comes from the Spanish article El, and the dialectal Arab word -sayyid, which means Lord. So "El Cid" can be translated as "The Lord". He is considered the national hero of Spain.