Prussian Socialism Episode 32 El Cid and Richard the Lionheart

Prussian Socialism Episode 32: El Cid and Richard the Lionheart.

In Europe's centuries-long fight against Islam, the two greatest heroes were Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar "El Cid" and Richard I "the Lionheart".

In Spain: El Cid (1043-99) led a band of champions to carve out a new Christian kingdom and defended it from the fanatical counter-attack of the blue-veiled Almoravids. His life inspired the first work of Spanish literature, the epic Poema de mio Cid.

In Palestine: Richard "Cœur de Lion" (1157-99) led the English in the furious Third Crusade against the Arabian desert hordes. Forced to return to Europe before he could take Jerusalem, Richard won a reputation as the bravest man of his era, acknowledged even by his nemesis, the Sultan of Egypt, Saladin.

Greg and William recount the historical facts and the mythic lore surrounding these two heroes, whose examples have inspired their countrymen for centuries.