Nickname for the medieval Spanish knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar

ELCID

This legendary warrior earned his title after reconquering Valencia in 1094 and became a symbol of chivalry in Spanish epic poetry.

This clue refers to the legendary 11th-century Spanish warrior Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known by his honorific nickname "El Cid." The name comes from the Arabic word sidi (meaning "lord" or "master"), which became "Cid" in Spanish, and the answer is shortened to "ELCID" for the crossword. He’s a national hero in Spain, famous for his military prowess during the Reconquista, and his story was later romanticized in poems and films. The clue plays on his full name to lead to the concise, familiar version.