El Cid, The Legend (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Rodrigo kills Gormaz accidentally during a duel. Gormaz had challenged Rodrigo to combat after refusing his request to marry Jimena, believing Rodrigo wanted to replace him as commander. During the fight, chaos erupted when Urraca's agents assassinated Sancho from behind. In the confusion, Rodrigo's sword struck Gormaz, killing him, a tragedy Jimena witnessed, devastating her.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Gormaz disapproved of Rodrigo's romance with Jimena and tried to pair her with the arrogant Ordoñez, creating tension that builds toward the duel.

• rodrigo
• gormaz
• duel
• jimena
• accident

After Sancho's death, Alfonso is crowned king. Rodrigo refuses to bow before him and instead demands Alfonso swear he had no part in Sancho's murder. Alfonso complies but is furious and humiliated by this defiance. In anger, he banishes Rodrigo from Castile without honor, stripping him of his status at court.

Foreshadowing: The kingdom's succession crisis after Ferdinand's death creates the power vacuum that enables Urraca's scheming and fuels the conflict between the new king and Rodrigo.

• alfonso
• rodrigo
• banishment
• castile
• honor

After fleeing to Zaragoza, Rodrigo teams up with Al-Mu'tamin and his friends to infiltrate the castle of Emir Al-Muqtadir, which Yusuf had seized. Using Garcés' adopted badger to help them sneak in, they free Al-Muqtadir and enslaved Muslims. Rodrigo is appointed commander of Al-Muqtadir's forces and begins reclaiming castles and lands. The Muslims nickname him 'El Cid' (the Lord) for his leadership and military skill.

Foreshadowing: Al-Mu'tamin, the prince who accompanied them back to Castile after being captured, reappears in Zaragoza and suggests the plan to retake the castle.

• el cid
• rodrigo
• zaragoza
• al-muqtadir
• military command

Urraca manipulates Rodrigo by giving him the same dagger used to kill Sancho, then releases him with a seductive proposition: kill Alfonso in revenge. Urraca wants Alfonso dead so her brother Alfonso's rule becomes illegitimate, potentially restoring her own power. Rodrigo resists her manipulation and instead uses the dagger as proof to expose her conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: Urraca previously deployed her lover to assassinate Sancho, establishing her willingness to use murder for political gain.

• urraca
• rodrigo
• prison
• dagger
• assassination plot

Jimena witnesses Rodrigo accidentally kill her father during the duel. Even though she loves Rodrigo, she cannot forgive him for killing her father, regardless of the circumstances. She becomes convinced Rodrigo murdered Gormaz intentionally and turns away from him, refusing his attempts to explain.

Foreshadowing: Their forbidden romance was already strained by Gormaz's disapproval and his preference for Ordoñez as a suitor.

• jimena
• rodrigo
• gormaz
• refusal
• love

After Rodrigo exposes Urraca's assassination plot by revealing the dagger she gave him, Alfonso realizes Urraca was behind both Sancho's murder and Rodrigo's escape. Arrested for her crimes, Urraca is removed from power. Alfonso then shifts his strategy and unites with Rodrigo against the common enemy Yusuf, who threatens all of Iberia.

Foreshadowing: Don Diego's testimony denying he freed Rodrigo earlier had already planted seeds of suspicion about Urraca's involvement.

• alfonso
• urraca
• rodrigo
• alliance
• yusuf

Rodrigo and his men infiltrate Yusuf's castle but the plan fails when Yusuf threatens Jimena, forcing Rodrigo to surrender. Garcés manages to open the gates anyway, allowing Al-Mu'tamin to lead Rodrigo's forces in a siege. In single combat, Yusuf disarms Rodrigo and gains the upper hand. However, Ordoñez and Jimena escape during the chaos, and Jimena retrieves Yusuf's sword, handing it to Rodrigo. He uses it to disarm and defeat Yusuf. Alfonso's army arrives just in time to crush Yusuf's remaining forces.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Rodrigo warned Alfonso that Yusuf intended to seize Valencia, establishing the stakes of this final confrontation.

• yusuf
• rodrigo
• final battle
• jimena
• sword

After being exiled, Rodrigo earns honor by fighting for Al-Muqtadir in Zaragoza, reclaiming castles and lands that Yusuf had stolen, proving his loyalty and military prowess. He risks everything in the infiltration mission and final battle, ultimately defeating Yusuf, the man who invaded Iberia. His courage and refusal to kill Alfonso when Urraca manipulate him demonstrate his integrity. Alfonso recognizes these deeds and pardons him, blessing his marriage to Jimena.

Foreshadowing: Rodrigo's warning to Alfonso about Yusuf's intention to seize Valencia, even while refusing the king's terms, showed his loyalty to the realm over personal gain.

• rodrigo
• honor
• pardon
• marriage
• redemption