Prodigious Burgalese knight, third in favor to the Cid after Alvar Fanez and Pero Munez. Cid’s head steward and a great warrior.
Outside of the Poem of the Cid, there is no evidence for his historical existence. Some scholars therefore maintain he was just an artistic creation.
They ran their career, one against the other, and met so fiercely that their lances brake, and both were sorely wounded; but Don Martin began to address Rodrigo, thinking to dismay him: Greatly dost thou now repent, Don Rodrigo, said he, that thou hast entered into these lists with me; for I shall so handle thee that never shalt thou marry Dona Ximena thy spouse, whom thou lovest so well, nor ever return alive to Castille.
But Martin Antolinez, who was a good Burgalese, he supplied my Cid and all his company with bread and wine abundantly.
Now this Martin Antolinez was nephew unto the Cid, being the son of his brother, Ferrando Diaz.
And the Cid said unto him, Martin Antolinez, you are a bold Lancier; if I live I will double you your pay.
And Martin Antolinez went in quest of them, and he passed through Burgos and entered into the Castle; and when he saw them he said, Ah Rachel and Vidas, my dear friends! now let me speak with ye in secret.
But tell us with what will the Cid be contented, and what gain will he give us for the year? Martin Antolinez answered like a prudent man, My Cid requires what is reasonable; he will ask but little to leave his treasures in safety.
Well then, said Martin Antolinez, ye see that the night is advancing; the Cid is in haste, give us the marks.
And when Rachel and Vidas entered his tent with Martin Antolinez, they kissed his hand; and the Cid smiled and said to them, Ye see that I am going out of the land, because of the King's displeasure; but I shall leave something with ye.
And they made answer, Martin Antolinez has covenanted with us, that we shall give you six hundred marks upon these chests, and keep them a fun year, swearing not to open them till that time be expired, else shall we be perjured.
Take the chests, said Martin Antolinez; I will go with you, and bring back the marks, for my Cid must move before cock-crow.
And they departed with the chests, and Martin Antolinez and his people helped them, and went with them.
Don Martin counted them, and took them without weighing.
Don Martin had five squires with him, and he loaded them all with the money.
Don Martin thanked them and took the marks, and bidding them both farewell, he departed right joyfully.
When Martin Antolinez came into the Cid's tent he said unto him, I have sped well, Campeador! you have gained six hundred marks, and I thirty.
And Martin Antolinez said to him, Go ye on; I must back to my wife and tell her what she is to do during my absence.
And that day a hundred and fifteen knights assembled at the bridge of Arlanzon, all in quest of my Cid; and there Martin Antolinez joined them, and they rode on together to St. Pedro's.
There was my Cid, the good man in battle, who fought well upon his gilt saddle; and Alvar Fanez Minaya, and Martin Antolinez the Burgalese of prowess, and Muno Gustios, and Martin Munoz who held Montemayor, and Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadores, and Galin Garcia the good one of Aragon, and Felez Munoz the nephew of the Campeador.
And Martin Antolinez the good Burgalese came up to King Galve, and gave him a stroke on the head, which scattered all the carbuncles out of his helmet, and cut through it even to the skin; and the King did not wait for another such, and he fled also.
And that they might be more certain, he said unto Minaya that he would take account of all the people who were with him, both horsemen and foot, and Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez made the roll; and there were found a thousand knights of lineage, and five hundred and fifty other horsemen, and of foot soldiers four thousand, besides boys and others; thus many were the people of my Cid, he of Bivar.
Now the Cid bethought him of Dona Ximena his wife, and of his daughters Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, whom he had left in the Monastery of St. Pedro de Cardena; and he called for Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez of Burgos, and spake with them, and besought them that they would go to Castille, to King Don Alfonso his Lord, and take him a present from the riches which God-had given them; and the present should be a hundred horses, saddled and bridled; and that they would kiss the King's hand for him, and beseech him to send him his wife Dona Ximena, and his daughters, and that they would tell the King all the mercy which God had shown him, and how he was at his service with Valencia and with all that he had.
And he ordered three hundred marks of gold to be given them, and three hundred marks of silver, to redeem the chests full of sand which he had pledged in Burgos to the Jews; and he bade them ask Rachel and Vidas to forgive him the deceit of the sand, for he had done it because of his great need: and he said, You, Martin Antolinez, were aiding and abetting herein, but praised be the name of the Lord for ever, he hath let me quit myself truly; tell them that they shall have more profit than they asked.
And he bade them each take with him his whole company, that they might be better advised and accompanied, and that Dona Ximena might come with the greater honour: and the company was this: two hundred knights who were of Don Alvar Fanez, and fifty of Martin Antolinez: and he ordered money to be given them for their disbursement, and for all things needful, in abundance.
Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez went their way, and they found the King in the city of Palencia.
And Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez alighted, and came to the King, and kissed his hand; and he received them right well, and said, What tidings bring ye me of the Cid, my true vassal, the most honourable knight that ever was knighted in Castille? Well was Minaya pleased when he heard this, and he said, A boon, Sir King Don Alfonso, for the love of your Maker! My Cid sendeth to kiss your hands and your feet, as his natural Lord, at whose service he is, and from whom he expecteth much bounty and good.
Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez kissed his hand for this in the Cid's name.
Then Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez dispeeded themselves of the King, and took their way towards Burgos.
And Alvar Fanez and Martin Antolinez, when they saw them coming, leapt off their horses, and went to them, and Minaya embraced Dona Ximena and both his cousins, Dona Elvira and Dona Sol, and so great was the rejoicing which they made together that no man can tell it you.
Alvar Fanez Minaya, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Munoz, and Martin Antolinez that worthy Burgalese, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo that good one with the shaven crown, and Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadores, and Muno Gustios that knight of prowess, and Galind Garcia of Aragon; all these and all the others made ready to go with the Cid.
In the right wing was that honourable one with the shaven crown, Don Hieronymo the Bishop, with the like number both of horse and foot; and in the left Martin Antolinez of Burgos and Alvar Salvadores, with as many more.
And the Cid departed from Valencia, and with him went Alvar Fanez Minaya with two hundred knights, and Pero Bermudez with one hundred, and Martin Antolinez with fifty, and Martin Ferrandez with other fifty, and Felez Ferruz and Benito Sanchez with fifty each;...these were five hundred knights.
Now the Cid had performed his vigil in the Church of St. Servans, matins and primes were said, and mass performed; and then he made ready to go to the Cortes, and with him went Alvar Fanez Minaya, whom he called his right arm, and Pero Bermudez, and Muno Gustios, and Martin Antolinez that doughty Burgalese, and Alvar Alvarez, and Alvar Salvadorez, and Martin Munoz, and Felez Munoz the Cid's nephew, and Malanda who was a learned man, and Galin Garciez the good one of Aragon: these and others made ready to go with him, being a hundred of the best of his company.
Then Martin Antolinez of Burgos rose and besought the Cid that he might be another, and the Cid granted his desire, and said that he should do battle with Diego Gonzalez the younger brother.
Now when the Cid had taken leave of the King, and of the other honourable men and Counts, and Ricos-omes who were with him, Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez and Muno Gustioz went on yet awhile with him: and he counselled them all how to demean themselves so as to clear him of the shame which had been done him, and to be held for good knights themselves, and to take vengeance for King Don Alfonso, and for him, and for themselves, that he might receive good tidings from them in Valencia.
But Martin Antolinez made answer, Why do you say this, Sir? we have undertaken the business and we shall go through it; and they said unto him, God have you in his guidance, Sir, and be you sure and certain, that by the mercy and help of God we shall so demean ourselves as to come to you without shame.
And he took with him the Counts whom he had appointed Alcaldes, and Pero Bermudez and Martin Antolinez and Muno Gustioz went with the Count Don Remond, to whose charge the King had given them.
Martin Antolinez and Diego Gonzalez brake their lances on each other, and laid hand upon their swords.
Martin Antolinez drew forth Colada, the brightness of which flashed over the whole field, for it was a marvellous sword; and in their strife he dealt him a back-handed blow which sheared off the crown of his helmet, and cut away hood and coif, and the hair of his head and the skin also: this stroke he dealt him with the precious Colada.
And Diego Gonzalez was sorely dismayed therewith, and though he had his own sword in his hand he could not for very fear make use of it, but he turned his horse and fled: and Martin Antolinez went after him, and dealt him another with the flat part of the sword, for he mist him with the edge, and the Infante began to cry out aloud, Great God, help me and save me from that sword! And he rode away as fast as he could, and Martin Antolinez called out after him, Get out, Don Traitor! and drove him out of the lists, and remained conqueror.
And he took with him Martin Antolinez and Pero Bermudez and Muno Gustioz, and went to Dona Ximena and her daughters, and said to them, Blessed be the name of God, now are you and your daughters avenged! and he made the knights recount the whole unto them, even as it had come to pass.
And on the morrow the Bishop Don Hieronymo baptized him, and they gave him the name of Gil Diaz: and his godfathers were Don Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Antolinez of Burgos; and Dona Ximena, with other honourable dames, were his godmothers.
Early on the morrow the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and Alvar Fanez, and Pero Bermudez, and Martin Antolinez, came to the Cid.