© Mark Wade
| Molina de Aragon © Mark Wade |
Town 195 km northeast of modern Madrid, known to the Moors as Tarik, and ruled in the Cid's time by the Moor Abencano.
Known before the Islamic conquest as Mediolum, the town was reconquered in 1129 by King Alfonso I of Aragon. Here his descendents constructed the greatest fortifications in Guadalajara during the 12th and 13th Centuries. The Roman bridge spanning the Rio Gallo would have been familiar to the Cid.
And from thence he did much harm to the Moors of Medina and of the country round about; and he made Daroca pay tribute, and Molina also, which is on the other side, and Teruel also, and Celfa de Canal, and all the country along the river Martin.
And he called for Muno Gustios, and Pero Bermudez, and the Bishop Don Hieronymo, and bade them take a hundred knights lest there should be need to fight, and go to Molina, to Abencano, who was his friend and vassal, and bid him take another hundred knights, and go with them to Medina Celi as fast as they could go.
And when they came to Molina, Abencano received them right well, and did them great honour; and though the Cid had bidden him take only one hundred horse, he took two.
They came to Molina and there were lodged in a good and rich house, and Abencano the Moor waited on them.
Nothing did they want which they could wish to have; he even had all their beasts new shod, and for Minaya and the ladies, Lord! how he honoured them! On the morrow they left Molina, and the Moor went with them.
Great honour did the Cid do to Abencano the Lord of Molina, for all the service which he had done to Dona Ximena.
And Abencano took his leave and returned to Molina.
And the Cid bade him salute the Moor Abengalvon in his name, with whom they should tarry a night at Molina, and bid him do service unto his daughters, and his sons-in-law, and accompany them as far as Medina; and for all that he shall do, said the Cid, I will give him good guerdon.
And when Abengalvon knew that the daughters of the Cid were coming, he went out joyfully from Molina to meet them, and pitched tents for them in the field, and had food brought there in abundance.
God grant that this marriage may please your father! Having said this the good Moor returned to Molina.
On the morrow they lodged at Medina Celi, and from thence they went to Molina, and Abengalvon came out with a right good will to welcome them, for love of the Cid, and he did them all the honour that he could.
Then Pero Bermudez went on to Valencia, and Alvar Fanez and the rest of his company abode with the dames in Molina.
And he took Pero Bermudez by the hand and led him to Dona Ximena, who wept greatly at seeing him, and said, Ah, Pero Bermudez, what tidings bringest thou of my daughters? And he comforted her and said, Weep not, Lady, for I left them alive and well at Molina, and Alvar Fanez with them; by God's blessing you shall have good vengeance for them! Then the Cid seated himself near his wife, and Pero Bermudez took his seat before them, and told them all that he had done, and how the King had summoned them to the Cortes at Toledo.
God willing, we will take our departure in good time! Do you now return to Molina, and bring on my daughters, for I would fain see them; and I will talk with them that they may tell me the whole truth of this thing, that I may know the whole when I go to the court of the King to demand vengeance.
Pero Bermudez returned the next day to Molina, where Abengalvon had done great honour to the dames, and to Alvar Fanez, and all that were with him.
And they departed from Molina, and Abengalvon with them, for he would not leave them till he had brought them to Valencia to his Lord the Cid.
And Abengalvon returned to Molina well pleased.