As portrayed by Douglas Wilmer in El Cid
| Zulema/Alcamin As portrayed by Douglas Wilmer in El Cid |
King of Zaragoza (1082-1085), son of King Almudafar. He received the kingdom of Zaragoza after Almudafar's death in preference to his brother. The historical Cid served him in his first exile between 1082 and 1085.
In the Poem and Chronicle reference is also made to an Alcamin or Tamin. He is called King of Valencia, protector of the cities along the Jalon (Alcocer, Teca, Teruel or Terrer and Calatayud). But the poet seems to err here. The historical records list no Moorish King of Valencia with this name. At this time the governor of Valencia was Abu Bakr ibn Abd al-Aziz, referred to in the chronicle and poem by that very name. There was later an Almoravid governor of Spain named Tamin after 1107. But in fact the historical protector of these towns was al-Mutamin, the King of Zaragossa. This can only be the Alcamin of the poem.
Zaragoza was ruled in the Cid’s time by the Banu Hud clan. These rulers swore allegiance to the Christian kings of Castille, and thereby retained their independence, while at the same time obtaining protection from the Almoravid Islamic fundamentalists that conquered the other Moorish kingdoms of Spain. Zaragoza was ruled by Al-Mustain I, Sulayman ibn Hud al-Judhami (1039-1049); followed by his son, Ahmad ibn Sulayman al-Muqtadir (1049-1082); followed by his son, Yusuf ibn Ahmad al-Mutamin (1082-1085). Finally it was ruled by Al-Mustain II, Ahmad ibn Yusuf (1085-1110), until finally conquered by the Almoravides in 1110.
When the King of Valencia, whose name was Alcamin, heard this, he was greatly troubled.
Fariz and Galve were the names of these two Moorish Kings, and they set out with the companies of King Alcamin from Valencia, and halted the first night in Segorve, and the second night at Celfa de Canal.
Now it came to pass that while my Cid was in Zaragoza the days of King Almudafar were fulfilled: and he left his two sons Zulema and Abenalfange, and they divided his dominions between them; and Zulema had the kingdom of Zaragoza, and Abenalfange the kingdom of Denia.
And Zulema put his kingdom under my Cid's protection, and bade all his people obey him even as they would himself.
And King Don Pedro of Aragon, and the Count Don Ramon Berenguer of Barcelona, helped Abenalfange, and they were enemies to the Cid because he defended Zulema.
And when he had plundered all that country he returned to Tamarit, where Zulema then was.
Now Zulema had sent for my Cid, and the cause was this.
His brother the King of Denia had taken counsel with Count Ramon Berenguer, and with the Count of Cardona, and with the brother the Count of Urgel, and with the chiefs of Balsadron and Remolin and Cartaxes, that they should besiege the Castle of Almenar, which my Cid had refortified by command of King Zulema.
Ruydiez returned with great honour and much spoil, and gave all his prisoners to King Zulema, who kept them eight days, and then my Cid begged their liberty and set them free.
After my Cid had done this good service to King Don Alfonso, he and King Zulema of Zaragoza entered Aragon, slaying, and burning, and plundering before them, and they returned to the Castle of Monzon with great booty.
And King Zulema sent to bid him build up the ruined Castle of Alcala, which is upon Moriella; and the Cid did so.