Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El…

Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, had conquered the province of Valencia on June 17, 1094, then joined forces with Peter I of Aragon later that year in Burriana to cement an alliance with the end goal of doing battle with the Almoravids.

Under this agreement, El Cid departed in December of 1096 with the aid of Aragonese troops to bring weapons, ammunition and general supplies to the castle of Sierra de Benicadell.

The castle itself had been retaken by El Cid in October of 1091 to control access to Valencia from the south via the interior route.

Muhammad ibn Tasufin, commander of the Islamic forces, marched to intercept the combined Christian forces at Xàtiva.

Throughout January of 1097, from that position, he threatens and harasses the forces of El Cid and Peter I of Aragon, who manages nevertheless to reach the castle at Sierra de Benicadell and resupply it.

While El Cid and the king are marching north, they camp at Bairén, a place situated a few kilometers north of Gandía.

The Almoravids manage to take the nearby high ground at Mondúver (at eight hundred and foirty-one meters above sea level), from where they were able to harass the Christian camp.

In addition, General Muhammad has managed to bring a fleet of ships, both Almoravid and Andalusian, onto the nearby seashore from which archers and crossbowmen are able to catch the Christian forces in a crossfire.

The situation appears desperate, but El Cid harangues his troops one morning, ordering them to conduct a frontal charge and assault on the Almoravid forces, breaking their center.

By midday, the attack is in full swing.

The Almoravids, taken aback by the courage and desperate nature of the attack, break and flee the field in disarray.

The chaotic nature of the Muslim retreat leads many Almoravid soldiers to drown in the river that crosses their path of retreat or in the sea as they try to reach the safety of the Almoravid armada.

The Christian army is able to come away from the battle with a great deal of victory spoils after looting the Almoravid camp.

After the battle, they are able to continue, in safety, to the city of Valencia.