The Poem of Fernán González

the long version

"Fernán González lived from about AD 910 to 970. The popular image of him is of a fearsome warrior who gave his people protection from their enemies (both Muslim and Christian), and a wise and respected lord who enabled them to live in security and harmony. He was generally (though in essence erroneously) accepted to have played a strategic role in achieving independence for Castile and freeing it from dominance by the kingdom of León. The Poema de Fernán González was composed (by an unknown author) int he mid-thirteenth century as an enduring celebration of his triumphs and an account of his life and deeds, intertwining fact and legend. This new translation is set against a detailed study of the historical context of the Castilian conflicts and a factual account of the life and achievements of Fernán González. The political situation of the time in which the poem was composed is also considered, as are the manner in which the 'history' it espouses came to be handed down and elaborated over three centuries, the possibility of a pre-existing rich oral tradition surrounding this iconic figure, and the sources employed by the poet in constructing the poem." -- Back cover.