African emir Ben Yousef, trying to conquer Spain in 1080, is faced with the great warrior Rodrigo Diaz de Bevar, known in history as El Cid the Lord. He rose above religious squabbles and united Christians and Moors against a common enemy. El Cids struggle with the conquerors is at the center of the picture, but no less important storyline is the heros uneasy love for Jimena, the beautiful daughter of a noble count.