The title ("The Boss" in Iberian Arabic) by which Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar or Ruy Diaz de Vivar (d. 1099) is most commonly known. A subject of Castille, and great warrior, El Cid became the hero of a Medieval epic cycle of considerable literary merit. The reality was somewhat less glorious, but not by much. He several times fell out of favor with Alfonso VI of Castille, despite services rendered, and often worked as a mercenary for both Christian and Muslim rulers, albeit apparently never against Castillian interests. In 1094 he conquered Valencia, which he held more or less as an independent state until his death.