RODERIGO DIAS LE, a Castilian officer, who was very successful against the Moors, under Ferdinand II, king of Castile; but whose name would hardly have been remembered, if Corneille had not made his passion for Chimene the subject of an admired tragedy, founded on a simple but affecting incident. The Cid is desperately in love with Chimene, daughter of the count de Gomes; but he is at variance with the count, and being challenged by him, kills him in a duel. The conflict between love and honour in the breast of Chimene, who at length pardons and marries the Cid, forms the beauty of the piece. He died in 1098.