On the territory of the Iberian Peninsula in the period of the 11th-12th centuries, i.e. around the period in which the famous El Cid lived (actually: Rodrigo Diaz de Vivat), there were several Christian monarchies, including the kingdoms of Leon, Castile and Aragon. These states, being in an alliance, but often also on their own, conducted a reconquista (Sp. reconquista), that is, they reflected the lands of the Iberian Peninsula from the hands of Muslims. In the 11th-12th centuries, it was primarily a fight against the state created by the Berber dynasty of Almoravids. Cavalry played a key role in the Christian reconquista armies. It is worth adding that due to the tactics used by the enemy, as well as the topography of the terrain, light cavalry played a very important role in this ride, the role of which was much greater than, for example, in France or the German Empire. It was armed primarily with spears and bows, and used swords as a side weapon. Defensive armament was inevitably kept to a minimum and was often limited to the use of a helmet. Such cavalry was used to defend their own camps, as well as to wage guerrilla warfare. Apart from the light cavalry, there was of course also a heavy cavalry, which did not differ significantly from the knightly cavalry of Western Europe of that time (11th-12th centuries). The main offensive weapons were a sword and a spear, and the defensive weapons were mainly chain mail, a helmet (often with a nose) and a shield shaped like Norman shields from the 10th-11th centuries. It is worth adding that in the case of Castilian troops, the army setting off on an expedition against Muslims was often divided into two parts: the azaga, which built and defended the fortified camp, and the algara, which conducted offensive operations. Cavalry - especially the heavy ones - was part of the algara.