death of his father King Don Sancho el Mayor, in the era 1072, which
was the year of the Incarnation 1034, and from the coming of the
Patriarch Tubal to settle in Spain 3197, and from the general deluge
3339, and from the creation of the world 4995, according to the
computation of the Hebrews, and from the beginning of the false sect of
the Moors 413. And in the year 1037 Ferrando slew Bermudo the King of
Leon in battle, who was his wife's brother, and conquered his kingdom,
and succeeded to it in right of his wife Dona Sancha. So he was the
first person who united the states of Castille and Leon, and the first
who was called King of Castille; for till this time the lords of that
country had been called Counts. He was a good king, and one who judged
justly and feared God, and was bold in all his doings. Before he
reigned he had by Dona Sancha his wife the Infanta Dona Urraca, his
eldest daughter, who was a right excellent lady, of good customs and
bounty and beauty; and after her he had the Infante Don Sancho, his
eldest son and heir; and then the Infanta Dona Elvira, whom after the
death of the King her father, her brother King Don Alfonso married to
the Count Don Garci de Cabra. And after he became King he had the
Infante Don Alfonso, and the Infante Don Garcia, who was the youngest
of all. And he put his sons to read, that they might be of the better
understanding, and he made them take arms, and be shown how to demean
themselves in battle, and to be huntsmen. And he ordered that his
daughters should be brought up in the studies beseeming dames, so that
they might be of good customs, and instructed in devotion and in all
things which it behoved them to know.

II. In those days arose Rodrigo of Bivar. who was a youth strong in
arms and of good customs; and the people rejoiced in him, for he
bestirred himself to protect the land from the Moors. Now it behoves
that ye should know whence he came, and from what men he was descended,