Bavieca

Bavieca, sometimes spelled Babieca, was the horse of El Cid, a famous Spanish military leader.

Legends surrounding the acquisition of the horse vary, and the meaning of the horse’s name depends on the legend told: the young El Cid picked a horse out of a herd his grandfather disliked (and so the name comes from the Spanish for “Stupid!”), or the horse was a gift from the King (and the name is derived from the region the horse was from), or a barbarian gave El Cid the horse, and the name is derived from “Barbieca” or “barbarian.”

However acquired and named, the relationship between El Cid and Bavieca in legend is similar to that of Alexander and Bucephalus. Bavieca is buried with El Cid at the monstary of San Pedro de Cardeña.