Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar y Mendoza, 1st Marquis of Cenete

He was the firstborn son of the powerful Cardinal Pedro González de Mendoza and went on to become the 1st Conde del Cid and the 1st Marquis of Cenete, a title he held from 1491 until his death.

Rodrigo began his military career in the Granada War under the command of his uncle, Íñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones, the 2nd Count of Tendilla.

After Rodrigo returned to Spain, he married a second time with María de Fonseca y Toledo,[3] ignoring the express wishes of her family and Queen Isabella I of Castile who forbade the marriage.

Before long, he left the palace for his dominions in Ayora in the Province of Valencia due to a confrontation between him and his uncle, Íñigo López de Mendoza y Quiñones.

Rodrigo was favored in the dispute by Philip I of Castile and Íñigo by Ferdinand II of Aragon.