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This article examines the parallels between the stories of Bernardo del Carpio, Fierabras, and Rodrigo, the young Cid. These warrior heroes have not previously been studied together, since at first glance they appear to have little in common, emerging as they do in different periods and, in the case of Fierabras, belonging to a competing epic tradition while representing another culture and religion altogether. Yet, the initial observation that all they confront the same enemy, the army of Charlemagne (or of the king of France), leads to the discovery of additional and more significant parallels. The subsequent analysis of the common aspects of these three very distinctive and seemingly unrelated epic narratives provides new insights into the nature of the evolution of epic narrative, the transmigration of heroic deeds among divergent protagonists, and the ability of these same deeds to transcend more abstract concerns such as nationality, allegiance, and enmity.
