See the debate between Colin Smith and Roger M. Walker, «Did the Infantes de Carrión Intend to Kill the Cid's Daughters?», Bulletin of Hispanic Studies, 56 (1979), 1-10.

The legal aspects of the court hearing are studied by Eduardo de Hinojosa, «El derecho en el Poema del Cid», in Homenaje a Menéndez y Pelayo (Madrid, 1899), I, pp. 541-81. For its literary aspects, see Anthony Zahareas, «The Cid's Legal Action at the Court of Toledo», Romanic Review, 55 (1964), 161-72. The importance given to this action and the way in which it is treated, suggest that the poet had a legal background. This is confirmed by other elements in the poem; the latest discussion of the question is by David Hook, «On Certain Correspondences between the Poema de Mio Cid and Contemporary Legal Instruments», Iberoromania, new series, no.11 (1980), 31-53.

For the procedure followed in the duels, see Paulo Merêa, «Relendo o Poema do Cid», in Miscelânea de estudos a Joaquim de Carvalho, no. 4 (Figueira da Foz, 1960), pp. 394-98; Ramón Menéndez Pidal, En torno al «Poema del Cid» (Barcelona, 1963), pp. 171-78. For the literary aspects, see John K. Walsh, «Epic Flaw and Final Combat in the Poema de Mio Cid», La Corónica, 5 (1976-77), 100-09; Roger M. Walker, «The Infantes de Carrión and the Final Duels in the Poema de Mio Cid», La Corónica, 6 (1977-78), 22-25.

Thomas R. Hart, «Characterization and Plot Structure in the Poema de Mio Cid», in Mio Cid Studies, pp. 63-72 (p. 64).

On another aspect of this subject, see Erich von Richthofen, «La Justice dans l'épilogue de la Chanson de Roland et du Poème du Cid», Cahiers de Civilisation Médiévale, 3 (1960), 76-78; the Cid section is expanded in his Nuevos estudios épicos medievales (Madrid, 1970), pp. 80-83.

The Singer of Tales, pp. 206-07.

For an analogous case of three duels in the Cantar de Sancho II, see Deyermond, Epic Poetry and the Clergy: Studies on the «Mocedades de Rodrigo» (London, 1969), p. 162.

I am indebted to Dr David Hook for helpful comments on a first draft of this article.