Tizona
Encyclopedia
Tizona is the name of the sword
carried by El Cid
which was used to fight the Moors
in Spain
according to the Cantar de mio Cid
The name Tizón translates to burning stick, firebrand.
A sword identified with Tizona is on display at the Museo de Burgos, in Burgos
.
, Tizona's power depends on the wielder and it frightens unworthy opponents. When the infantes of Carrión have Tizona, they understimate the power of the sword, due to their cowardice, but when Pero Vermúdez is going to fight Ferrán González and unsheathes Tizona (given as a present from El Cid), Ferrán González yells and surrenders, cowering in terror at the sight of Tizona.
Verses 3642-3645:
Translation:
, though considerable amounts of Damascus steel
can be found in its blade.
There are two inscriptions on the sword:
In medieval Castilian (Spanish
): "I am Tizona, made in the year 1040", but in Spanish medieval sources, "era" implies Hispanic Era, by which the History of Spain starts in 38 BC, so the intended date has to be AD 1002.
In Latin: "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you" (from the Catholic prayer Ave Maria
, "Hail Mary")
On the sword the "U" characters appear similar to the modern "X."
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
carried by El Cid
El Cid
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar , known as El Cid Campeador , was a Castilian nobleman, military leader, and diplomat...
which was used to fight the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
according to the Cantar de mio Cid
Cantar de Mio Cid
El Cantar de Myo Çid , also known in English as The Lay of the Cid and The Poem of the Cid is the oldest preserved Spanish epic poem...
The name Tizón translates to burning stick, firebrand.
A sword identified with Tizona is on display at the Museo de Burgos, in Burgos
Burgos
Burgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
.
Legendary sword
In the heroic poem Cantar de Mio CidCantar de Mio Cid
El Cantar de Myo Çid , also known in English as The Lay of the Cid and The Poem of the Cid is the oldest preserved Spanish epic poem...
, Tizona's power depends on the wielder and it frightens unworthy opponents. When the infantes of Carrión have Tizona, they understimate the power of the sword, due to their cowardice, but when Pero Vermúdez is going to fight Ferrán González and unsheathes Tizona (given as a present from El Cid), Ferrán González yells and surrenders, cowering in terror at the sight of Tizona.
Verses 3642-3645:
Translation:
The Tizona at Burgos
The sword is 103 cm/40.5 inches long and weighs 1.1 kg/2.4 pounds. Tizona was supposedly forged in CórdobaCórdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
, though considerable amounts of Damascus steel
Damascus steel
Damascus steel was a term used by several Western cultures from the Medieval period onward to describe a type of steel used in swordmaking from about 300 BCE to 1700 CE. These swords are characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water...
can be found in its blade.
There are two inscriptions on the sword:
- IO SOI TISONA FUE FECHA EN LA ERA DE MILE QUARENTA
In medieval Castilian (Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
): "I am Tizona, made in the year 1040", but in Spanish medieval sources, "era" implies Hispanic Era, by which the History of Spain starts in 38 BC, so the intended date has to be AD 1002.
- AVE MARIA ~ GRATIA PLENA ~ DOMINUS TECUM
In Latin: "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you" (from the Catholic prayer Ave Maria
Hail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
, "Hail Mary")
On the sword the "U" characters appear similar to the modern "X."