| Tizona |
The Cid won in battle from King Yucef, the good sword Tizona, which is to say, the firebrand. Soon after the Cid’s death, Tizona became one of the most precious possessions of the Castilian royal family.
It can be viewed at the Museo del Ejército in Madrid. In 1999, a small sample of the blade was subjected to metallurgical analysis which partially confirmed its provenance as probably having been made in Moorish Cordoba in the eleventh century. A replica can be purchased.
And my Cid won in this battle from King Yucef, his good sword Tizona, which is to say, the firebrand.
Badly were we matched with them, and now for the after-feast he hath made this mockery of us! But we must keep secret this which we bear in mind, and not let him wit that we are wroth against him, for otherwise he would not let us depart from hence, neither give us our wives to take with us, and he would take from us the swords Colada and Tizona which he gave us....
And the women said, Don Diego and Don Ferrando, ye have strong swords and of sharp edge; the one is called Colada and the other Tizona; cut off our heads and we shall become martyrs! But set not this evil example upon us, for whatever shame ye do unto us shall be to your own dishonour.
I demand of the Infantes of Carrion, before you, two swords which I gave into their keeping; the one is Colada and the other Tizona.
So they brought the swords Colada and Tizona, and delivered them to the King.
And he laid them upon his lap and said, Ah, my swords, Colada and Tizona, truly may I say of you, that you are the best swords in Spain; and I won you, for I did not get you either by buying or by barter.
And Pero Bermudez rose and made the same demand for the sword Tizona, and the Cid gave it him in like manner.
Then the Cid rose and said, Thanks be to God and to you, Sir King, I have recovered my swords Colada and Tizona.
And Count Don Remond armed the knights of the Cid, and instructed them how to do their devoir, and Count Garcia Ordonez helped arm the Infantes of Carrion and their uncle Suero Gonzalez, and they sent to ask the King his favour that he would give command that the swords Colada and Tizona should not be used in that combat.
Howbeit Ferrando Gonzalez rose, and the blood began to run out of his mouth, and Pero Bermudez drew his sword and went against him; but when he saw the sword Tizona over him, before he received a blow from it, he cried out that he confessed himself conquered, and that what Pero Bermudez had said against him was true.
Then saddle ye my horse Bavieca, and arm him well; and ye shall apparel my body full seemlily, and place me upon the horse, and fasten and tie me thereon so that it cannot fall: and fasten my sword Tizona in my hand.
And it had on painted hose of black and white, so cunningly painted that no man who saw them would have thought but that they were grieves and cuishes, unless he had laid his hand upon them; and they put on it a surcoat of green sendal, having his arms blazoned thereon, and a helmet of parchment, which was cunningly painted that every one might have believed it to be iron; and his shield was hung round his neck, and they placed the sword Tizona in his hand, and they raised his arm, and fastened it up so subtilly that it was a marvel to see how upright he held the sword.
And they clad the body in a full noble tartari, and in cloth of purple, which the Soldan of Persia had sent him, and put him on hose of the same, and set him in his ivory chair; and in his left hand they placed his sword Tizona in its scabbard, and the strings of his mantle in his right.