Tizona

1
Tizona
Tizona
Tizona is the name of the sword carried by
Rodrigo Daz de Vivar, El Cid, which was used to
fight the Moors in Spain according to the Cantar
de Mio Cid. The name Tizn translates to burning
stick, firebrand.
[1]
A sword identified with Tizona is on display at
the Museo de Burgos, in Burgos.
Legendary sword
The Tizona, or Tizn, is one of the swords
(together with La Colada) attributed to El Cid in
Spanish literature. According to the Cantar de
Mio Cid, El Cid won the sword from its previous
owner, King Yucef in Valencia. Afterward, it was
gifted by El Cid to his sons-in-law, the Infantes
de Carrin but eventually returned into the
possession of El Cid.
Similar to the other sword attributed to El Cid, La
Colada, there exists little historical evidence
verifying the existence of a sword named Tizona
belonging to Rodrigo Daz. Later there developed
the common opinion that identified the sword of
James I of Aragon, named Tis, with the one
attributed to the Cid in the Cantar de gesta, but this is contrasted with the Llibre dels fets (a series of
autobiographical chronicles including James I of Aragon) in which the Tis is described in detail without any
mention of The Cid, most likely owing to a simple coincidence of name. Also, the Tis of the James I was descended
from Ramon Berenguer I, who was in possession of the sword until 1020. This makes it unlikely that the sword
would have passed from its previous owners to the Cid and that it would then have returned to the House of Aragon.
It seems more logical that the Tis was always in Aragon possession and that the confusion arises from a
coincidental similarity in naming.
There exist various Tizonas which have been attributed to the Cid. One of these figured in the treasure stock of the
regent house of Castilla that was transferred by lvaro de Luna, recovered in 1452 and placed in an inventory of the
Alczar of Segovia. In the inventory there remains the description of "a sword called Tizona, that belonged to the
Cid; it has a channel in each side, with gilded lettering; it has a hilt, and cross, and a block of silver, and in relief
castles and lions and a small golden lion on each part of the cross; and has a scabbard of red leather lined with green
velvet." This sword was ceremonial, owing to its adornment (which reflects its Castillian heraldry) and would have
belonged to a member of the Castillian royalty or their family. After this mention in the inventory list there are no
other historical notices, although the blade currently residing in the Royal Armory of Madrid could be the same one
described in 1503.
[2]
Another presumed Tizona belonged to the Marqueses de Falces, to whom the sword was given by Fernando II of
Aragon. It has been kept since at least the 17th century in the Castle of Marcilla and that is currently on display in
the Museum of Burgos alongside other presumed relics of the Cid.
Tizona
2
The sword at Burgos is 103 centimetres (41in) long and weighs 1.1 kilograms (2.4lb). Tizona was supposedly
forged in Crdoba, though considerable amounts of Damascus steel can be found in its blade.
There are two inscriptions on the sword:
IO SOI TISONA FUE FECHA EN LA ERA DE MIL E QUARENTA Medieval Castilian for: "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 been presumed to be AD 1002.
And:
AVE MARIA ~ GRATIA PLENA ~ DOMINUS TECUM Latin for: "Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord
is with thee", St. Gabriel Archangel's greeting to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Gospel according to St.
Luke.
The adornment of the sword has a plain pommel, a long and conical hilt, lined with iron; the hilt is curved and the
sideboards contain spikes. All of these traits are characteristic of a typology dating to the ends of the 15th century.
The inscription has caused some discussion, in that the sword, if historically accurate, could not have been made in
the year 1040. There have been arguments, however, pointing out that the medieval Spanish use of the word "era"
implies Hispanic Era, in which the history of Spain starts in 38 BC, making the actual date of the sword AD 1002.
Still controversial is the use of the word Tizona, that came into use only with the 14th century, as opposed to Tizn
which is the term used to refer to the sword in the oldest sources. Menndez Pidal has expressed the opinion that the
sword is a forgery of the 16th century. Other authors, like Bruhn, postulate that the blade could be also apocryphal
Colada that was described in the same inventory of 1503. The recent investigations of the Complutense University of
Madrid, published in 2001, signal that the sword is from the 11th century; nevertheless the Curator of the Royal
Armory lvaro Soler del Campo points out that the sword is formed of three joined pieces and that their typology is
the same as that of the handle, adornment, and the inscription, from the era of the Catholic Monarchs.
[3]
The King Fernando the Catholic gave the sword to Pedro de Peralta y Ezpeleta, the first Count of Santisteban of
Lern, for services rendered in the negotiations that led to his marriage with Isabel of Castile. This sword remained in
the control of the marquis of Falces until the 20th century in the Palacial Castle of Marcilla. The sword is described
there as: "With a handle and hilt of completely black iron, double-sided blade, thin, polished, smooth."
The sword was declared Bien de Inters Cultural on January 18, 2003.
After the Spanish Civil War, the sword that belonged to the Marquis of Falces and was later deposited in the Madrid
Museum of Ejrcito was moved to its new site in the Alczar of Toledo. The owner Jos Ramn Surez del Otero,
marquis of Falces, offered its sale to the Ministry of Culture (Spain), which declined its purchase due to a lack of
historical proof that it had belonged to the Cid and for the elevated price demanded by the owner (reports from the
ministry valued it somewhere between 200,000-300,000 euros, according to Reuters
[4]
). It was finally acquired in
2007 by the Castile and Len and the Cabinet of Commerce and Industry of Burgos
[5]
The price paid to the marquis
of Falces for the sword was 1.6 million euros.
[6]
It was expected that its final destination would be the same cathedral
that houses the tomb of the Cid and his wife Jimena along with other items related to the Cid.
In the heroic poem Cantar de Mio Cid, Tizona's power depends on the wielder and it frightens unworthy opponents.
When the infantes of Carrin have Tizona, they underestimate the power of the sword, due to their cowardice, but
when Pero Vermdez is going to fight Ferrn Gonzlez and unsheathes Tizona (given as a present from El Cid),
Ferrn Gonzlez yells and surrenders, cowering in terror at the sight of Tizona.
Verses 3642-3645:
[7]
l dex la lana, e mano al espada meti;
cuando lo vio Ferrn Gonzlez, conuvo a Tizn,
que antes qu'el golpe esperasse, dixo: -Venido si!-
Translation:
Tizona
3
He [Pero Vermdez] let go the lance and took the sword in hand;
when Ferrn Gonzlez saw that, he recognized Tizona
and before the expected blow said, "I am defeated!"
Notes
[1] Sebastin de Covarrubias. Tesoro de la lengua castellana o espaola, 1611.
[2] [2] Montaner Frutos (2011:942-943)
[3] [3] Montaner Frutos (2011:943-944)
[4] http:/ / es. today. reuters.com/ news/ newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&
storyID=2007-05-25T145652Z_01_SAN553553_RTRIDST_0_OESTP-ESPANA-TIZONA-AUTENTICIDAD. XML
[5] "La Junta y la Cmara recuperan la Tizona para el patrimonio burgals." http:/ / es. wikipedia. org/ wiki/ Diario_de_Burgos May 23, 2007
[6] [6] "El valor de un icono", Diario de Burgos, Mary 24th 2007
[7] [7] Cantar de mio Cid. Edition of Alberto Montaner. Ed. Galaxia Gutenberg, 2007.
Article Sources and Contributors
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Article Sources and Contributors
Tizona Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=592637333 Contributors: Addps4cat, Akaustav, Angela, BladedAngel, Bobblewik, Bolivian Unicyclist, Bryan Derksen, Caerwine,
Caribbean H.Q., CchristianDeju, CesarFelipe, Charles Matthews, CommonsDelinker, Dainomite, Danny, Dbachmann, Degenerate-Y, Der Golem, EOZyo, Eakahn, Ekwos, Fadesga, Finn-Zoltan,
Firstorm, Fred Fury, Goustien, Grutness, Infinauta, JMK, Jaraalbe, Jjadynomite, John of Reading, Kpalion, LiteralKa, Lkinkade, Luispihormiguero, McDoobAU93, Neutrality, Ngmarle, Pol098,
RickK, RuineR, Scottmsg, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Seth Ilys, Shadowy Crafter, Sleigh, Srnec, The Dark, Viriditas, William Avery, WoodenTaco, Xaverius, 73 anonymous edits
Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors
File:Espada Tizona.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Espada_Tizona.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Infinauta
License
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