Colada and Tizona

EL CID CAMPAEDOR

SPAIN

El Cid Campaedor’s statue in Burgos, Spain

Colada and Tizona are similar in appearance — distinguished only by the design of their hilts. Colada and Tizona are forged from Damascus steel — meaning their blades could be honed and sharpened to get the best edge possible. As such, the swords are deadly in experienced hands. Also, the swords glow brightly when wielded by a brave warrior —and such a sight is enough to demoralize any enemy. Coincidentally, El Cid Campaedor — Castilian hero — came to possess the swords. He was not only a brilliant tactician, but a charismatic commander as well.

Colada and Tizona

Cantar de mio Cid describes Colada and Tizona in further detail. El Cid received the swords after he defeated the Count of Barcelona in battle. He used them when he led the Castilian army against the Moors. Thereafter, Colada and Tizona were passed to his sons-in-law. However, they proved unworthy of the prized swords — as they were caught abusing their wives.

Instead, El Cid gave Colada and Tizona to his bravest knights, Martin Antolinez and Pero Vermύdez, respectively. The knights wields the swords to great effect — they defeated their opponents by instilling fear in their hearts.

Martin Antolinez took his sword in hand…at that moment the infant [Diego Gonzáles] began to shout ‘Help me, God, glorious Lord, and protect me from this sword!’

He [Pero Vermύdez]…took the sword in hand; when Ferrán González saw that, he recognized Tizona and before the expected blow said, ‘I am defeated!’

Tizona at the Museum of Burgos

Currently, there is a sword called Tizona at the Museum of Burgos. The inscriptions on the blade and a metallurgical analysis suggest that it might be authentic, though others claimed it a forgery.