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.[1]
A sword identified with Tizona is on display at the Museo de Burgos, in Burgos.
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In the heroic poem Cantar de Mio Cid, Tizona's power depends on the wielder and it frightens unworthy opponents. When the infantes of Carrión have Tizona, they underestimate 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:[2]
Él dexó la lança, e mano al espada metió;
cuando lo vio Ferrán González, conuvo a Tizón,
que antes qu'el golpe esperasse, dixo: -¡Vençido sói!-
Translation:
He [Pero Vermúdez] let go the lance and took the sword in hand;
when Ferrán González saw that, he recognized Tizona
and before the expected blow said, "I am defeated!"
The sword is 103 cm/40.5 inches long and weighs 1.1 kg/2.4 pounds. Tizona was supposedly forged in Córdoba, 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."