Miniature Damascene Tizona Cid Sword Letter Opener by Marto of Toledo Spain 55001

The Tizona and Colada Swords belonged to the Castilian knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as "El Cid Campeador" in the 11th century. He was the prototype of the knight and loyal vassal who took part with his king Alphonse VI in the conquest of Toledo. Subsequently, he conquered the city, and kingdom of Valencia from the Arabians.The Tizona and Colada Swords belonged to the Castilian knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, known as "El Cid Campeador" in the 11th century. He was the prototype of the knight and a loyal vassal who took part with his king, Alphonse VI, in the conquest of Toledo. Subsequently, El Cid conquered the city, and kingdom of Valencia (which he ruled there until his death in 1099) from the Arabians (Moors). El Cid was a great war hero, a superior and extremely successful soldier of fortune, who apparently never lost a battle. To this day, Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar is known as a hero of Christian Spain, due to his excellent acheivements in the the Reconquest of Spain from the Moo