According to a source at the Culture ministry, it has been known since 1999 that the sword purportedly to have belonged to El Cid (La Tizona) on show at the Army Museum in Madrid is a fake, although representative of swords from the era. Indeed, there are only four others of its type still in existence -one, that belonged to Ferdinand the Catholic, is in Granada, while the other three are in Madrid- and therefore of huge historical importance.

The relic, which has been on show in Madrid since 1944, was recently acquired by the regional government of Castilla León for €1.6 million euros and will be one of the main exhibits at an exhibition planned for next September to commemorate the eight hundredth anniversary of the 'Poema de Mio Cid'.

The Culture ministry was originally offered the sword by its former owner, the Marquis de Falces, for six million euros, although he subsequently reduced the asking price to €1.5 million.

The ministry's decision not to buy it was based on four reports, none of which found sufficient evidence to confirm the sword's authenticity and which valued it at between €200,000-300,000.

One of the reports, by the renowned medieval history expert, José Godoy, concluded that the sword actually dates from the 15th or 16th century, three or four hundred years after El Cid's death.

Castilla León govt. pays €1.6 million for El Cid's sword
By: thinkSPAIN
Thursday, May 24, 2007

The regional government of Castilla León has acquired Rodrigo Díaz's de Vivar's legendary sword -'La Tizona'- from the Marquis of Falces, José Ramón Suárez de Otero, for €1.6 million.

El Cid's sword, which was on show at Madrid's Army Museum, has been transferred initially to Burgos Museum, but will eventually be moved to Burgos Cathedral to lie with its famous former owner's remains.

An exhibition is planned at the cathedral for next September to commemorate the eight hundredth anniversary of the 'Poema de Mío Cid'.

The Culture ministry, which was offered but decided not to buy the sword, has contributed €600,000 euros towards the cost while the rest was funded by a consortium of local businessmen after reaching a deal with the regional Junta.