The Knightly Art of Battle
by Ken Mondschein
On This Page
Description
This volume offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of late medieval martial arts, from wrestling to fencing with the longsword to the subtle tricks that could be employed when jousting on horseback. Using superb details of lively pen drawings highlighted with gold leaf, the book features some of the most interesting selections from Fior di Battaglia (The Flower of Battle), a manuscript by the renowned Italian fencing master Fiore dei Liberi depicting the knightly arts of fighting with show more swords, daggers, and polearms, on foot and on horseback, and in and out of armor. The copy in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, created in the early fifteenth century, is the finest and most complete manuscript to survive. Offering detailed visual documentation of Fiore's techniques coupled with the author's genius for explaining sophisticated methods of offense and defense, the manuscript provides a comprehensive record of the skills by which men lived and died in the Middle Ages. Included are an introductory commentary, brief explanations of positions and techniques, and fascinating details about medieval arms and armor. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Selections from the Fiore di Battaglia of Fiore dei Liberi --the blurb calls him a 'Fencing master" but he is describing fighting with 2-handed swords, daggrsm, etc. There are very nice clear drawings to ullustrate positions. This version is only selections and includes a disclaimer "Readers shoud not attempt to recreate any fighting position or hande any weapon based on the information in this book." I am not shure if this is a serious warning because this version is incomplete, or just a feeble attempt to disckaim legal responsibility in case someone gets hurt.
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Swordsmanship treaties, references and manuals: old european
32 works; 2 members
Author Information
15+ Works 121 Members
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Knightly Art of Battle
- Original publication date
- 2011
- Important places
- Fiore dei Liberi
- First words
- Introduction: Far from uneducated brutes who relied on strength over skill, knightly combattants in the Middle Ages were experts in sophisticated and subtle martial arts that could be used in a variety of situations - friendl... (show all)y bouting, tournaments (in which participants could display their status and wealth as well as fighting prowness), feudal warfare in in service of one's prince, judicial duels fought for life and honor, as self defense against an assassination attempt or sudden ambush.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)A tactic to use on horseback is shown here: the master at the left has a rope tied from his saddle to the butt of his lance. He will strike his adversary, then hod out the spear to draw the roap taut and "clothsline" his adversary from the saddle.
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Sports and Leisure, History, Art & Design, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 796.8 — Arts & recreation Recreation, sports, and performing arts Athletic and outdoor sports and games Wrestling / Martial Arts, Judo, Karate
- LCC
- GV1145 .M66 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Recreation. Leisure Recreation. Leisure Sports Fighting sports: Bullfighting, boxing, fencing, etc.
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 52
- Popularity
- 574,378
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.00)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 1
