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{{infobox writer
+
{{infobox medieval text
| name                 = Francesco Fernando Alfieri
+
<!----------Name---------->
| image               = File:Francesco Fernando Alfieri.png
+
| name                 = “[[title::Die Blume des Kampfes]]”
| imagesize           = 200px
+
| alternative title(s)  =  
| caption             = Portrait from 1640
+
<!----------Image---------->
 +
| image                 = File:Blume des Kampfes compilation.png
 +
| width                = 250px
 +
| caption              =
 +
<!----------Information---------->
 +
| full title           =  
 +
| also known as        =
 +
| author(s)            = {{plainlist
 +
| [[author::Ludwig VI von Eyb]]
 +
| Unknown
 +
}}
 +
| ascribed to          =
 +
| compiled by          =
 +
| illustrated by        = Unknown
 +
| patron                =
 +
| dedicated to          =
 +
| audience              =
 +
| language             = [[language::Early New High German]]
 +
| date                  = before [[year::1420]]s
 +
| state of existence    = Original hypothetical; multiple <br/>incomplete copies exist
 +
<!----------Manuscript Information---------->
 +
| genre                = {{plainlist
 +
| [[Fencing manual]]
 +
| [[Wrestling manual]]
 +
}}
 +
| series                =
 +
| archetype(s)          =
 +
| manuscript(s)        = {{plainlist
 +
| [[Die Blume des Kampfes (Cod.5278)|Cod. 5278]] (1420s?)
 +
| [[Eyb Kriegsbuch (MS B.26)|MS B.26]] (1500)
 +
| [[Bũech von fechter Vnnd Ringstückhen zũ Ross vnnd Fuoß (Cod.10799)|Cod. 10799]] (1623)
 +
| [[Wolfenbüttel Sketchbook (Cod.Guelf.78.2 Aug.2º)|Cod. guelf. 78.2 aug.2º]] (?)<br/>&emsp;(1465-80)
 +
}}
 +
| principal manuscript(s)=
 +
| first printed edition =
 +
| wiktenauer compilation by=[[Michael Chidester]]
 +
| below                =
 +
}}
 +
'''''Die Blume des Kampfes''''' (“The Flower of Battle”) is a nickname given to a group of three German manuscripts which share a common technical syllabus and set of illustrations. It might possibly be based on the tradition of 14th century Italian master [[Fiore de'i Liberi]], from whose treatise ''Fior di Battaglia'' it derives its nickname, given that his works include considerable overlap in technique and artwork. It is equally possible, though, that they represent a separate transmission of an older tradition of which Fiore was himself an initiate; Fiore mentions in his prefaces that he owned books on the art and he also names two older masters in his tradition, [[Johane Suveno]] and [[Nicholai de Toblem]]; it is possible that either or both of those masters authored texts which inspired both this tradition as well as Fiore's own writings.
 +
 
 +
Like ''Fior di Battaglia'', ''die Blume des Kampfes'' treats [[mounted fencing]], [[spear]], [[poleaxe]]/[[halberd]], sword (both [[long sword]] and [[short sword]]), [[dagger]] (including dagger against sword), and [[grappling]]; it also includes unique content such as armored sword and [[shield]] and dueling with [[long shield]]s. In comparison to their Italic counterparts, the Germanic works place a greater emphasis on [[short sword]] fencing, doubling the number of devices, and also dwarf Fiore's own rather brief treatment of unarmored grappling. The dagger, sword, and polearm material is all more or less consistent across both traditions, and the explanatory text, though unconnected to that of Fiore, demonstrates a similar understanding or interpretation of the techniques.
 +
 
 +
== Manuscripts ==
 +
 
 +
The oldest manuscript in the ''Blume des Kampfes'' group is the [[Die Blume des Kampfes (Cod.5278)|Cod. 5278]], which dates to the 1420s and contains only simple line drawings somewhat reminiscent of the art of Fiore de'i Liberi, though differing in many details, lacking signature characteristics such as garters and crowns, and generally less organized than the Friulian master's work.
 +
 
 +
The second entry, included in the [[Eyb Kriegsbuch (MS B.26)|MS B.26]], was completed in ca. 1500 by [[Ludwig VI von Eyb]]; it contains a significant degree of overlap with the 5278, though both manuscripts also have a wealth of unique content. While the artwork, apart from being colored, is of similar quality, Eyb's treatise surpasses its fellow by including detailed German descriptions of the devices in most of its sections. (It cannot currently be determined whether this text was authored by Eyb or present in the sources upon which he based his work, but the rest of the material in the B.26 appears to have been unaltered from its sources.)
  
| pseudonym            =
+
The final manuscript, [[Bũech von fechter Vnnd Ringstückhen zũ Ross vnnd Fuoß (Cod.10799)|Cod. 10799]], is dated 1623 and is again text-less. Unlike the previous two manuscripts, however, it is illustrated with watercolors of high quality; it is also the most extensive of the three by far, encompassing nearly every device from both works as well as a number of unique devices that suggest that it was either not derived directly from the other two known manuscripts, or that it used additional sources currently unknown to us. Additionally, where the other two include [[war book]]s derived from [[Konrad Kyeser]]'s famous treatise on siege warfare ''Bellifortis'', the artist of the 10799 only included the few ''Bellifortis'' illustrations that seem to portray knights and soldiers, perhaps indicating that he did not understand what he was copying. Aside from the ''Blume des Kampfes'' material, the 10799 also has a good deal of extra content including portrayals of laying down and taking up the sword, Germanic sash wrestling, armored dagger and buckler, and the [[sword dance]].<!--
| birthname            =
 
| birthdate            = 16th century (?)
 
| birthplace          =
 
| deathdate            = 17th century
 
| deathplace          =
 
| resting_place        =
 
| occupation          = [[Fencing master]]
 
| language            =
 
| nationality          = [[Italian]]
 
| ethnicity            =
 
| citizenship          =
 
| education            =
 
| alma_mater          =
 
| patron              =
 
  
| period              =
+
There is a fourth Germanic manuscript potentially connected to this tradition, the [[Wolfenbüttel Sketchbook (Cod.Guelf.78.2 Aug.2º)|Cod.Guelf.78.2 Aug.2º]]. This manuscript, dating to between 1465 and 1480, includes a version of [[Johannes Liechtenauer]]'s [[Recital]], a complete set of illustrations from [[Gladiatoria]], and a brief excerpt of ''Bellifortis''. Tucked away amidst these works are illustrations of fencing with sword, spear, ax, and dagger that parallel the teachings of the ''Blume des Kampfes'' but only occasionally replicate the artwork exactly. While this may simply be a case of an overambitious artist reinterpreting the illustrations he was copying, the differences are too many to include the manuscript in the concordance below.
| genre                = [[Fencing manual]]
 
| subject              =
 
| movement            =
 
| notableworks        = {{collapsible list
 
| ''[[La Bandiera (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|La Bandiera]]'' (1638)
 
| ''[[La Scherma (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|La Scherma]]'' (1640)
 
| ''[[La Picca (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|La Picca]]'' (1641)
 
| ''[[L’arte di ben maneggiare la spada (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|L’arte di ben maneggiare la spada]]'' (1653)
 
}}
 
| manuscript(s)        =
 
| principal manuscript(s)=
 
| first printed edition=
 
| wiktenauer compilation by=
 
  
| spouse              =  
+
== Treatise ==
| partner              =  
 
| children            =  
 
| relatives            =  
 
| influences          =
 
| influenced          =
 
| awards              =
 
| signature            =
 
| website              =
 
| translations        =
 
| below                =
 
}}
 
'''Francesco Fernando Alfieri''' was a 17th century [[Italian]] [[fencing master]]. Little is known about his life, but ''Alfieri'' means "Ensign" which might be a military title rather than a family name. In his fencing treatise of 1640, he identifies himself as a master-at-arms to the Accademia Delia in Padua, and indicates that he had long experience at that time
 
  
In 1638, Alfieri published a treatise on flag drill entitled ''[[La Bandiera (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|La Bandiera]]'' ("The Banner"). This was followed in 1640 by ''[[La Scherma (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|La Scherma]]'' ("On Fencing"), in which he treats the use of the [[rapier]]. Not content with these works, in 1641 he released ''[[La Picca (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|La Picca]]'' ("The Pike"), which not only covers [[pike]] drill, but also includes a complete reprint of ''La Bandiera'' (complete with title page dated 1638). His treatise on rapier seems to have been especially popular, as it was reprinted in 1646 and then received a new edition in 1653 titled ''[[L’arte di ben maneggiare la spada (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)|L’arte di ben maneggiare la spada]]'' ("The Art of Handling the Sword Well"), which not only includes the entirety of the 1640 edition, but also adds a concluding section on the [[spadone]].
+
Due to the fragmentary nature of the extant texts, piecing together an authoritative version of the treatise is problematic. In this concordance, the structure laid out by the Cod. 5278 will generally be followed, as it is the oldest known text. The additional plays from MS B.26 will be arranged around this structure; the sequence in B.26 will only take precedence over that of 5278 in cases where the text dictates a sequence of plays (following the principle that text always takes precedence over illustrations). Unique plays from the Cod. 10799 will appear last in each section, since their relationship to the others is unclear. -->
  
([[Francesco Fernando Alfieri|Read more]]…)
+
([[Die Blume des Kampfes|Read more]]…)
  
 
<dl style="clear:right;">
 
<dl style="clear:right;">
 
<dt style="font-size:90%;">Recently Featured:</dt>
 
<dt style="font-size:90%;">Recently Featured:</dt>
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+
<dd style="font-size:90%;">[[Francesco Fernando Alfieri]]&ensp;–&ensp;[[Johannes&nbsp;Liechtenauer]]&ensp;–&ensp;[[Jörg&nbsp;Wilhalm&nbsp;Hutter]]&ensp;–&ensp;[[Jud&nbsp;Lew]]</dd>
 
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</dl>

Revision as of 18:18, 11 April 2018

“Die Blume des Kampfes”
Blume des Kampfes compilation.png
Author(s)
Illustrated by Unknown
Date before 1420s
Genre
Language Early New High German
State of Existence Original hypothetical; multiple
incomplete copies exist
Manuscript(s)
Concordance by Michael Chidester

Die Blume des Kampfes (“The Flower of Battle”) is a nickname given to a group of three German manuscripts which share a common technical syllabus and set of illustrations. It might possibly be based on the tradition of 14th century Italian master Fiore de'i Liberi, from whose treatise Fior di Battaglia it derives its nickname, given that his works include considerable overlap in technique and artwork. It is equally possible, though, that they represent a separate transmission of an older tradition of which Fiore was himself an initiate; Fiore mentions in his prefaces that he owned books on the art and he also names two older masters in his tradition, Johane Suveno and Nicholai de Toblem; it is possible that either or both of those masters authored texts which inspired both this tradition as well as Fiore's own writings.

Like Fior di Battaglia, die Blume des Kampfes treats mounted fencing, spear, poleaxe/halberd, sword (both long sword and short sword), dagger (including dagger against sword), and grappling; it also includes unique content such as armored sword and shield and dueling with long shields. In comparison to their Italic counterparts, the Germanic works place a greater emphasis on short sword fencing, doubling the number of devices, and also dwarf Fiore's own rather brief treatment of unarmored grappling. The dagger, sword, and polearm material is all more or less consistent across both traditions, and the explanatory text, though unconnected to that of Fiore, demonstrates a similar understanding or interpretation of the techniques.

Manuscripts

The oldest manuscript in the Blume des Kampfes group is the Cod. 5278, which dates to the 1420s and contains only simple line drawings somewhat reminiscent of the art of Fiore de'i Liberi, though differing in many details, lacking signature characteristics such as garters and crowns, and generally less organized than the Friulian master's work.

The second entry, included in the MS B.26, was completed in ca. 1500 by Ludwig VI von Eyb; it contains a significant degree of overlap with the 5278, though both manuscripts also have a wealth of unique content. While the artwork, apart from being colored, is of similar quality, Eyb's treatise surpasses its fellow by including detailed German descriptions of the devices in most of its sections. (It cannot currently be determined whether this text was authored by Eyb or present in the sources upon which he based his work, but the rest of the material in the B.26 appears to have been unaltered from its sources.)

The final manuscript, Cod. 10799, is dated 1623 and is again text-less. Unlike the previous two manuscripts, however, it is illustrated with watercolors of high quality; it is also the most extensive of the three by far, encompassing nearly every device from both works as well as a number of unique devices that suggest that it was either not derived directly from the other two known manuscripts, or that it used additional sources currently unknown to us. Additionally, where the other two include war books derived from Konrad Kyeser's famous treatise on siege warfare Bellifortis, the artist of the 10799 only included the few Bellifortis illustrations that seem to portray knights and soldiers, perhaps indicating that he did not understand what he was copying. Aside from the Blume des Kampfes material, the 10799 also has a good deal of extra content including portrayals of laying down and taking up the sword, Germanic sash wrestling, armored dagger and buckler, and the sword dance.

(Read more…)

Recently Featured:
Francesco Fernando Alfieri – Johannes Liechtenauer – Jörg Wilhalm Hutter – Jud Lew