Octavio Ferrara

Octavio Ferrara
Born	date of birth unknown Zaragoza, Spain
Died	after 1625
Occupation	Fencing master
Nationality	Spanish
Patron	Don Juan Ferdinando, Baron of Grünburg
Movement	La Verdadera Destreza
Genres	Fencing manual
Language	Spanish
Notable work(s)	Compendio y Philosophia y Deztreza de las Armas
Manuscript(s)	MS R4-B274 (1900s)
Concordance by	Michael Chidester

Octavio Ferrara was a 17th century Spanish fencing master. He seems to have been a resident of Zaragoza, Spain, and in ca. 1624 he was active in Madrid as Master at Arms. The dedication of his treatise suggests that he might have been attached at some point to the court of Don Juan Ferdinando, Baron of Grünburg. In 1625, he wrote an illustrated fencing manual entitled Compendio y Philosophia y Dztreza de las Armas ("Compendium of the Philosophy and Skill at Arms"). The original manuscript was long thought to have been lost and the only remnant a 20th century tracing, but it recently resurfaced at auction and was purchased by the Museo dell'Arte Marziale.

Treatise

Rapier

Illustrations	Draft Translation by Michael Chidester	Leuven Version (1900s) Transcribed by Matt Galas
	Compendium of the Philosophy and Skill at Arms, reduced to its simplicity and directed to Don Juan Ferdinando, Baron of Grünburg, by his fencing master Octavio Ferrara, born in the city of Zaragoza, resident in the court of the Catholic Monarch of Spain, in August of 1625 A.D.	[II] Compendio y Philosophia y destreza de las Armas Reducido a su Simplicidad dirigido a Don Juan Ferdinando Baron de Gruenburg por su maestro Octavio Ferrara, natural de la ciudad de Çaragoça residente en la Corte de el Rey catholico de España N[uestro] Sr. Año de 1625. (Transcription by Manuel Jesús Valle Ortiz)
		[1r] [No caption.]
		[2r] [No caption.]
	Don Diego.	[3r] Don Diego.
	Method of proportion.	[4r] Medio de proporcion.
	The general method of extension.	[5r] La General de estrechar
	The general method of crossing the line.	[6r] La General de linea en Cruz
	The general method of forcing down.	[7r] La General de obligar por abajo
	The general method of forcing up.	[8r] La General de obligar por arriba
	Forehand downward blow.	[9r] Tajo vertical
	Backhand downward blow.	[10r] Reves vertical
	Forehand middle blow.	[11r] Medio Tajo
	Backhand middle blow.	[12r] Medio Reves
	Cross cuts.	[13r] Cruz atajo "Sum ex Libris Joannie Friderici [Nudruchess] en 1650." This is followed by a note from Corble: "Note this is [--- illegible---] MSS on inside cover."
	Wounding of the first intention.	[14r] Herida de primero Intencion
	Fourth part of the circle.	[15r] Quarta parte del circulo
	Engagement [perf.???]	[16r] Acometimiento perf.
	Concluding movement.	[17r] Movimiento de conclusion
	Doctrine against the left.	[18r] Doctrina contra el izquierdo
	The general crossing line.	[19r] La General de linea en Cruz
	A forehand blow.	[20r] Atajo
	Concluding movement.	[21r] Movimiento de Conclusion
	Doctrine against the sword and shield.	[22r] Doctrina contra espada y broquel
	Second technique against the shield.	[23r] Secunda treta contra el broquel
	Plunge.	[24r] Zanbullida
	Second guard.	[25r] Segunda Guardia
	Third guard.	[26r] Tercera Guardia
	Fourth guard.	[27r] Quarta Guardia
	Tempted.	[28r] Tentada
	Doctrine against sword and dagger.	[29r] Doctrina contra espada y daga
	Beaten with the hand.	[30r] Manotada
	The ["un-belling"???]	[31r] La descampavita
	The turned.	[32r] La torneada
	The arm [???]	[33r] El Bracal

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Illustrations	Katholieke Universiteit Leuven	Wiktenauer
Translation	Michael Chidester	Wiktenauer
Transcription	Matt Galas	Index:Compendio y Philosophia y Dztreza de las Armas (MS R4-B274)

Additional Resources

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