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{{infobox medieval text
+
{{Infobox writer
<!----------Name---------->
+
| name                 = Salvator Fabris
| name                 {{=}} “Die Blume des Kampfes”
+
| image               = File:Salvator Fabris.png
| alternative title(s)  {{=}} ''The Flower of Battle''
+
| imagesize            = 200px
<!----------Image---------->
+
| caption             =
| image                 {{=}} File:Cod.10799 287v288r.png
+
 
| width                {{=}} 250px
+
| pseudonym            =  
| caption               {{=}}
+
| birthname            =
<!----------Information---------->
+
| birthdate           = 1544
| full title           {{=}}
+
| birthplace          = Padua, Italy
| also known as        {{=}}
+
| deathdate            = 11 Nov 1618 (aged 74)
| author(s)             {{=}} {{plainlist | [[Ludwig VI von Eyb]] | Unknown }}
+
| deathplace          = Padua, Italy
| ascribed to           {{=}} {{plainlist | [[Nicholai de Toblem]] (?) | [[Johannes Suvenus]] (?) }}
+
| resting_place        =
| compiled by          {{=}}
+
| occupation           = {{plainlist
| illustrated by        {{=}} Unknown
+
| Assassin (?)
| patron                {{=}}
+
| [[Fencing master]]
| dedicated to         {{=}}
+
}}
| audience              {{=}}
+
| language            = [[Italian]]
| language              {{=}} [[Early New High German]]
+
| nationality          = [[Italian]]
| date                  {{=}} before 1420s
+
| ethnicity            =  
| state of existence    {{=}} Original hypothetical; multiple incomplete copies exist
+
| citizenship         =  
<!----------Manuscript Information---------->
+
| education            =  
| genre                 {{=}} {{plainlist | [[Fencing manual]] | [[Wrestling manual]] }}
+
| alma_mater          = University of Padua (?)
| series                {{=}}
+
| patron              = {{plainlist
| archetype(s)         {{=}}
+
| Christianus Ⅳ of Denmark
| manuscript(s)         {{=}} {{plainlist | [[Die Blume des Kampfes (Cod.5278)|Cod. 5278]] (1420s?) | [[Wolfenbüttel Sketchbook (Cod.Guelf.78.2 Aug.)|Cod.Guelf.78.2 Aug.2º]] (?) (1465-80) | [[Eyb Kriegsbuch (MS B.26)|MS B.26]] (1500) | [[Bũech von fechter Vnnd Ringstückhen zũ Ross vnnd Fuoß (Cod.10799)|Cod. 10799]] (1623) }}
+
| Johan Frederik of Schleswig-Holstein-<br/>Gottorp
| principal manuscript(s){{=}}
+
}}
| first printed edition {{=}}
+
 
| wiktenauer compilation by{{=}}[[Michael Chidester]]
+
| period              =
| below                {{=}}
+
| genre               = [[Fencing manual]]
 +
| subject              =
 +
| movement            =  
 +
| notableworks        = ''[[Scienza d’Arme (Salvator Fabris)|Scienza d’Arme]]'' (1601-06)
 +
| manuscript(s)       = {{collapsible list
 +
| [[Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme (GI.kgl.Saml.1868.4040)|GI.kgl.Saml.1868.4040]] (1601)
 +
| [[La Scientia della Spada (MS KB.73.J.38)|MS KB.73.J.38]] (1600-09)
 +
| [[Figures nues, positions d'escrime à l'épée (MS 17)|MS 17]] (1600-20)
 +
| [[Fechtkunst aus dem Italienischen (MS Dresd.C.94a)|MS Dresd.C.94a]] (ca. 1635)
 +
}}
 +
| principal manuscript(s)=
 +
| first printed edition=  
 +
| wiktenauer compilation by=
 +
 
 +
| spouse              =
 +
| partner              =
 +
| children            =
 +
| relatives            =
 +
| influences          =
 +
| influenced          = {{plainlist
 +
| [[Sebastian Heußler]]
 +
| [[Hans Wilhelm Schöffer von Dietz]]
 
}}
 
}}
'''''Die Blume des Kampfes''''' (“The Flower of Battle”) is a nickname given to a group of three German manuscripts that 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 technical overlap. It is equally likely, though, that they represent an earlier German 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.
+
| awards              = ''Supremus Eques'' of the Order of the Seven Hearts
 +
| signature            =
 +
| website              =
 +
| translations        =
 +
| below                =
 +
}}
 +
'''Salvator Fabris''' (Salvador Fabbri, Salvator Fabriz, Fabrice; 1544-1618) was a 16th – 17th century [[Italian]] knight and [[fencing master]]. He was born in or around Padua, Italy in 1544, and although little is known about his early years, he seems to have studied fencing from a young age and possibly attended the prestigious University of Padua. The French master [[Henry de Sainct Didier]] recounts a meeting with an Italian fencer named "Fabrice" during the course of preparing his treatise (completed in 1573) in which they debated fencing theory, potentially placing Fabris in France in the early 1570s. In the 1580s, Fabris corresponded with Christian Barnekow, a Danish nobleman with ties to the royal court as well as an alumnus of the university. It seems likely that Fabris traveled a great deal during the 1570s and 80s, spending time in France, Germany, Spain, and possibly other regions before returning to teach at his alma mater.
 +
 
 +
It is unclear if Fabris himself was of noble birth, but at some point he seems to have earned a knighthood. In fact, he is described in his treatise as ''Supremus Eques'' ("Supreme Knight") of the Order of the Seven Hearts. In Johann Joachim Hynitzsch's introduction to the 1676 edition, he identifies Fabris as a Colonel of the Order. It seems therefore that he was not only a knight of the Order of the Seven Hearts, but rose to a high rank and perhaps even overall leadership.
 +
 
 +
Fabris' whereabouts in the 1590s are uncertain, but there are rumors. In 1594, he may have been hired by King Sigismund of Poland to assassinate his uncle Karl, a Swedish duke and competitor for the Swedish crown. According to the story, Fabris participated in a sword dance (or possibly a dramatic play) with a sharp sword and was to slay Karl during the performance when the audience was distracted. (The duke was warned and avoided the event, saving his life.) In ca. 1599, Fabris may have been invited to England by noted playwright William Shakespeare to choreograph the fight scenes in his premier of ''Hamlet''. He also presumably spent considerable time in the 1590s developing the [[fencing manual]] that would guarantee his lasting fame.
 +
 
 +
What is certain is that by 1598, Fabris had left his position at the University of Padua and was attached to the court of Johan Frederik, the young duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. He continued in the duke's service until 1601, and as a parting gift prepared a lavishly-illustrated, three-volume manuscript of his treatise entitled ''Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme'' ([[Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme (GI.kgl.Saml.1868.4040)|GI.kgl.Saml.1868 4040]]).
  
The oldest manuscript in the ''Blume des Kampfes'' group is the [[Die Blume des Kampfes (Cod.5278)|Cod. 5278]], which dates to the late 1420s and contains only simple line drawings somewhat reminiscent of the art of Fiore de'i Liberi, though lacking many signature characteristics such as garters and crowns and generally less organized than the Friulian master's work. The second entry was completed in ca. 1500 by [[Ludwig VI von Eyb]], and while contains a significant degree of overlap with the 5278, both manuscripts also have a wealth of unique content. While the artwork, though colored, is of similar quality, Eyb's treatise improves on its predecessor by including detailed German descriptions of the devices in most of its sections. Whether this text was authored by Eyb or present in the sources upon which he based his work cannot currently be determined.
+
<noinclude>In 1601, Fabris was hired as chief [[rapier]] instructor to the court of Christianus Ⅳ, King of Denmark and Duke Johan Frederik's cousin. He ultimately served in the royal court for five years; toward the end of his tenure and at the king's insistence, he published his opus under the title ''Sienza e Pratica d’Arme'' ("Science and Practice of Arms") or ''De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme'' ("On Defense, or the Science of Arms"). Christianus funded this first edition and placed his court artist, [[Jan van Halbeeck]], at Fabris' disposal to illustrate it; it was ultimately published in Copenhagen on 25 September 1606.
  
The final manuscript, [[Bũech von fechter Vnnd Ringstückhen zũ Ross vnnd Fuoß (Cod.10799)|Cod. 10799]], is dated 1623 and is again textless. Unlike its fellows, though, 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 lost to us. The two older manuscripts include [[war book]]s derived from [[Konrad Kyeser]]'s famous treatise on siege warfare ''Bellifortis'', and the artist of the 10799 also 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]].
+
Soon after the text was published, and perhaps feeling his 62 years, Fabris asked to be released from his six-year contract with the king so that he might return home. He traveled through northern Germany and was in Paris, France, in 1608. Ultimately, he received a position at the University of Padua and there passed his final years. He died of a fever on 11 November 1618 at the age of 74, and the town of Padua declared an official day of mourning in his honor. In 1676, the town of Padua erected a statue of the master in the Chiesa del Santo.
  
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 [[record]], a complete set of illustrations from [[Gladiatoria]], and a heavily-abridged version of ''Bellifortis''. Tucked away amidst these works are illustrations of fencing with sword, spear, axe, 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.
+
The importance of Fabris' work can hardly be overstated. Versions of his treatise were reprinted for over a hundred years, and translated into German at least four times as well as French and Latin. He is almost universally praised by later masters and fencing historians, and through the influence of his students and their students (most notably [[Hans Wilhelm Schöffer]]), he became the dominant figure in German fencing throughout the 17th century and into the 18th.
  
([[Die Blume des Kampfes|Read more]]...)
+
</noinclude>([[Salvator Fabris|Read more]])
  
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Revision as of 21:15, 23 May 2022

Salvator Fabris
Born 1544
Padua, Italy
Died 11 Nov 1618 (aged 74)
Padua, Italy
Occupation
Nationality Italian
Alma mater University of Padua (?)
Patron
  • Christianus Ⅳ of Denmark
  • Johan Frederik of Schleswig-Holstein-
    Gottorp
Influenced
Genres Fencing manual
Language Italian
Notable work(s) Scienza d’Arme (1601-06)
Manuscript(s)

Salvator Fabris (Salvador Fabbri, Salvator Fabriz, Fabrice; 1544-1618) was a 16th – 17th century Italian knight and fencing master. He was born in or around Padua, Italy in 1544, and although little is known about his early years, he seems to have studied fencing from a young age and possibly attended the prestigious University of Padua. The French master Henry de Sainct Didier recounts a meeting with an Italian fencer named "Fabrice" during the course of preparing his treatise (completed in 1573) in which they debated fencing theory, potentially placing Fabris in France in the early 1570s. In the 1580s, Fabris corresponded with Christian Barnekow, a Danish nobleman with ties to the royal court as well as an alumnus of the university. It seems likely that Fabris traveled a great deal during the 1570s and 80s, spending time in France, Germany, Spain, and possibly other regions before returning to teach at his alma mater.

It is unclear if Fabris himself was of noble birth, but at some point he seems to have earned a knighthood. In fact, he is described in his treatise as Supremus Eques ("Supreme Knight") of the Order of the Seven Hearts. In Johann Joachim Hynitzsch's introduction to the 1676 edition, he identifies Fabris as a Colonel of the Order. It seems therefore that he was not only a knight of the Order of the Seven Hearts, but rose to a high rank and perhaps even overall leadership.

Fabris' whereabouts in the 1590s are uncertain, but there are rumors. In 1594, he may have been hired by King Sigismund of Poland to assassinate his uncle Karl, a Swedish duke and competitor for the Swedish crown. According to the story, Fabris participated in a sword dance (or possibly a dramatic play) with a sharp sword and was to slay Karl during the performance when the audience was distracted. (The duke was warned and avoided the event, saving his life.) In ca. 1599, Fabris may have been invited to England by noted playwright William Shakespeare to choreograph the fight scenes in his premier of Hamlet. He also presumably spent considerable time in the 1590s developing the fencing manual that would guarantee his lasting fame.

What is certain is that by 1598, Fabris had left his position at the University of Padua and was attached to the court of Johan Frederik, the young duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. He continued in the duke's service until 1601, and as a parting gift prepared a lavishly-illustrated, three-volume manuscript of his treatise entitled Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme (GI.kgl.Saml.1868 4040).

In 1601, Fabris was hired as chief rapier instructor to the court of Christianus Ⅳ, King of Denmark and Duke Johan Frederik's cousin. He ultimately served in the royal court for five years; toward the end of his tenure and at the king's insistence, he published his opus under the title Sienza e Pratica d’Arme ("Science and Practice of Arms") or De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme ("On Defense, or the Science of Arms"). Christianus funded this first edition and placed his court artist, Jan van Halbeeck, at Fabris' disposal to illustrate it; it was ultimately published in Copenhagen on 25 September 1606.

Soon after the text was published, and perhaps feeling his 62 years, Fabris asked to be released from his six-year contract with the king so that he might return home. He traveled through northern Germany and was in Paris, France, in 1608. Ultimately, he received a position at the University of Padua and there passed his final years. He died of a fever on 11 November 1618 at the age of 74, and the town of Padua declared an official day of mourning in his honor. In 1676, the town of Padua erected a statue of the master in the Chiesa del Santo.

The importance of Fabris' work can hardly be overstated. Versions of his treatise were reprinted for over a hundred years, and translated into German at least four times as well as French and Latin. He is almost universally praised by later masters and fencing historians, and through the influence of his students and their students (most notably Hans Wilhelm Schöffer), he became the dominant figure in German fencing throughout the 17th century and into the 18th.

(Read more…)

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