Rapier

At our school we study a hybrid Italianate style.

While we don’t focus on the specific use of any one treatise, our primary source is a treatise written by Ridolfo Capo Ferro. We also use principles from Salvatore Fabris. While we do not use the techniques from Fabris we do use some of his principles and theory in our practice and training.

For more information on the measurements of historic weaponry, you can go here. 


Ridolfo Capo Ferro

Ridolfo "Ironhead" Capoferro or Capo Ferro of Cagli was a fencing master in the city of Siena who published a rapier fencing manual in Italian in 1610, entitled

"Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing / by Ridolfo Capoferro of Cagli / Maestro of the Most High German Nation / In the Famous City of Siena / Dedicated to the most Serene Signore Don Federigo Feltrio delle Rovere / Prince of the State of Urbino."

Printed by Salvestro Marchetti and Camillo Turi in Siena, Ridolfo's origin is unclear. The reference to the Holy Roman Empire may indicate that he studied with masters of the German school. Cagli (in the Province of Pesaro e Urbino) appears to be his place of origin, while he was active as a fencing master in Siena (in Tuscany). Ridolfo's teachings, however, do not reflect perceptible German influence, but are soundly in the Italian tradition with a notable influence from the Bolognese (Dardi) school of swordsmanship (perhaps even being a part of that school).

In the fictional work The Princess Bride by William Goldman, Inigo Montoya and The Man in Black duel atop the Cliffs of Insanity where they mention various fencing techniques they have studied, including those of Capoferro, Agrippa,

Salvatore Fabris

Salvatore Fabris (1544 - 1618) was an Italian fencing master from Padua. During his life be taught in various European Countries, most notable in Denmark where he was the fencing instructor of King Christian IV. It was during his time in Copenhagen that he published his treatise on rapier fencing, Lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme, in 1606. The treatise became a fencing bestseller around Europe, and was reprinted until 1713 and translated into several languages, notably into German and again in 2005 into English.

His treatis, first published by Henrico Waltkirch, is also regarded as one of the finest examples of Baroque printing, with its 191 copperplate engravings by Ian Halbeeck, Faancesco Valeggio and possibly other artists. This book is also important to bibliophiles because it is the first Danish book to feature copperplate engravings.

In his treatise, Lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme, Fabris deals with sword alone, sword and dagger, sword and cape as well as bare-handed fighting agains a man armed with a dagger. Fabris also includes a Book II consisting on ways to defeat an opponent without stopping in guard, a unique occurrence amoung 17th century Italian extant fencing treatises.

In raw number of pages and illustrations, Fabris is the 17th century fencing master who, after thoroughly describing the use of the single sword, devotes the longest sections to sword and dagger and sword and cape.

Joseph Swetnam

In the study of the rapier and dagger, we use a manuscript written by Joseph Swetnam.

Swetnam published his book "The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence" in 1617. Little is known of this fencing master. He was the instructor of Henry (brother to Charles I of England) and he may have been a member of the Masters of Defense of London. Even though Swetnam was published in the early 17th century, he is still a good guide to how fencing was done in the late 16th C. He would have been learning and possibly became a master during the last decade of the 1500's and the first in the 1600’s.

Swetnam’s treatise is broken into two sections. Chapters 1-6 are filled with advice to the reader about things to be aware of, the dangers of dueling and general gossip of the late 16th century that he believed was important to students of the sword. Chapters 7-12 are the actual theory and practical section of his treatise.

Swetnam taught the use of the rapier, he also advocated and taught the use of the staff, backsword, longsword and short sword. His teachings were written in such a fashion that a military man or a gentleman could take advantage of the teachings. He did ground his teachings in the use of the rapier and started his practical section with the learning of rapier and dagger which were still prevalently used in duels at the time.

 In order to be proficient, Swetnam indicated that the following forms must be learned: rapier and dagger, staff, backsword, single rapier, longsword and dagger, and short sword and dagger (though he does say that having a short sword is a good as being naked, or unarmed). These are the primary weapons that were used by the Masters of Defense of London during Elizabethan times (also included the Masters of Defence was the two-handed sword). Swetnam's treatise basically follows this order.

 Many of the masters of the 16th and early 17th Centuries basically taught similar theory behind fence. Swetnam is not much different. He taught seven Principal rules on which defense is grounded:


 

     1) A good guard                      5) to keep space

     2) true observing of distance      6) Patience

     3) to know the place               7) often practice

     4) to take time


Silver's four governors was similar: judgment, distance, time and place.

 The rapier and dagger guard of Swetnam is also similar to others of the time. He taught to keep the right foot forward with the rapier held in the low guard with the arm not bent. The point should be high and to the left. The dagger is held with the arm straight and just above parallel, the point towards the opponent. The tips of the dagger and the rapier should not have much space between them for fear of a cut delivered between the two. He then goes on to discuss differing attacks and how to defend using this guard.

 The point where Swetnam diverges from many other masters is in the use of feigns (feints). He stresses the use of feigns in opening up an opponent for an attack in another line similar to some techniques used in modern fencing.