Both flos duellatorum and fior di battaglia translate into english roughly as the flower of battle, from latin and italian respectively. All techniques are described in both english and german languages. Schola gladiatoria is a group of historical european martial artists based in london, england. Azza axe refers to poll axe colpi blows, as in strikes. Fiore segno animal belt studs revival leather goods. Comparing vadis guards with fiore and marozzo guy windsor makes a first attempt at one of these problems. He is the earliest italian master from whom an extant martial arts manual has.
Leaves of battle fiore dei liberis martial heirs and influence 2019. Pictures grabbed from original flos duellatorum sketches and formatted for this web site by mich shire, 2002. The flos duellatorum is the name given to one of the manuscript versions of fiore dei liberi s illuminated manuscript fight book, written in 1410 dated to 1409 in the old reckoning. Fiore dei liberis legacy created 600 years ago is honoured in the 21st century with the careful reconstruction and resurrection of the fighting art he described in his treatises entitled flos duellatorum and fior battaglia. Aug 16, flos duellatorum the flower of battle, pisanidossi ms is an italian fencing manual authored by fiore dei liberi and dated 10 february. Each has two studs which can be used to attach them to the belt with a washer on the backside. In its continuing effort to promote the authentic skills of legitimate medieval martial arts, arma is proud to present select portions from one version of fiore dei liberis famed fencing manual of c.
Images contained within are from the four surviving copies of fioris work g etty, morgan, pisani dossi, and paris as well of that of vadis singular edition. In his 1410 book flos duellatorum the flower of battle fiore tells us that in. Fiore dei liberi getty ms representation this document is the exiles 2005 abrazare unarmed combat, combines elements of both grappling and striking. The founder fiore dei liberi fiore, know how to read, write and draw, and have books on our subject, a subject that i have studied for at least forty years. In his 1410 book flos duellatorum the flower of battle fiore tells us. Fiore used the animals, possibly based on bestiary references, to symbolize specific fighting virtues. Fiore friulano dei liberi di cividale daustria della diocesi di aquileia, figlio di messer benedetto, a tutti colo ro che volessero apprendere il maneg gio delle armi.
Italian medieval swordsmanship the flos duellatorum of. Yet, i do not consider myself to be a perfect masters of this art, although some of the great lords who have been my students do hold me in such regard. This book, the first of three volumes, covers the wrestling and dagger techniques of fiore dei liberi from the getty version of the fior di battaglia. Fiore dei liberi, flos duellatorum the books of the. The manual is the fior di battaglia the flower of battle flos duellatorum in latin, written by an italian nobleman, fiore dei liberi, probably before 1410. The flos duellatorum is the name given to one of the manuscript versions of fiore dei liberis.
The work by fiore dei liberi, known with the title flos duellatorum and considered the oldest italian manual of fencing technique, has also recently had a great success with several facsimile publications. Fiore dei liberi flos duellatorum en castellano espada. Modelled on the famous teaching illustration or segno from fiore dei liberis 1400s fior di battaglia, were out of the sterling silver only brass left. Schola gladiatoria sword fighting classes in london, bradford and manchester. The best known image from the flos duellatorum is the sette spade seven swords diagram at the beginning of the longsword section fol. Fiore dei liberi project pisanidossi representation. He was born in cividale del friuli, a town in the patriarchal state of aquileia in the friuli region of modernday italy, the son of benedetto and scion of a liberi house of premariacco. He is the earliest italian master from whom an extant martial arts manual has survived. An old documentary on fiore dei liberi that i could not find on youtube. Schola gladiatoria sword fighting classes in london. Unknown, fiore furlan dei liberi da premariacco italian, about 4050 before 1450.
Il fior di battaglia unknown, fiore furlan dei liberi da. In the pantheon of history, fiore della liberi or fiore dei liberi, is a minor figure, one not yet found on university curricula, absent from texts discussing medieval italy, and, frankly, one who failed to make even a ripple on the turbulent ocean of the middle ages. Ms ludwig xv is written on parchment in a pasteboard leather binding in a neat humanist script. In fiores system these blows take the path from the teeth to. After a short introduction in vernacular, all pages are covered with penmade drawings, as many as 296 in the getty codex vs. There are five other surviving recensions, under the title fior di battaglia. The pierpontmorgan manuscript and general concordance winter 2018 vol. Included is a selection of the pisanidossi flos duellatorum dagger techniques. This paper will explore the man who bore the name fiore and conduct a brief. The following work contains publically available translations of the italian masters fiori dei liberi and filippo vadi.
The flos duellatorum is the name given to one of the manuscript versions of fiore dei liberis illuminated manuscript fight book, written in 1410 dated to 1409 in the old reckoning. The founder fiore dei liberi international armizare. In the waning years of the 14th century, fiore dei liberi was a famed master of this art, whose students included. Maestro fiore furlan dei liberi da premaracco title. Fiore dei liberi getty ms representation this document is the exiles 20052006 abrazare unarmed combat, combines elements of both grappling and striking. The wiktenauer site free library of historical european martial arts books and manuscripts has a very.
Italian medieval swordsmanship the flos duellatorum of fiore dei liberi. The term liberi, while potentially merely a surname, probably indicates that his family had imperial immediacy, either as part of the edelfrei nobili liberi, free nobles, the germanic. This article greatly expands and upon an earlier one understanding wide and close play in the martial tradition of fiore dei liberi, first presented in 2008 and later published with photo interpretations in in the service of mars, proceedings from the western martial arts workshop 1999 2009, vol. The chivalric martial arts system of il fior di battaglia charrette, robert n on. Battle, maestro fiore dei liberi shows the latter method. In the waning years of the 14th century, fiore dei liberi was a famed master of this art, whose students included some of the most renowned and dangerous fighting men of his day. Fiore dei liberis flos duellatorum the flower of battle, c. In this video i also read some passages in medieval italian explaining them. Novati facsimile of the pisanidossi ms pdf file, 42m. He was born in cividale del friuli, a town in the patriarchal state of aquileia in the friuli region of modernday italy, the son of benedetto and scion of a liberi house of. Flos duellatorum in armis, sine armis equester et pedester. Flos duellatorum by fiore dei liberi transcription. Fiore dei liberi of cividale daustria was a medieval swordsmaster, born. The flos duellatorum or fior di battaglia, flower of battle is an illuminated fighting manual written by a friulian fencing master fiore dei liberi da cividale in the first decade of the xvth century, probably in an.
The flower of battle flos duellatorum in latin or fior di battaglia in italian xv. Modelled on the famous teaching illustration or segno from fiore dei liberis 1400s fior di battaglia, the studs will fit perfectly onto a 1 or larger belt. Fiore dei liberi was born in cividale del friuli, a town in the patriarchal state of aquileia in the friuli region of modernday italy, the son of benedetto and scion of a liberi house of premariacco. It is a figure of a man, divided by seven swords centered on the body, representing the poste or. Fiore dei liberis flos duellatorum the flower of battle 1410 morgan edition plates. His flower of battle fior di battaglia, flos duellatorum is among the oldest. The chivalric martial arts system of il fior di battaglia. Fiore dei liberis 7 rules of wrestling medieval attributes training from the master. The flower of battle of master fiore friulano dei liberi.
Fiore dei liberi is the author of flos duellatorum 4. Published by wiktenauer, the free library of historical european martial arts books and manuscripts. The original currently rests in the holdings of the j. They are simply the starting guards used by the player and the two ending positions of the scholars basic defense from the left and the right sides, respectively.
Fior di battaglia flower of battle flos duellatorum. For convenience, a pdf file has been created containing the images. A later 2nd english edition is available from freelance academy press. Tempera colors, gold leaf, silver leaf, and ink on parchment bound between pasteboard covered with light brown. Tempera colors, gold leaf, silver leaf, and ink on parchment bound between pasteboard covered with light brown calf. Interpretations liberi, fiore dei, charron, bob on. To my knowledge this is one of the best surviving book on the subject, being a former member of medieval recreating association that practices this fighting style, i can honestly say that with some patience and training this book can help anyone to learn the proper use of medieval weapons in particular the singlehanded sword, dagger and the very interesting. Find out more about this object on the museum website. We train in historical fencing, using longsword, sabre, sword and buckler and dagger. Medieval work on swordsmanship translated to spanish. Flos duellatorum in armis, sine armis, equester, pedester, author. Unknown, fiore furlan dei liberi da premariacco date. Armizare the art of arms was the name the warriors of medieval italy gave to their martial art, which included the wielding of sword, axe and spear with wrestling, knifefighting and mounted combat.