Francesco Ferdinando Alfieri of Padova was a 17th century master of the Italian school of swordsmanship

Italian school of swordsmanship

The term Italian school of swordsmanship is used to describe the Italian style of fencing and edged-weapon combat from the time of the first extant Italian swordsmanship treatise to the days of Classical Fencing ....

 and “Maestro D’Arme” to the Accademia Delia in Padua in 1640.

Works

Several manuals

Fechtbuch

Martial arts manuals are instructions, with or without illustrations, detailing specific techniques of martial arts.Prose descriptions of martial arts techniques appear late within the history of literature, due to the inherent difficulties of describing a technique rather than just demonstrating...

 by Alfieri are known:

• La Scherma was published in 1640, and a second edition released in 1645.
• L’arte di ben maneggiare la spada in 1653 was a second version of La Scherma with some revisions and a new section on the Spadone (or great sword). A second edition was published as late as 1683.
• La Bandiera (the Standard or Flag), in 1638
• La Picca (The Pike), in 1641

Approach and reputation

Alfieri was the first Italian swordsmanship author to amply quote, reference and comment on earlier masters. For instance, we know he was an ardent admirer of earlier Paduan sword master Salvator Fabris

Salvator Fabris

Salvator Fabris was an Italian fencing master from Padua. During his life he taught in various European countries, most notably 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,...

, whom he calls "a man of the greatest name in our profession." On the other hand, he sharply criticises Achille Marozzo

Achille Marozzo

Achille Marozzo was an Italian fencing master teaching in the Dardi or Bolognese tradition.Marozzo was probably born in Bologna. His text Opera Nova dell'Arte delle Armi was published in 1536 in Modena, dedicated to Count Rangoni, then reprinted several times all the way into the next century...

 and Ridolfo Capoferro

Ridolfo Capo Ferro

Ridolfo Capoferro or Capo Ferro of Cagli was a fencing master in the city of Siena best known for his rapier fencing manual published in 1610....

 and strongly disagrees with some of their positions.

In turn, Alfieri was amply quoted and praised by the 19th century Italian swordsmanship master Francesco Antonio Marcelli, giving us an indication that his teaching enjoyed some popularity in the 17th century.

External links

• La Scherma, Part 2. Part 2 of Alfieri's treatise (in Italian), including plates, hosted at The School of the Sword. Site also contains a short biography.
• An introduction to the use of the dagger in Italian rapier according to Francesco Alfieri.