Italo Santelli
Encyclopedia
Italo Santelli was an Italian
fencer
who is considered to be the "father of modern sabre
fencing".
(La Spezia
) Italy
in 1866. He studied at famous Italian schools, including the Scuola Magistrale of Rome. In 1896 Santelli was considered an established fencing master, and Santelli moved to Budapest
together with brother Otello, also a fencer, and his wife. Santelli had his son, Giorgio
, in Hungary
in 1897, who always kept his Italian citizenship, before leaving in the USA.
It was in Hungary that Italo Santelli began to create a new style of sabre fencing. The style involved a much more quick defense than classical training called for, and became known as the "modern style" of Santelli.
Santelli displayed this modern style at the 1900 Summer Olympics
in Paris
on the Italian team. He came in 6th at the foil
competition, but took home a silver medal in sabre, his teammate Antonio Conte
taking the gold.
At the 1924 Summer Olympics
, Kovacs, a Hungarian judge, made a controversial call in a fencing match, siding with France
over Italy. An Italian fencer, Aldo Boni, verbally attacked the judge for the ruling and refused to apologize when asked. Santelli was called in as a witness to Boni's outbreak, and the Italian team was forced to resign from the competition.
Once in Italy, the Italian team's captain, Adolfo Cotronei, accused Santelli of speaking out against Boni to remove them from the competition, supposedly fearing they would eliminate his adopted nation of Hungary
, who would go on to take the bronze at the 1924 Games
. Cotronei challenged Santelli, already past 60 years of age, to a duel
. Giorgio Santelli
, under the rules of the "code duello", took his father's place in the fight, and won the duel with a riposte
to Cotronei's face. Santelli went on to coach numerous notable fencing students over the course of his career.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
who is considered to be the "father of modern sabre
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
fencing".
Early life
Italo Santelli was born in CarrodanoCarrodano
Carrodano is a comune in the Province of La Spezia in the Italian region Liguria, located about 60 km southeast of Genoa and about 20 km northwest of La Spezia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 532 and an area of 21.0 km².Carrodano borders the following municipalities:...
(La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
) Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1866. He studied at famous Italian schools, including the Scuola Magistrale of Rome. In 1896 Santelli was considered an established fencing master, and Santelli moved to Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
together with brother Otello, also a fencer, and his wife. Santelli had his son, Giorgio
Giorgio Santelli
Maestro Giorgio Santelli was a fencer and fencing master who was the largest mid-20th century influence in raising the quality and popularity of fencing in the United States, and creator of one of the best-known fencing equipment manufacturers.Born in Budapest, Hungary, but always keeping his...
, in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
in 1897, who always kept his Italian citizenship, before leaving in the USA.
It was in Hungary that Italo Santelli began to create a new style of sabre fencing. The style involved a much more quick defense than classical training called for, and became known as the "modern style" of Santelli.
Santelli displayed this modern style at the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on the Italian team. He came in 6th at the foil
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
competition, but took home a silver medal in sabre, his teammate Antonio Conte
Antonio Conte (fencer)
Antonio Conte was an Italian fencer who competed in the late 19th century and early 20th century.Conte was born in Minturno. He participated in Fencing at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris and won the gold medal in the masters sabre, defeating fellow Italian fencer Italo Santelli in the...
taking the gold.
Post-Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
, Kovacs, a Hungarian judge, made a controversial call in a fencing match, siding with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
over Italy. An Italian fencer, Aldo Boni, verbally attacked the judge for the ruling and refused to apologize when asked. Santelli was called in as a witness to Boni's outbreak, and the Italian team was forced to resign from the competition.
Once in Italy, the Italian team's captain, Adolfo Cotronei, accused Santelli of speaking out against Boni to remove them from the competition, supposedly fearing they would eliminate his adopted nation of Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, who would go on to take the bronze at the 1924 Games
Fencing at the 1924 Summer Olympics
At the 1924 Summer Olympics, seven fencing events were contested. A women's event, the individual foil, was held for the first time.After the Olympic Games, an Italian and a Hungarian settled a scoring controversy with a real duel...
. Cotronei challenged Santelli, already past 60 years of age, to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
. Giorgio Santelli
Giorgio Santelli
Maestro Giorgio Santelli was a fencer and fencing master who was the largest mid-20th century influence in raising the quality and popularity of fencing in the United States, and creator of one of the best-known fencing equipment manufacturers.Born in Budapest, Hungary, but always keeping his...
, under the rules of the "code duello", took his father's place in the fight, and won the duel with a riposte
Riposte
In fencing, the riposte is an offensive action with the intent of hitting one's opponent, made by the fencer who has just parried an attack....
to Cotronei's face. Santelli went on to coach numerous notable fencing students over the course of his career.