Chapter 1 – Introducing Manciolino’s System

Introduction

This all began as the summary notes of the Bolognese sword and buckler class taught at Stoccata – Angloceltia during 1st term of 2007. The course concentrated on the sword and buckler work of Antonio Manciolino and Achille Marozzo. We spent the first week introducing the terminology to be used in the course. The basic course utilised Coda Lunga Alta as an exemplar of the attacks and defences from a low ward, which was the material for Weeks 2 to 6. We then moved onto Guardia Alta as an exemplar of the attacks and defences from a high ward, which was the course material for weeks 7 to 9.

However, over time my understanding of the material has improved, and I’ve been continuing the research. So that I can capture the ongoing understanding and research of the system, I’ve started this book to provide a resource for that information.

The Source Material

This understanding of the Dardi School has been developed from Antonio Manciolino’s 1531 treatise Opera Nova, and Achille Marozzo’s 1531 treatise Opera Nova (alternatively titled Arte dell Armi in the 1568 edition). The system as described in these pages is a blend of the 2 treatises, which together provide a remarkably concise and complementary description of the system.

Due to my limited ability to read Renaissance Italian, I’ve predominately relied on translations into English as follows:

Craig Pitt-Pladdy, whose translations were found at:

http://www.hemac.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=15 – accessed 22 Mar 2006

http://www.hemac.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=16 – accessed 22 Mar 2006

http://mandrittotondo.tripod.com/manciolinoproject/id3.html – accessed 13 Mar 2006

http://mandrittotondo.tripod.com/manciolinoproject/id4.html – accessed 13 Mar 2006

Craig Pitt-Pladdy & Samy Degli Orsetti, whose translations were found at:

http://www.hemac.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=19 – accessed 22 Mar 2006

http://www.hemac.org/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=20 – accessed 22 Mar 2006

Jherek Swanger, whose translations were found at:

http://www.drizzle.com/~celyn/jherek/EngManc.pdf – accessed 07 Mar 2006

A pdf facsimile of the original 1531 edition of the manual is provided by The Raymond J. Lord’s Collection at the University of Massachusetts at: