THE ITALIAN FENCING TREATISES OF 15TH CENTURY: A CONTINUITY OF TRADITIONS OR GENERATIONS CLASH

The most important topical issues are 15th century Italian fencing treatises’ dating, biographies of their authors and customers. The purpose of the article is an answer to the question: “Did Fiore dei Liberi's "Flower of Battle" treatises influence on the formation of the Italian fencing tradition from the 1400s to the 1480s?” In addition should be considered more carefully the circumstances of meeting Fiore dei Liberi with the potential patron Niccolo III d'Este, based on a number of already known facts about the life of the Friulian fencing master. The version about the Venetian nobility participation in the creation of the first Fiore’s treatises (MS. M 383 from the collection of the Pierpont Morgan Museum) is considered separately. The author also proposed to revise the chronological framework of some treatises based on a comprehensive analysis of visual and written sources. Some facts in this article shed light on the "Paris Manuscript" creation and its connection with the knightly community of the Burgundies court in the middle of the 15th century. The question of the treatise "De Arte Gladiatoria Dimacandi" author’s origin and activity in Ferrara is still open. This especially concerns an influence of medicine thought on Philippo di Vadi da Pisano's ideas. The participation of d'Este family plays an important role, including a treatise creation and martial arts teaching under their patronage. The author of the "Paris" manuscript remove an accent from the "Flower of Battle"combat practices to the artistic decoration of the treatise. Philippo di Vadi successfully used the "crowns and garters" system to demonstrate his own version of the martial art, but focused it on didactics. Thus, Fiore dei Liberi's ideas were continued in the other 15th century fencing treatises, but underwent transformations.