The Duel, or the Flower of Arms for Single Combat, Both Offensive and Defensive, by Achille Marozzo

Achille Marozzo’s Opera Nova (1536) was the most highly renowned text of the cut-and-thrust school of “Bolognese swordsmanship”. It describes armed combat with the single-handed sword, alone and with a variety of companion arms (bucklers, shield, dagger, second sword, cape, etc.); the dagger alone or with cape; the two-handed sword; a variety of pole arms; and grappling techniques, both armed and unarmed. This translation was prepared with the practitioner of historical fencing in mind. It encompasses the entirety of the Opera Nova with the exception of the discussion of the dueling code in Book 5, is highly annotated, and includes all of the numerous original illustrations. The translator has provided an extensive introduction covering history, technical elements, and theory, as well as a glossary and a gallery of guards.