(lit. ''Book of the Greatness of the Sword'') is a 16th-century Spanish treatise on fencing written by Don

Luis Pacheco de Narváez Don Luis Pacheco de Narváez (1570–1640) was a Spanish writer on '' destreza'', the Spanish art of fencing. He was a follower of Don Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza. Some of his earlier works were compendia of Carranza's work while his later w ...

, who is considered one of the founding fathers of Spanish fencing (''

destreza is the conventional term for the Spanish tradition of fencing of the early modern period. The word literally translates to 'dexterity' or 'skill, ability', and thus to 'the true skill' or 'the true art'. While is primarily a system of sword ...

'') and the disciple of

Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza Don Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza, ( es, link=no, Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza), Jerónimo de Carranza, pt, Hieronimo de Carança; c. 1539 – c. 1600 or 1608) was a Spanish nobleman, humanist, scientist, one of the most famous fencers, and ...

About the treatise

The treatise dedicates numerous pages to the differentiation between two forms of fencing ('' destrezas''), ('true fencing') and ('vulgar or common fencing'). It must be noted that the treatise was not officially translated into English. The treatise consists of five chapters and starts with the title page which states: "Book of the Greatness of the Sword, in which many secrets which the Commander Jerónimo de Carranza composed, are declared. One may study the book without a ''maestro'' (teacher). Dedicated to Don Philip III King of Spain, and of the greater part of the world, our lord." The treatise was published in

Madrid Madrid ( , ) is the capital and most populous city of Spain. The city has almost 3.4 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 6.7 million. It is the Largest cities of the Europ ...

, Spain, on June 17, 1599. The preface includes text on official taxation, a dedication to the king and the king's appeal.

Prologue

Luis Pacheco de Narváez persuasively discusses the skill in general, as well as the reason and evidence that is considered a true science.

First chapter

* Evidence that and art of weapon handling is a science * About Memory and service * About prudence and duty * Animo, honor

Second chapter

* Demonstrations

Third chapter

Feints Feint is a French term that entered English via the discipline of swordsmanship and fencing. Feints are maneuvers designed to distract or mislead, done by giving the impression that a certain maneuver will take place, while in fact another, or e ...

and tricks

Fourth chapter

* Peculiarities of True ()

Fifth chapter

* What a maestro shall know to practice * Handling a sword * Practicing with a cloak, dagger and a sword

Criticism

The treatise is considered by some to be a magnificent work not only about fencing, but also about the art of living for a noble man. Indeed, the treatise is written in sophisticated language with examples from geometry, mathematics, logic, Aristotelian works, Pythagorus, as well as an explanation of human temperament types and their classification. On the other hand, certain fencing schools of past centuries considered the work of Luis Pacheco de Narváez to be pedantic work more about mathematics and calculations than practical combat. Moreover, some people consider that Pacheco simply rewrote the work of his maestro. The treatise dedicates numerous pages to the differentiation between ('true fencing') and ('vulgar or common fencing').

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Libro de las grandezas de la espada Spanish books Combat treatises 1605 books