l’Arte Dell Armi

Episode 3.2: The Siege

Episode III.ii
The Siege
Guido Rangoni is in Padua surrounded by the largest army assembled in Italy since the Roman Empire. Among the enemy ranks are the crown of German aristocracy, the flower of French Chivalry, an assortment of famed Italian Condottiere, and a core of cutthroat mercenaries comprised of Landsknechts and Gascons; totaling almost 40,000 men. Defending Padua are the remnants of the Venetian army, just over 10,000 men, led by the same Condottiere captain that refused to engage the French at Agnadello, Niccolo di Pitigliano, and a washed up merchant turned politician named Adrea Gritti.
 
The story of the siege of Padua is brimming with untold feats of heroism, it’s marked with stories of valor and cunning ferocity. The rosters of the French and German knights that came to take part in the siege was a veritable who’s–who of the aristocratic profession, virtually every great knight on the continent stood before the walls of the city. Yet Padua isn’t known as a great triumph of Chivalric honor, no it’s the final resting place of the logos, ethos and pathos that comprised the tradition. If you ever wondered how the principles of Knightly virtue died, tune in to this heart pounding episode of l’Arte Dell Armi and find out.  
 
 
The Siege
 
Thud - Thud - Thud
Purlepaus, Weckauf, und Haupstück Der Leo pounded.
Thud - Thud - Thud
Crossbow bolts caremed off armor in the breach.
Thud - Thud- Thud
Hoofbeats thundered in the outskirts of the city.
Thud - Thud - Thud
Snapped the flags of ten thousand great houses.
 Thud - Thud - Thud
Marched the feet of the defenders on the ramparts.
Thud- Thud -Thud
Beat the worried hand of a mother on her infants back.
Thud - Thud - Thud
Bounced the heel of an elderly man worried about his shop.
Thud - Thud - Thud
Beat the hearts those who watched the siege unfold.
Thud - Thud - Thud
In the
Mud
Mud
Mud
of Padua
the flower of Chivalry wilted and died.
 
 

Mike Prendergast: Pietro Monte’s Collectanea

We've reached the year 1509 in our timeline of Maestro Wars, and as a consequence of focus and time we had to mark the battle of Agnadello as a footnote in our story. That said, Agnadello is more than just a significant Venetian defeat to the historical fencing community, it marks the death of one of it's greatest authors, Pietro Monte. Pietro Monte was one of the greatest swordsman of his age, the personal tutor of one of Italy's greatest knights, a friend of great artists like Leonardo da Vinci, and the ideal Renaissance Courtier. 
 
It's that or the Collectanea is a book full of some guys tricks...
 
Stephen and I sit down with Mike Prendergast to find out, and settle some scores. Mike is a longtime HEMA and SCA practitioner, he's also a Pietro Monte expert, and probably one of the nicest human beings I've ever had the pleasure to meet--until you put a rapier in his hand. Mike has competed across the globe in longsword, sword and buckler and Rapier, and found success wherever he's traveled. Join us as we travel back to Milan, Florence and the battlefield of Agnadello to learn more about the the legendary Pietro Monte! 
 
Visit Mike's website for a free PDF of his Monte translation here:
mikeprendergast.ie 
 
Find out more about Mike's fencing group here:
https://www.facebook.com/HCombatAcademy
 
 

Jen Landels and Devon Boorman: Cavalry Tactics

Continuing with our system specific highlights that help us answer questions about the historical narrative we’re researching in the Maestro Wars series, we brought on Jen Landels (the preeminent instructor of mounted combat in North America) and Devon Boorman to talk to us about Cavalry tactics. Ever wondered what it was like to fight from horseback with a lance, sword, mace, or crossbow? This is the episode for you!
 
Academie Cavallo: https://academiecavallo.ca/
Academie Duello: https://www.academieduello.com/
Find More at: https://duello.tv/
And Devons Blog here: https://pathofthesword.com/
 
 

Puck Curtis: Destreza

Maestro Puck Curtis joined us to talk about Destreza. We kept running into accounts of Italian troops fighting against their Spanish allies, and we thought it would be fun to get a feel for what that might look like. Who better to ask than Puck Curtis? In this episode of l'Arte dell Armi we compare Italian and Spanish fencing styles, explore the incredibly fascinating life of Caranzza, and ask the all important question, why Manciolino?

Maestro Wars Episode 3.1: Revenge of the Pontiff

Episode III.i
Revenge of the Pontiff
 
The Bentivoglio’s plans to take back Bologna have been thwarted. Now with new excommunications orders leveled against them, this time including our hero Guido Rangoni, and fresh bounties on their heads, they have no choice but to lay low, and wait out the coming storm. 
 
All in Italy is not serene; however, the Popes ire has turned from the Bentivoglio and Bologna, to Venice. At the city of Cambrai delegates from the European world gather at the Pope’s behest. Rumors of a great war are beginning to spread, inspiring every zealot, cut-throat, and champion yearning to make a name for themselves to arms. 
 
Meanwhile, Ugo Pepoli has won a sterling reputation for himself with his valiant efforts to stop the Bentivoglio, but with glory comes envy, and the man whose gaze has fallen upon Ugo is the most cunning of adversaries, the Cardinal Alidosi. 

Devon Boorman: Spears, Polearms, and Armor

Wrapping up our November deep-dive on Polearms with a pleasant holiday bow is the venerable Devon Boorman. Devon provides us with his perspective on the various Bolognese polearms systems, Partisan, Spiedo, Ronca, Poleaxe in armor. This is a real treat; we hope you enjoy!
 
For more amazing content from Devon Boorman Checkout: 
www.pathofthesword.com  or  https://duello.tv/
 
 
 
 

Holiday Special: Dysfunctional Families of the Renaissance

Holiday Special: Dysfunctional Families of the Renaissance
Featuring Kari Holman, LCPC, NCC, CCTP-II!
 
Holidays are a time for family, and sometimes that can bring with it a certain connotation. To help ease you into your trip to visit the in-laws, or prep you for the awkwardness of that uncle who just wants to talk about politics at the dinner table, we've put together a series of stories highlighting Renaissance family dysfunction, so maybe, just maybe, you won't feel like your awkward or unpleasant family encounters are so bad after all!
Kari Holman weighs in with her clinical expertise to help us sort through our Renaissance heroes family dilemmas.
 
Story Highlights:
Cesare Borgia: Oh Brother Where Art Thou
Lucrezia Borgia: An Ever Loving Brother
Ippolito d'Este: The One That Got Away
Beatrice d'Este: A Glacial Affair
Alphonso d'Este: The Well Polished Cannon
Caterina Sforza: The New Man of the House
The Bentivoglio: A Family That Kills Together Stays Together
 
We hope you have safe and saucy holidays!
 

Lochlan Koulouris: A Soldiers Perspective

Lochlan Koulouris of Warriors of Ash, and Descendant Leather, joins Stephen and I to talk about his military experience, polearm fighting in formation, the awesome polearms his company produces, and so much more!
 
Check out Warriors of Ash Here: https://www.warriorsofash.com/
Descendant Leather Polearms: https://descendantleather.com/
 

Maestro Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Bentivoglio

 
Episode II
Attack of the Bentivoglio
 
The Pope has succeeded in conquering Bologna, but thanks to the cunning of the lady Ginverva Sforza Bentivoglio, hope is renewed. 
Hannibal, Guido, and Ermes have gathered an army of thousands and have positioned themselves on the border between Bologna and Modena.
 
Meanwhile the trouble is brewing. To the east, the forces of Giampaolo Baglioni, Ugo Pepoli and Lucio Malvezzi are preparing the city of Bologna for a siege. In the west, dark rumblings of Modense and Ferrarese forces mustering are circling the camps of the Bentivoglio supporters.
 
In this episode of l'Arte Dell Armi:
Maestro Wars Part 2: Attack of the Bentivoglio (0:0)
Marozzo's Sword and Cape Against Someone on Horseback: Featuring Eric Weiss (41:15)
Condottiere Spotlight: Melchiorre Ramazzotto  (1:19:30)
 
Stay Saucy My Friends!
 

Halloween Special: Necromancy, Torture, and Execution

Happy Halloween! Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. If I told you that there was a monastic throwdown in Bologna between 1450-1500 over the right of priests to summon demons to do their bidding, would you believe me? What if I told you witches and necromancers were high society, upper crust, fat cats in the Renaissance? Well, if that's not enough to get you in the spirit, maybe a little torture will hone your senses. 
 
In this episode of l'Arte Dell Armi:
Short Stories
A Brief History of Necromancy in Bologna (1450-1500)
Renaissance Torture
Renaissance Execution
Wrap-up discussion