Learning Fiore De Liberi

This website is the result of our interest in what is being called "Historical European Martial Arts", in particular the study of a manuscript written in early 1400 (one manual specifies 1409). This manuscript was written by Sir Fiore Furlano de Civida d'Austria delli Liberi da Premariacco (aka Fiore de Liberi). There are 4 known versions of this manuscript, of which the one at the Getty Museum is considered to be either the original, or close to it. The one at the Getty Museum is often called the "Getty Manuscript". The other manuscripts are the Morgan (at the Pierpont Morgan Library in New York, NY), the Pisani-Dossi (originall in the Pisani-Dossi collection of books and manuscripts, and sometimes called the Novati), the last two are also in museums ( the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and Biblioteca Estense ). The Bilioteca Estense version is only mentioned in it's catalogues, and has been missing since 1600 or so.

What this really means is that we don't have a living instructor in the art, and have to interpret 15th century Italian to read the manuals we do have access too. Some of what we know is because it says directly in the manuals, other information is from direct experimentation and free play. We attempt to Free Play as close to combat conditions as possible, so as to fully understand the arts.

We also have to understand the times in which Fiore lived. Dress, footwear, armor and society all influence what weapons can be carried, and how effective they are. Without understanding that the common dagger of the time was the roundel, some of Fiore's dagger work looks unworkable with a modern knife. If you don't know that the armor of the time restricted movement of the arms above the head, the lack of "Posta de Falcone" seems odd. When you know that you couldn't always defend yourself equal to the force applied to you, it becomes evident why disabling an opponent is more important then killing him.

As the Historical European Martial Arts community continues to study Fiore's system, we come to new insights to how the system works. It's the study, and attention to detail that make this 600 year old martial art alive and well today. Indeed, it's what makes it as relevant today, as it was when Fiore first picked up a sword in the late 1300's.