Parere Portrayed by Paolo

[Jeffrey Hull]

Hey Guys,

Check out this panel-painting titled *Battle of San Romano*, fought between Florence and Siena in 1432, painted by the Italian artist Paolo Uccello about 1440:

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects.dll/CollectionPublisher.woa/wa/work?workNumber=NG583

(Click on that image to enlargen the scene)

There is a lot of stuff happening in this scene, but please note the two plate-armoured mounted knights fighting at the right side of picture. One knight clearly makes a *parere* (*versetzen* for you German-speakers) with his longsword or bastard-sword, utilising its flat against the vambrace of an opposing knight swinging a war-hammer.

Thus, yet another period source showing us sensible use of blade-flat for defense.

JH

[John_Clements]

Looks to me like he's attemping a thrust that was deflected or was making a edge strike to the arm in defens, Jeff. There is another figure in the back that appears to be thrusting into that same opponent.

JC

[Casper Bradak]

One of my favourite paintings. To me, it definitely appears to be a deflected thrust (by a rota type parry, either with the hammer or vambrace).
Interesting how the lance has also deflected on his harness, weaving through the besagew and fan on the elbow cop (lucky dude).
Note also the other sword thrust deflected by the armour and weaving through the besagew as well. You can also plainly see the technique being used by that man at arms of "couching" the sword described in some period texts, and similar to the transitory half sword technique used when facing an armoured opponent as described by Master Ringek when on foot.

[Matthew_Anderson]

Yes, it looks like he is warding off a sword thrust with his vambrace, a sword has been thrusted toward the left armpit, riding over his shoulder between the pauldron and breastplate, and he seems to have trapped a lance thrust under his left arm? He's doing pretty well considering how many people are trying to kill him! I wonder where all his fellow knights are? I think he needs to disengange and get the heck out of there or surrender and hope someone will pay his ransom <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Jeffrey Hull]

Yeah the swordsman could have just tried a sturzhauw - or whatever the Italians call it <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

The besague thing is interesting to consider.

And perhaps he just got run though with the lance if he is not trapping it.

JH