Targas revisited

[Sal Bertucci]

So to review:

The Italian systems used three types of shields; buckler, rotella, and targa. The buckler being small and circular, rotella being large and circular, and the targa being rectangular and "wavy".

As far as I am aware, most of the images in the Italian manuals would suggest that these were all made of steel. That being said, I have seen pictorial as well as artifacts of rotella sized shields that were rectangular and "wavy" like a targa. Which brings me to the question. Is it logical and reasonable to suppose that there were wooden targas that were the normal size?

[Stacy Clifford]

I think it's always reasonable to assume that there was a cheaper/easier to make version for the budget warrior, but those well-dressed fellows appearing in fine Italian publications probably wouldn't be caught dead with a cheap knockoff. You are referring mainly to 16th century and later works like Marozzo, not Fiore's time, correct?

[Sal Bertucci]

Correct Stacy. That's roughly what I was thinking. I just wanted some conformation.

[I. Hartikainen]

Hi!

From what I've seen in museums Rotella's were made from steel, wood and an interesting form of rattan? rods covered covered in canvas and twisted into a circular shape to form the shield, then attached to some sort of base.

According to Tom Leoni's Manciolino translation, the anonymous Bolognese text mentions targas made of paper - though I'm not sure how they would've been like.

The Bolognese texts also mention bucklers being in two sizes, and show the use of a larger, almost like a "duelling shield" size of shield.

The main distinction in shields probably was whether they are attached to the arm or held in hand.


Yours,
Ilkka

[Steven Reich]

The author of the Anonimo Bolognese almost certainly assumed that a targa could be made of something other than metal. There are two techniques that involve jamming your targa onto the point of your opponent's sword so that his blade becomes stuck long enough that he cannot use his sword to defend as you deliver a strike. In addition, IIRC, Altoni talks of the targa being made of wood and/or metal.

Finally, I believe that there are surviving wooden examples.

Steve

[Sal Bertucci]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. That "Anonimo" sure looks like fun, but I've only found patches of translations online. While I can stumble through Italian, would either of you know if something is "In the works" on that front?

Now I have to finish up my other projects so that I can start on that one. Hopefully I'll post some pics in a year or two when I finally get around to it.

So many plans, so little time.

[Steven Reich]

Thanks to everyone for the responses. That "Anonimo" sure looks like fun, but I've only found patches of translations online. While I can stumble through Italian, would either of you know if something is "In the works" on that front?

Now I have to finish up my other projects so that I can start on that one. Hopefully I'll post some pics in a year or two when I finally get around to it.

Well, it's always "in the works" from my point of view. I have been slowly extracting all of the material (actually, of the whole Bolognese corpus), but it needs to be checked, edited, and compiled. I don't do straight translations when I extract stuff--I just read the Italian--so the extracts have some interpretation in them. I expect to start putting some of the sword and targa material up first (although the sword and rotella material is already online--as part of the sword and rotella handout I did a few years ago).

Steve

[Sal Bertucci]

I have that Rotella material that you mentioned. I've liked reading through that even though I don't have a shield for it yet.

I have lots of things to work on though, so I can afford to wait on "The collected Works of Steven Reich" I really like the articles that you have done, as they've been very helpful.

Forgive the poor spelling earlier.