Page 9 - Fencing Booklet

The Italians discovered the effectiveness of the court of Louis XIV set the fashion of silk
the dexterous use of the point rather than the edge of the sword. By the end of the 16th century, their lighter weapon, the rapier, and
a simple, nimble, and controlled fencing style, emphasizing skill and speed rather than force, had spread throughout Europe. Most of the wrestling tricks were abandoned, the lunge was developed and adopted, and fencing became established as an art.
The long rapier was beautifully balanced, excellent in attack, and superb for keeping an opponent at a distance, but it was too heavy for all the movements of combat. Defense when fighting with a rapier was effected by parrying with the left hand, which was protected by a gauntlet or cloak or equipped with a dagger. Opponents’ thrusts were often avoided by ducking or sidestepping.
In the latter half of the 17th century, the sword and swordsmanship changed dramatically with a change in gentlemen’s dress. In France
stockings, breeches, and brocaded coats, which replaced that of the doublet and hose, top boots, and cloaks. As the long, trailing rapier was unsuited to the new form of dress, fashion decreed the wearing of a light, short court sword. The French style set in throughout Europe as the Italian style had done earlier.
Although at first derided, the court sword was soon recognized as an ideal light weapon which allowed for a multitude of offensive and defensive movements that would have been impossible with heavier weapons. Its light weight permitted the sword to be used by itself, without the use of daggers, cloaks, or the free hand. Hits on the opponent were made with the point of the sword only, defense was effected by the wielding of the blade (fending off the opponent’s blade with one’s own sword), and what is now recognized as modern fencing came into being. At this time the French style fully displaced the Italian as the most-practiced form of sword combat.
The French school of sword fighting was an academic form, with much emphasis on strategy
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SWORDSMANSHIP AND WEAPONS