Luis Pacheco de Narváez

Don Luis Pacheco de Narváez (1570–1640) was the first Spanish writer to make destreza, the Spanish art of fencing a complete philosophical fencing system.Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. Thomas A. Green, 2010 – c. 254

He was probably initially inspired by the work of Don Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza. Some of his earlier works were compendia of Carranza's work while his later works distantiate and contradict Carranza. He served as fencing master to King Philip IV of Spain.

Nevertheless, Pacheco probably never met the intellectual precursor of the destreza system Jerónimo Sanchez de Carranza.Late Medieval and Early Modern Fight Books: Transmission and Tradition of Martial Arts in Europe (14th–17th Centuries), 2016 г. — С. 3, 329, 352

Biography Until recently, there has been no information on the exact date of birth of Pacheco de Narváez. Born in the city of Baeza, his life was devoted to working with weapons and becoming a sergeant major in the Canary Islands, namely on the island of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.Biografıas.Gregorio Marañón, Espasa-Calpe, 1970 – C. 621

According to documentsTodos los documentos canarios que presentamos o comentamos aquí sobre Luis Pacheco se han tomado de la encomiable publicación de Pérez Herrero (2014) from the legacy of Pacheco de Narváez in the Canary Islands, it is known that he was the son of Rodrigo Marin de Narváez and Magdalena Pacheco Cameras. He married Beatriz Fernandez de Cordoba, the daughter of Michael Jerome Fernandez de Cordova, clerk of the chamber and secretary of the Royal court of the Canary Islands and Lucia Sayago.Protocolos Notariales, nº 1074, pp. 302r-202v. Fecha: 17 de julio de 1621. No obstante lo dicho indica Cioranescu (1957, pp. 353—354) que Beatriz Fernández de Córdoba era «nieta paterna de Alonso Fernández de Córdoba, natural de Gibraleón, teniente de gobernador de la isla de La Palma en 1524, regidor de la misma Isla y vecino después de La Gomera, donde había casado con Isabel Núñez, hija de Pedro Almonte y de Juana Hernández»AHPLP: Protocolos Notariales, nº 902, pp. 294v-298r. Fecha: 25 de junio de 1591

In 1608, he allegedly had a heated debate sword in hand with Francisco de Quevedo as a result of Quevedo criticizing one of his works. Quevedo allegedly took off Pacheco's hat in the first encounter.[Obras de don Francisco de Quevedo Villegas. Francisco de Quevedo M. Rivadeneyra, 1852 – C.69–72] The duel is considered a myth by experts, noting its virtual absence from all records other than Quevedo's biographer Pablo Antonio de Tarsia. Quevedo himself never mentioned it in his writings or boasted of defeating Narváez, nor their contemporaries recount any similar story between them.Bomprezzi, Alberto (2013). Quevedo nunca venció a Pacheco de Narváez: Sobre D. Luis Pacheco de Narváez y D. Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas y de la falsa anécdota de Tarsia en casa del Almirante de Castilla.

In Quevedo's picaresque novel El Buscón,Quevedo: El Buscón.Francisco de Quevedo, Américo Castro, Julio Cejador y Frauca. Ediciones de «La Lectura», 1927 — С. 15,49 his enmity with Narváez was parodied with a fencer relying on mathematical calculations having to run away from a duel with an experienced soldier.Aparato biográfico y bibliográf.Francisco de Quevedo Rasco, 1897 – C. 565

The life of a swordsman

Despite the lack of accurate data on the life of Pacheco de Narváez, as well as numerous other masters of medieval fencing, there are often occasional references, from which it is clear that the profession of the fencing master in Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries required serious preparation, extreme physical strength, and organization; thus, there existed a monopoly on teaching and awarding the title of master of the art of fencing.Schools and masters of fencing. Noble art of blades, Egerton Castle

Don Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza, a lawyer and very skilled fencer considered nowadays the precursor of the Spanish school of fencing, destreza, became famous for his written treatise ('The philosophy of arms and their skill, and of Christian aggression and defense', published in 1582) and could have been the intellectual inspiration for Pacheco de Narváezs early works.Late Medieval and Early Modern Fight Books: Transmission and Tradition of Martial Arts in Europe (14th–17th Centuries), 2016 г. — С. 3, 329, 352

Pacheco de Narváez was a military man who served on both land and sea as a soldier, sergeant, ensign, sergeant major, and later governor.Advertencias para la enseñanza de la filosofía y destreza de las armas así a pie como a caballo, 1642 (aprobación de 1639) – Prologo

Libro de las grandezas de la espada

Libro de las grandezas de la espada ('Book of the Greatness of the sword') by Pacheco de Narváez formed the basis of all 17th-century Spanish fencing literature. The first edition includes all the principles that Narváez handed to Carranza.

was written in the city of Seville and is dedicated to Philip III, the "king of all Spain and the greater part of the world". Pacheco de Narváez reproduces in detail the inventor's characteristic methods and explains the curious schemes, with drawn circles and positions of the blades relative to each other – in the form of conditional swords, intersecting at different angles depending on the type of movement, the cutting or piercing stroke.

After extensive and detailed arguments on the need for defense, as required by human and divine laws, as well as arguments on the elevation of self-perfection through the art of possession of arms, the author consecrates his wisdom and practice in the art of fencing.La novela barroca. Catálogo bio-bibliográfico (1620—1700), Begoña Ripoll, Universidad de Salamanca, 1991 – С.116

Fencers need to take a stand outside the defined man of proportion in order to systematize the general concept of the right means, Narváez represent a circle drawn on the ground – "" an 'imaginary circumference around the opposing bodies', which further outlines the actions."La filosofía de las armas y de su destreza, y de la agresión y defensa cristiana. Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza, 1582

Carranza paid the most attention to cutting strokes, although he was very free to use stabbing blows in the fight. He presents the exact definition of the first strike, but does not explain the second one in any way. Narváez, however, touched on his work in thrusting strikes, but did not give any detailed explanation as to how he performed it.Schools and masters of fencing. Noble art of sword ownership, Egerton Castle – P.137

Modo fácil y nuevo para examinarse los maestros en la destreza de las armas

('New and easy way to examine masters in the dexterity of weapons') is another of Pacheco de Narváez's most famous works (a dialogue between a pupil and an exam teacher on the new fencing system that got obligatory by law in Spain).A simple way of examining teachers in the art of fencing with weapons. Don Luis Pacheco de Narvaez, [Translation from Spanish] —Dnepr: Serednjak T. К., 2017, — 112 с

The book at that time was published by the Cabinet of Lazaro de los Ríos, Secretary of the King of Spain, dated 26 February 1625 in Madrid.Diálogo entre el maestro examinador en la Filosofía y Destreza de las Armas y el discípulo. Luis Pacheco de Narváez, 1625

This treatise contains a dialogue between the student and his teacher-examiner on the art of fencing and philosophy for obtaining the degree of maestro.

Pacheco de Narváez received gratitude from the king and was appointed examiner for all fencing teachers; however, instead of passing the exams, apparently, his comrades decided to unite against him. This can be concluded by analyzing the index – a list of people who have been enrolled. The index is in the archives of the Supreme Court. It says the following:

The protective pillars described in the treatise meet the requirements, correspond to the laws of justice and peace in the Republic. Each valiant knight was given a crown as a sign of wisdom and skill. Dialogue is based on these two principles. In the text, training with weapons is described. Also in this part, a thorough assessment of the most talented students is conducted. It is said that they are allocated a scholarship for the time devoted to studies. Such a person should be greeted favorably – the other, who from greed desires to receive the honor of receiving a scientific award – should not be despised or avoided working with. The involuntary ignoring of a person is not a significant mistake, but ignorance of what is necessary is disrespect to oneself. And above all, absurd talent and a lack of courage lead to a loss of hope to achieve what is possible, says Pacheco de Narváez.A simple way of examining teachers in the art of fencing with weapons. Don Luis Pacheco de Narvaez, [Translation from Spanish] —Dnepr: Serednjak T. К., 2017, — 112 с

This treatise is useful in studying the history of the art of possession of weapons, so intellectuals consider it valuable. This book contributed to the re-creation of the art and describes the image of the art of fencing from the date of publication of this was addressed only thanks to various masters of fencing.

Bibliography

, Luis Pacheco de Narváez. Orbigo, 1600 , Luis Pacheco de Narváez por Luis Sanchez, 1612 Luis Pacheco de Narváez. Claudius Bornat, 1643 , Luis Pacheco de Narváez, M. Sanchez, 1672 , Luis Pacheco de Narváez por los herederos de Pedro Lanaja, 1658 , Luis Pacheco de Narváez, 1642 , Luis Pacheco de Narváez, Luis Imprenta del Reino (Madrid) 1635

Luis Pacheco de Narváez

Bron en licentie