Il torneo (The Tournament), written by Bonaventura Pistofilo and published in Bologna, Italy, in 1627 (with a 1626 colophon), is a significant seventeenth-century treatise on chivalric sport, military drill, and early military music. The work serves as a bridge between medieval tournament traditions and the highly organized, ceremonial military displays of the Renaissance.
Its importance lies in several key areas. First, as a comprehensive tournament guide, the 590-page manuscript functions as a definitive compilation of laws and regulations governing international knightly tournaments. It provides a practical manual for staging such events, addressing both armed combat and the etiquette and codes of chivalry that defined them.
Second, Il torneo is notable for its detailed technical illustrations. The volume contains 117 full-page engravings by Giovanni Battista Coriolano, which depict precise postures and drills for armored combat on foot, with particular emphasis on the use of the spear, sword, and pole-axe.
Third, the treatise is an important early source for military music. It includes pages of drum notation and a section devoted to drumming techniques, employing syllables such as ta, pa, and ra to represent specific strokes. Dots placed above the notes likely indicate accents, while additional notation illustrates interaction between the drummer and the knight. Pistofilo further clarifies sticking by using downward stems for the right hand and upward stems for the left.
Finally, Il torneo stands as a valuable historical document of seventeenth-century military arts. It reflects the transformation of tournaments from hazardous, “barbaric” combat into structured, choreographed pageants or military exercises, highlighting broader changes in early modern martial practice.
Sometimes subtitled within the Teatro di Pallade (Theater of Pallas), the work is widely recognized for its exceptional thoroughness in documenting both the artistic and practical dimensions of seventeenth-century knighthood.
Downloads (in Italian):
