Pietro Monte's Collectanea The Arms, Armour and Fighting Techniques of a Fifteenth-Century Soldier

Monte describes the techniques of personal combat with various weapons, including the two-handed and one-handed sword, pollaxe, and dagger, as well as wrestling, armored and mounted combat. He also documents the athletic activities used by knights to hone their physical abilities: running, jumping, throwing, and vaulting. Finally, the Collectanea is the solemedieval text to provide extensive discussion of the design of arms and armour.
This translation includes an illustrated introduction to Monte and his technical subject-matter, as well as a translation of Book 5 of Monte's De Dignoscendis Hominibus (1492), which overlaps much of the technical content of the Collectanea.
JEFFREY L. FORGENG is curator of Arms and Armour and Medieval Art at the Worcester Art Museum, and teaches as Adjunct Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Pietro Monte's Collectanea, Books One to Three
Appendix A: Monte, The Appraisal of Men, Book 5
Appendix B: Structure of the Collectanea and Appraisal 5
Glossary
Bibliography
Welcome to my AH blog