In today's MRL' Deal of the Day' there is a 'Cavalier Shoulder Cape' up for grabs. Was this type of garment actually used in rapier fighting in classical times? Or, was it just purely a fashion statement? Really....this is a legit question! :?: Could/would it have been quickly removed and used in lack of a parrying dagger--similar to a gladiator using a net--to fend off the opponents sword? I'm almost sure it's been done in the movies. :lol: But, really...is there any factual usage? I've seen them used in bull-fighting. Is this where the concept originated? Just wondering... :wtf: ...McM

Most of the clothing I've seen at MRL was based mainly on the imaginations of the MRL staff. To be fair, some of it is based on movies. Best to clear any real history from your mind as you browse...

I historical terms, though, I suspect short capes, like any other clothing, actually had or started with a serious *clothing* function, however fashion may have warped it thereafter. Any use in combat was ad hoc, not part of the plan of the garment. Obviously this doesn't apply to clothing designed to be defensive in some way!

Matthew

Real history is what I was wondering about. Is there any evidence of capes used in actual fighting...in historic times? :wtf: ...McM

I guess I should say--Any *famous* examples from historical times. ? ....McM

There's a whole bunch of rapier treatises that show the use of the cloak or cape in fencing. For example:

Salvator Fabris (1606) : here or here
Ridolfo Capo Ferro (1610): here or here
Achille Marozzo (1536)
Francesco Alfieri (1640)

But there's also medieval occurences, like this picture. I read somewhere (maybe in the Giganti's second treatise, where there's also some fencing with cloaks) that the shields and daggers were forbidden in some italian cities - so the citizens used their cape or cloak as a defensive weapon.

THAT is what I was wondering about! Thank you! :) ....McM

Okay, I'll admit that my favorite is Oliver Reed as Athos. He *always* leads with his cloak! Or with something else besides his sword.

Matthew

:lol: Yeah...I knew I'd seen it done in the movies! :lol: I also knew there was historic evidence, just not where to look. I suppose it would work, for lack of a dagger or a shield of some sort. I have a short hooded cloak for fest-wear, but I'll leave the big, billowy ones to Superman and Batman. ;) :lol: ....McM

Thanks, Sean! :) Great info there. I still think I'd rather have a shield though! Or at least a stout buckler. :D ...McM

Launcelot caught in Guenever's chamber (first paragraph): http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart471.htm