This may seem like an odd question, but do any period texts describe how to approach combat when dealing with more than one opponent? My Fabris translation has yet to come in, so I can't confirm if the second part mentions anything about it.

I can't specifically remember anything in Italian sources other than the offhand comment or two. The Montante material of Figueyredo (available here) has actions designed to work against multiple opponents or a crowd. If you have more than one opponent, you're best off if you have a Spadone or Polearm (and none of your opponents have one).

Steve

The only manual I know of is the German rapier manual of 1611 by Michael Hundt, I inquired about it to a German rapier instructor I know a year or two ago, but do not remember his response, will check my old emails at work tomorrow.

From an email discussion between me and Alex Kiermayer art the start of this year describing the techniques of fighting multiple opponents with a rapier from Hundt's manual -

There are only two plates dealing with multiple opponents. In the
> first he
> talks about throwing the rapier and then running away without
> mentioning any
> details. In the second one he advises to carry a sack full of
> stones by
> night in order to throw them at an attacking crowd. He then also
> advises to
> wrap your cloak around your left arm in order to protect head and body
> better.
>
> A few other interesting things: He shows several plates where he throws
> the rapier
> or the dagger against the opponent. It is the earliest source I
> know that
> mentions a sabre ("Sebel"). He has some nice descriptions of
> occasions in
> that you can be attacked.

This isn't what I had in mind
The cloak suggestion seems to make sense, though.

I'm surprised that this wasn't covered with any greater details. It would stand to reason that muggers operating in a society were weapons were carried openly would operate in groups, so why do the period masters not discuss this?

An early 18th century work by Giuseppe D'Alessandro discusses approaching combat when fighting multiple opponents.

Charles: Has this one been made available in English?

Not to my knowledge. I may try to summarize it at some point.

Thanks, that would be very much appreciated. It's strange, although I have no trouble with Latin, I cant seem to make anything out of Italian.

I agree it would certainly be useful, but it seems to me that most manuals of the period were intended as a good overview of fencing, as opposed to what is necessarily a complete one, which some have said is more than they could cover in one manual. Based on other source material and personal practice, the best course of action is actually to run, as was recommended by Hundt, for anything more would be a matter of both very advanced practice, or based in large part upon luck.

Despite this, there are plenty of surviving anecdotes and reports of melees and fighting multiple opponents, it may likely be one of those subjects where you have to simply apply current rapier principals alongside tactics from other periods or traditions, as annoying as that may be.

Yeah, I guess just the common-sense stuff like trying to position yourself so they get in each other`s way would apply. I was just hoping that there would be something like `This guard blah blah is an ideal guard to use when facing two opponents because it covers such and such and allows for attack of some type. I guess it`s also one of those things where once you`re good enough, you`ll know what to do, but if you`re not then there`s no point in trying to explain it.