Tags

  • fencing school
  • Marseille
Le Ballet de l'Acier

École Desbordes

Named for the Lorrainois swordmaster, André Desbourdes, author of the 1610 fencing treatise Discours de la théorie et de la pratique de l’excellence des armes, the École Desbordes salle d’armes is located across from the Place des Vivaut in Marseille. The school teaches Desbourdes’ approach to Italian style fencing to a clientele of mostly robe nobility and the city’s many merchants.

Students and masters of the École Desbordes share a strong rivalry with the Scuola di Cavalcabo, and many duels are fought in defiance of the royal edicts.