Military Fencing in Argentina 1897-1914: Actors, Institutions, Practices and Meaning in Saber Martial Arts Instruction

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53351/ruhm.v10i21.811

Keywords:

Fencing, Army, Argentina, Dueling, Sport

Abstract

This article delves into the inclusion of fencing instruction in the Argentine Army between 1897-1914, problematizing the circulation of different actors, specialized knowledge and practices between the army and various social spheres. The constitution processes included in the formative matrix envisioned by the Argentine Army for the training of fencing instructors will be equally reviewed so as to identify the potential purposes behind the inclusion of a fencing section. Likewise, the way in which these social actors performed their art in Buenos Aires' elite circles —enabling them to establish strong social bonds along the way— will be explored. The benefits that this entailed included, among others, their participation in feasts hosted by national and international rulers and the forging of marital bonds. Hence, dueling between fencing instructors at that time as a display of aesthetical gentlemanliness may well be understood as a —at times, even artistic— performance enacted for the Argentine elite. That being said, fencing duels constituted, of course, a social space of its own to settle matters of honor, but one notable sign of the first decades of early 20th century Argentina was how these duels between military fencing instructors were seen from an artistic and sporting perspective. The present historical reconstruction will be based on the analysis of varied primary sources of the Argentine army, most remarkably regulations, reports, official bulletins, manuals and periodical publications, both civilian and military. In particular, the social dimension of military fencing instructors will be recreated from a series of issues of the Caras y Caretas magazine covering the period from 1898 to 1914.

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Author Biographies

  • Alejo Levoratti, Universidad Nacional de La Plata
    ALEJO LEVORATTI es profesor y Licenciado en Educación Física por la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP), Magíster en Antropología Social, IDES-IDAES-UNSAM. Doctor con mención en Ciencias Sociales y Humanas de la UNQ. Investigador del CONICET/Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales/UNLP. Docente investigador de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
  • Diego Roldán, Universidad Nacional de Rosario
    DIEGO ROLDÁN es Doctor en Humanidades y Artes por la Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Profesor de Enseñanza Media y Superior en Historia y Licenciado en Historia por la Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Investigador del CONICET-Docente investigador de la Universidad Nacional de Rosario.

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Published

2022-01-24

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 21 (2021): Disciplined bodies at the service of the nation, 1890-1940: military sport and history

Section

Dossier

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How to Cite

Military Fencing in Argentina 1897-1914: Actors, Institutions, Practices and Meaning in Saber Martial Arts Instruction. (2022). Revista Universitaria De Historia Militar, 10(21), 51-73. https://doi.org/10.53351/ruhm.v10i21.811

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