Birago - Opere Cavalleresche - 1686

Discipline of the Sword in Duel: Honor Between Aristocracy and Justice
The chivalric works of Francesco Birago represent one of the most comprehensive and ambitious 17th-century attempts to rationalize the world of honor, duels, and noble disputes through legal and moral criteria. Divided into four books, the work gathers theoretical discourses, practical advice, and decisions on concrete cases, establishing itself as a true code of modern chivalry, where the ritualized violence of armed confrontation is subjected to the scrutiny of law, prudence, and conscience. In an era when chivalric culture progressively loses its direct military function, Birago preserves its symbolic framework, transforming it into normative and regulated knowledge suitable for a society in which the State and the Church claim control over aristocratic behavior. The volume thus situates itself at a crucial transitional moment, where honor survives more as a legal and moral system than as a martial practice.
Market value
In the antiquarian market, complete sixteenth-century editions of Birago's chivalric works generally range between 1,200 and 1,400 euros, with fluctuations depending on the condition of the pages, the presence of the four distinct frontispieces, and the quality of the contemporary binding. Complete copies in balanced condition are particularly valued among collectors interested in the history of law and noble culture.

Physical description and condition
Contemporary binding in cardboard, with small stains and some structural defects. Volume containing the four parts in a single tome, each with its own frontispiece. Presence of a small eyelet, a woodcut frieze on the frontispiece, and woodcut initials in the text. Some foxing and browning, consistent with the age of the volume. In old books, with a multi-century history, some imperfections may be present that are not always noted in the description. Pages: (2), 16 unnumbered, 152; 16 unnumbered, 116; 16 unnumbered, 196; 12 unnumbered, 78; (4).

Full title and author
Chivalric works of Signor Francesco Birago, divided into four books, namely Discourses, Advice books I and II, and Decisions.
Bologna, at Gioseffo Longhi, 1686.
Francesco Birago

Context and Significance
The work fits into the tradition of legal-moral chivalric literature developed between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, alongside fundamental texts such as those by Paride dal Pozzo and Girolamo Muzio. Birago addresses the theme of honor not as a literary myth or abstract ideal, but as a concrete social issue, offering normative solutions to real cases of offense, insult, challenge, and duel. The text reflects the growing need of modern states to control private violence, channeling it into codified procedures and subordinating it to civil and religious authority, transforming chivalry into a regulatory system rather than an heroic code.

Biography of the Author
Francesco Birago was a jurist and literary figure active between the late 16th and 17th centuries, known for his writings on honor, duels, and chivalrous practices. His work reflects the intersection of law, Christian morality, and aristocratic tradition, significantly contributing to the development of a noble conduct ethic in the early modern period.

Printing history and circulation
The 1686 Bolognese edition, printed by Gioseffo Longhi, represents one of the main and most comprehensive printed arrangements of Birago's works. Intended for an audience of jurists, nobles, and officials, the work had significant circulation within Italy, as evidenced by its numerous appearances in historic libraries and specialized collections dedicated to law, the history of chivalry, and the culture of honor.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
Edit16, CNCE.
Brunet, J.-C., Manual for booksellers and book lovers.
Biographical Dictionary of Italians, entry Birago.