Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - The Indian PATA and the mysterious MANOPLE

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 06:59 PM

For those still with me, the 'manople' is the curious 'Moorish boarding weapon' with unusual trident like appendages extending from the bottom of the gauntlet hilt. As noted, this is the term used by A.F.Calvert in the captions in his 1907 book "Spanish Arms and Armor" and virtually the singular source for the use of this term (Sp.; Port.=gauntlet, glove).
Subsequent works have rarely parroted the term.

As indicated in OP, an uncited source shows a plate with one of these among a panoply of edged weapons, and suggests it is the only photo of one of these rare weapons, which is suggested to have perished in an 1884 fire in the Royal Armory at Madrid.

While this reference is with the equally mysterious content of entries regarding various fantasy weapons which it has apparently inspired, such as 'Dungeons and Dragons" etc. the photo and historic interest in this weapon is not diminished.

In research, including looking into a first edition of the Calvert reference (1907), I noticed that the photo plate online was entirely different than that in the plate (193) with the item number still 1562. However the term 'manople' does not appear....the caption reads 'MOORISH BOARDING GAUNTLET 14TH TO 15TH CENTURY'.
Another Moorish boarding weapon of 15th century is also present, but unclear which item is being referred to as items in photo are not numbered .

The fire in 1884 did not destroy the entire armory, and was rebuilt with reopening in 1893 with new catalog in 1898 (Count Viudo of Valencia de Don Juan). According to Calvert the photo plates (which comprise over half his book) were primarily 'calotype' (phototype) by Oscar Hauser & Adolfo Menet who operated a photography business in Madrid 1890-1979.

Presumably this firm was the source of the over 200 plates in Calvert in 1907 as they all seem of the same style and composure.

Interestingly, returning to the subject plate initiated this query (image 1) and which is unfortunately (often the case) uncited.......compare this image of the 'manople' with the plate in the original Calvert reference of 1907. It appears different in size witb one more like a full size sword, the other like a large katar. Also, importantly, the weapons in each plate are totally different, suggesting the images are from different times.

Was the first photo from earlier? but by same photographers ? NOTE: the bordering and format is the same in the Calvert (1907) reference, but aside from the gauntlet weapon, different subject items.

If earlier, it would seem unlikely it was pre 1884 as the format etc, is identical to the 1907 published plates, and the catalog number is the same...if items were lost in that fire, there would be notable renumbering.

So the question is, WAS this weapon actually lost? and clearly NOT the ONLY surviving record of this weapon ? Obviously the Indian gauntlet sword is the well known form which is the source for this weapon......and further the mysterious example in the online hyperbole was probably not lost as suggested.

How did this weapon end up in the Royal Armory at Madrid?
The armory itself was the creation of Charles V and his son Philip II through the 16th century, mostly comprising regal arms and armor and historic and diplomatic arms, primarily it seems armor. By the 17th century the collections were enriched with military and personal family items as well as diplomatic gifts.The entry of these kinds of items increased via the House of Bourbon notably by mid 18th c.

The Portuguese were well situated in India in Goa, and on the west coast. In these waters the Maratha were a well established maritime power, and were also well known for early use of the GAUNTLET SWORD (pata) in early centuries into 17th and 18th. The sea powers and trade along these coastal regions also later included Mughals and the Malabar coast was keenly Muslim (Moorish).

It is not hard to conceive that these gauntlet weapons would have been used by crews aboard Indian vessels, whether Maratha (Hindu) or Mughal (Moor) in the 17th century or earlier and later. The trade routes and ports would bring Portuguese ships to Goa as well as the various pirate predators into these lucrative networks.

I would suspect that the Moorish items in the Spanish holdings likely came through trade and other contacts with these Indian regions, which in turn might well have ended up via Portuguese contact in Spain. Spain itself was largely 'Moorish' in the SE until 1492.

So it would seem our MANOPLE is actually a variant form of pata or katar and likely might indeed have been used as a 'boarding weapon'.

Fig 1: the uncited online reference, probably from Calvert related source" ? later edition?
Fig. 2: Plate from original Calvert 1st edition 1907, plate 193, fig. 1562

Yesterday, 06:59 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,233	The Quest for the Manople For those still with me, the 'manople' is the curious 'Moorish boarding weapon' with unusual trident like appendages extending from the bottom of the gauntlet hilt. As noted, this is the term used by A.F.Calvert in the captions in his 1907 book "Spanish Arms and Armor" and virtually the singular source for the use of this term (Sp.; Port.=gauntlet, glove). Subsequent works have rarely parroted the term. As indicated in OP, an uncited source shows a plate with one of these among a panoply of edged weapons, and suggests it is the only photo of one of these rare weapons, which is suggested to have perished in an 1884 fire in the Royal Armory at Madrid. While this reference is with the equally mysterious content of entries regarding various fantasy weapons which it has apparently inspired, such as 'Dungeons and Dragons" etc. the photo and historic interest in this weapon is not diminished. In research, including looking into a first edition of the Calvert reference (1907), I noticed that the photo plate online was entirely different than that in the plate (193) with the item number still 1562. However the term 'manople' does not appear....the caption reads 'MOORISH BOARDING GAUNTLET 14TH TO 15TH CENTURY'. Another Moorish boarding weapon of 15th century is also present, but unclear which item is being referred to as items in photo are not numbered . The fire in 1884 did not destroy the entire armory, and was rebuilt with reopening in 1893 with new catalog in 1898 (Count Viudo of Valencia de Don Juan). According to Calvert the photo plates (which comprise over half his book) were primarily 'calotype' (phototype) by Oscar Hauser & Adolfo Menet who operated a photography business in Madrid 1890-1979. Presumably this firm was the source of the over 200 plates in Calvert in 1907 as they all seem of the same style and composure. Interestingly, returning to the subject plate initiated this query (image 1) and which is unfortunately (often the case) uncited.......compare this image of the 'manople' with the plate in the original Calvert reference of 1907. It appears different in size witb one more like a full size sword, the other like a large katar. Also, importantly, the weapons in each plate are totally different, suggesting the images are from different times. Was the first photo from earlier? but by same photographers ? NOTE: the bordering and format is the same in the Calvert (1907) reference, but aside from the gauntlet weapon, different subject items. If earlier, it would seem unlikely it was pre 1884 as the format etc, is identical to the 1907 published plates, and the catalog number is the same...if items were lost in that fire, there would be notable renumbering. So the question is, WAS this weapon actually lost? and clearly NOT the ONLY surviving record of this weapon ? Obviously the Indian gauntlet sword is the well known form which is the source for this weapon......and further the mysterious example in the online hyperbole was probably not lost as suggested. How did this weapon end up in the Royal Armory at Madrid? The armory itself was the creation of Charles V and his son Philip II through the 16th century, mostly comprising regal arms and armor and historic and diplomatic arms, primarily it seems armor. By the 17th century the collections were enriched with military and personal family items as well as diplomatic gifts.The entry of these kinds of items increased via the House of Bourbon notably by mid 18th c. The Portuguese were well situated in India in Goa, and on the west coast. In these waters the Maratha were a well established maritime power, and were also well known for early use of the GAUNTLET SWORD (pata) in early centuries into 17th and 18th. The sea powers and trade along these coastal regions also later included Mughals and the Malabar coast was keenly Muslim (Moorish). It is not hard to conceive that these gauntlet weapons would have been used by crews aboard Indian vessels, whether Maratha (Hindu) or Mughal (Moor) in the 17th century or earlier and later. The trade routes and ports would bring Portuguese ships to Goa as well as the various pirate predators into these lucrative networks. I would suspect that the Moorish items in the Spanish holdings likely came through trade and other contacts with these Indian regions, which in turn might well have ended up via Portuguese contact in Spain. Spain itself was largely 'Moorish' in the SE until 1492. So it would seem our MANOPLE is actually a variant form of pata or katar and likely might indeed have been used as a 'boarding weapon'. Fig 1: the uncited online reference, probably from Calvert related source" ? later edition? Fig. 2: Plate from original Calvert 1st edition 1907, plate 193, fig. 1562 Attached Images