As we know, Frederick II of Swabia (Santo Stefano del 1194 - 1250) had given his daughter in marriage to the Count of Caserta, who then lived in a time of splendor, as witnessed by the tower said, well, "Frederick." Caserta, now called "old", in fact Caserta tout court ", he lived then its time to peak, although the medieval city was much older age. The signs of the passing of Frederick II of Swabia in Caserta were not, however, only architectural, but certainly of interest to another aspect, not usually noted: falconry, Frederick's often so much so that the tower is called "Tower of the falcons" . So is the climate that the appearance of the area was all completely different from today. First, what has been agreed to call "human impact" was far less than today. We know from archival documents, which, since around the seventeenth century, hares and wild boars came almost within the city, a situation inconceivable today. As for the hawks, until the Second World War were most frequent, while now it happens that someone brave, tended toward up to the plain, coming from the other side of Tifatini. Now, it is highly likely that the Count of Caserta, Richard Sanseverino di Lauro, along with the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, it gave important to hunt with the aid of hawk. This practice, which has survived to this day, especially in Saudi Arabia but also by us, is, in fact, exquisitely oriental origin, and Frederick did not fail to cultivate the practice of talking to the Muslim rulers, particularly with al-Kamil . Frederick was so convinced of the importance of this practice by writing a treatise "De arte venandi cum avibus ", "The Art hunt with birds (ie hawks). Apart from the true wisdom and experience that instilled in that ponderous writing, re-released not long ago in Italian, the fact is that, Federico II, falconry was not only practice play, nor a way to keep in exercise or a sentimental act, that is made for invoking the customs of the Germanic ancestors. Nor is it to imitate the customs of the opulent oriental monarchs. No, he was something else, something much deeper. It was to teach the birds of prey to hunt but not to eat the prey, which is extremely difficult, it was the mind over nature, but according to nature, not forcing. It was not to deny, but rather of addressing, in a different way, the natural instincts of the falcon. Thus, for Frederick, falconry was a school for the rulers. A good ruler should be like the hawker patient, flexible, yet strong, able to redirect the instincts, the instincts of the governed. It, therefore, from mere practice, became a ' art itself, imposing discipline on the one hand those who practice it, and, second, bring the fruits that go well beyond the immediate effects. The "good falconer," according to the Swabian Emperor, was to unite in himself the great self-control, solid intelligence, good memory, courage and perseverance, without which his knowledge practices were lifeless. All these qualities were also needed for the good ruler. For this, the Swabian, falconry was so important, and it was more than entertainment the mere practice or "craft". Let me end with the words from "De arte venandi cum avibus " which, in themselves, contain the whole philosophy of Frederick: "In this treatise on falconry is our intention to show things that are, as are , and present them as precise an art. "
Andrea A. Ianniello
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