the first page of the Codex Wallerstein shows the typical arms of 15th century fencing Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) reconstructed fighting techniques of the european middle ages and renaissance.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, mainly in Germany, fighting techniques were recorded in Fechtbücher ('combat manuals', singular Fechtbuch), of which some 55 are extant.
Normally, several modes of combat were taught alongside one another, typically unarmed grappling (Ringen), dagger (Degen), long knife (Messer) or dussack, half- or quarterstaff, pole arms, long sword (langes Schwert), and combat in plate armour (Harnischfechten) both on foot and on horseback. The long sword had a position of honour among these disciplines, and sometimes Historical European Swordsmanship (HES) is used to refer to swordsmanship techniques specifically.
Some Fechtbücher have sections on judicial duels, where the accused and the accuser had to fight to the death with heavy spiked shields (Stechschild).
The central figure of late medieval German martial arts is Johannes Liechtenauer, first recorded in the late 14th century MS 3227a. Important 15th century fencing masters include Sigmund Ringeck, Peter von Danzig, Hans Talhoffer and Paulus Kal. From the late 15th century, there were "brotherhoods" of fencers (Fechtbruderschaften), most notably the Marx brothers (attested 1474) and the Federfechter. In the 16th century, compendia of older Fechtbücher were produced, some of them printed, notably by Paulus Hector Mair (in the 1540s) and by Joachim Meyer (in the 1570s).
See also
External links
|
