Manuals
From Wiktenauer
Modern historical European martial arts reconstruction is founded on the study of so-called Fighting Manuals. While most regions of the world have produced a few martial arts treatises over the centuries, the European manual tradition far exceeded any other in both its complexity and its sheer volume. Well over a hundred distinct manuscripts and printed books survive from the Medieval and Early Modern time periods. In some sense, the practice of writing fencing manuals continues to this day in the form of books on the use of firearms and other small sidearms, as well as texts on Olympic fencing and other forms of sport combat.
These texts are generally not manuals as the modern audience understands the genre; rather than offering step-by-step instructions on fighting, they are more often general treatises on a variety of martial subjects, and even those manuals that include details and illustrations of specific techniques generally fail to present a set of instructions that a reader can easily follow. Reconstructing the historical European martial arts thus involves consulting a variety of different types of literature in order to arrive at a well-rounded understanding of their content, including fencing manuals, wrestling manuals, and books of military strategy.
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Predecessors
The earliest recordings of martial arts teachings consisted only of images. One example is a fresco in tomb 15 at Beni Hasan, Egypt, showing illustrations of wrestling techniques dating to ca. 2,000 BC. Similar depictions of wrestling techniques are found on Attic vases dating to Classical Greece. The only known text that could be classified a martial arts manual from Western antiquity is P.Oxy. III 466 (2nd century), detailing Greek wrestling techniques. In addition to these depictions of martial techniques, treatises on other martial subjects also survive, the most famous of which is Flavius Vegetius Renatus' book on military strategy De Re Militari.
Types of 'Manuals'
For ease of reference, Wiktenauer divides the corpus of Western martial arts literature into six basic genres. A few texts defy categorization under this system, such as Paulus Hector Mair's Geschlechterbuch, but these distinctions are generally quite useful.
Commonplace Book
A commonplace book (or Hausbuch) is essentially a scrapbook, usually made by a wealthy individual. In the late Middle Ages, they were created as repositories of miscellaneous items and information that the owner considered significant, including medical recipes, quotations, letters, poems, tables of weights and measures, proverbs, prayers, and legal formulas. Each commonplace book was a unique work reflecting its creator's hobbies and interests. Some of these books, such as the so-called Codex Döbringer, therefore included copies of martial arts treatises that passed through their owner's hands.
Fencing Manual
Fencing manual (or Fechtbuch) is a catch-all term for treatises on armed combat. Medieval fencing manuals tended to be compilation works, manuscripts that included a variety of distinct treatises by different authors. Treatises by a single author, such as Fiore delli Liberi's treatise Fiore di Battaglia, or on a single weapon, such as Le Jeu de la Hache, were less common in this period. Many manuscripts of the 1500s draw on the same small pool of common treatises, which they combine in various ways. This tradition reached its pinnacle in the mammoth 1,200-page compilations that Paulus Hector Mair commissioned in the 1540s. In the Renaissance period, and especially as printing became more common, this emphasis changed and fencing masters began preparing and personally publishing more extensive treatises on a variety of different weapons. Some, such as Salvator Fabris, devoted massive volumes to the use of a single weapon.
Sketchbook
A number of sketchbooks created by talented artists survive from the Medieval and Renaissance time periods. These artists, including such masters as Albrecht Dürer and Maarten van Heemskerck, generally sketched fencers and wrestlers as studies in human anatomy. Because of this, they offer unique insight into the physical positions and movements of the art, providing a useful counterpoint to the large number of text-only fencing manuals.
Tournament Book
A tourmanent book (or Turnierbuch) is generally a record of a specific tournament that occurred. Aside from being interesting glimpses into the sportive side of historical European martial arts in period, tournament books are also useful for their depictions of authentic arms and armor.
War Book
War book (or Kriegsbücher) are useful texts for understanding the methods and theory behind warfare in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Many compilation fencing manuals from the 15th and 16th centuries also include excerpts from war books such as Konrad Kyeser's famous work Bellifortis or Flavius Vegetius Renatus' De Re Militari. Siege warfare was an especially popular subject in this genre.
Wrestling Manual
The wrestling manual (or Ringbuch) can be seen as a subset of the fencing manual genre. Most 15th century martial arts manuscripts include at least one wrestling manual, but wrestling was often seen as an aspect of armed combat and not a separate discipline. It isn't until later in the Renaissance that books devoted exclusively to wrestling and other unarmed techniques appeared in increasing numbers.
Manual Index
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The remainder of this page is a self-generating list based on semantic markup and category assignations. It cannot be edited directly. Note that these dates are approximate in many cases. More specific information about the dates of manuals can be found on their respective pages. |
Manuscripts
- For an expanded table with additional information, see Manuscripts.
| Year | Name | Inventory | Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0200s | The Oxyrhynchus Papyrus | MS P.Oxy.III.466 | Oxyrhynchus Papyrus (MS P.Oxy.III.466) |
| 1320s | Walpurgis Fechtbuch | MS I.33 | Walpurgis Fechtbuch (MS I.33) |
| 1389 | Codex Döbringer | MS 3227a | Codex Döbringer (MS 3227a) |
| 1400 | Man yt Wol | MS Harley 3542 | Man yt Wol (MS Harley 3542) |
| 1400-1410 | Il Fior di Battaglia | B1.370.A MS M.0383 | Fior di Battaglia (MS M.383) |
| 1400-1410 | Il Fior di Battaglia | MS Ludwig XV 13 | Fior di Battaglia (MS Ludwig XV 13) |
| 1400/1470s | Codex Wallerstein | Codex I.6.4°.2 | Codex Wallerstein (Cod.I.6.4°.2) |
| 1400s | Le Jeu de la Hache | MS Francais 1996 | Le Jeu de la Hache (MS Francais 1996) |
| 1400s | The Poem of the Pel | MS 243 | Poem of the Pel (MS.243) |
| 1409 | Flos Duellatorum | Pisani-Dossi MS | Flos Duellatorum (Pisani-Dossi MS) |
| 1410s | Florius de Arte Luctandi | MS Latin 11269 | Florius de Arte Luctandi (MS Latin 11269) |
| 1428 | Codex 5278 | Codex 5278 | |
| 1430s | Gladiatoria | MS KK5013 | Gladiatoria (MS KK5013) |
| 1434 | Hec Sunt Guardiae in Dimicatione Videlicet | MS 1020 | Hec Sunt Guardiae in Dimicatione Videlicet (MS 1020) |
| 1435-1440 | Gladiatoria | MS German Quarto 16 | Gladiatoria (MS Germ.Quart.16) |
| 1440s | Codex Vindobonensis B.11093 | Cod.Vindob.B.11093 | |
| 1440s | Gladiatoria | MS U860.F46 1450 | Gladiatoria (MS U860.F46.1450) |
| 1443 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | MS Chart.A.558 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558) |
| 1446-1459 | Ambraser Codex | Codex Nr. 55 Ambras | Ambraser Codex (Cod.Nr.55 Ambras) |
| 1446-1459 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | MS XIX.17-3 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS XIX.17-3) |
| 1450-1465 | Cottonian MS Titus A.xxv | Cottonian MS Titus A.xxv | |
| 1450s | Codex Lew | Codex I.6.4°.3 | Codex Lew (Cod.I.6.4°.3) |
| 1450s | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | MS 78.A.15 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS 78.A.15) |
| 1452 | Codex Danzig | Codex 44.A.8 | Codex Danzig (Cod.44.A.8) |
| 1458-1467 | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch | MS 1825 | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (MS 1825) |
| 1459 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | MS Thott 290.2º | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Thott.290.2º) |
| 1462 | Schwabenspiegel Codex | CGM 558 | Schwabenspiegel Codex (CGM 558) |
| 1465-1480 | Gladiatoria | Codex Guelf 78.2 August 2° | Gladiatoria (Cod.Guelf.78.2 Aug.2°) |
| 1467 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | Codex Icon 394a | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.icon.394a) |
| 1470 | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch | CGM 1507 | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (CGM 1507) |
| 1470-1500 | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (Latin Version) | |
| 1473-1503 | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch | MS Chart.B.1021 | Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (MS Chart.B.1021) |
| 1478 | Kunst des Messerfechtens | Codex Palatine German 430 | Kunst des Messerfechtens (Cod.Pal.Germ.430) |
| 1479 | Codex Folz | MS Q566 | Codex Folz (MS Q566) |
| 1480s | Allerley Kampf zur Roß und Fueß in und an Harnisch | MS KK5126 | Allerley Kampf zur Roß und Fueß in und an Harnisch (MS KK5126) |
| 1482 | Kunst des Messerfechtens | CGM 582 | Kunst des Messerfechtens (CGM 582) |
| 1482-1487 | De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi | Codex 1324 | De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi (Codex 1324) |
| 1490s | Gladiatoria | MS CL23842 | Gladiatoria (MS CL23842) |
| 1491 | Codex Speyer | MS M.I.29 | Codex Speyer (MS M.I.29) |
| 1495 | Meister peter falkners kunste Zu Ritterlicher Were | MS KK5012 | Kunste Zu Ritterlicher Were (MS KK5012) |
| 1500s | Kölner Fechtbuch | MS Best.7020 | Kölner Fechtbuch (MS Best.7020) |
| 1500s | Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch | MS Var.83 | Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch (MS Var.83) |
| 1500s | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | Codex Vindobonensis Ser.Nov.2978 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.Vindob.Ser.Nov.2978) |
| 1500s | Fechtbuchleinn | Codex Guelf 1074 Novi | Fechtbuchleinn (Cod.Guelf.1074.Novi) |
| 1504-1519 | Codex Ringeck | MS Dresden C.487 | Codex Ringeck (MS Dresd.C.487) |
| 1506-1511 | Marx Turnierbuch | CGM 1930 | Marx Turnierbuch (CGM 1930) |
| 1506-1514 | Das Solothurner Fechtbuch | Codex S.554 | Solothurner Fechtbuch (Cod.S.554) |
| 1508 | Glasgow Fechtbuch | MS E.1939.65.341 | Glasgow Fechtbuch (MS E.1939.65.341) |
| 1510-1520 | Goliath | MS German Quarto 2020 | Goliath (MS Germ.Quart.2020) |
| 1510s | L'Arte della Spada | MSS Ravenna M-345/346 | L'Arte della Spada (MSS Ravenna M-345/M-346) |
| 1510s | Ludwig von Eyb Kriegsbuch | MS B.26 | Eyb Kriegsbuch (MS B.26) |
| 1510s | Berlin Sketchbook | Libri Picture A83 | Berlin Sketchbook (Libr.Pict.A.83) |
| 1511 | Turnierbuch Ritterspiele | Codex Icon 398 | Turnierbuch Ritterspiele (Cod.icon.398) |
| 1512 | Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch | Sloane MS No.5229 | Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch (Sloane MS No.5229) |
| 1512 | Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch | MS 26-232 | Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch (MS 26-232) |
| 1520-1530 | Vechtboek | MS BPL.3281 | Vechtboek (MS BPL.3281) |
| 1522 | Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg | Codex I.6.2°.3 | Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg (Cod.I.6.2°.3) |
| 1522 | Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg | Codex I.6.4°.5 | Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg (Cod.I.6.4°.5) |
| 1523 | Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg | CGM 3711 | Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg (CGM 3711) |
| 1523/1564 | Hutter/Sollinger Fechtbuch | Codex I.6.2°.2 | Hutter/Sollinger Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2°.2) |
| 1525 | Ludwig von Eyb Turnierbuch | CGM 961 | Eyb Turnierbuch (CGM 961) |
| 1530-1545 | Jörg Breu's Sketchbook | Codex I.6.2°.4 | Jörg Breu Sketchbook (Cod.I.6.2°.4) |
| 1533 | Gregor Erhart Fechtbuch | MS E.1939.65.354 | Gregor Erhart Fechtbuch (MS E.1939.65.354) |
| 1535-1550 | Ledall Roll | Additional MS 39564 | Ledall Roll (Additional MS 39564) |
| 1538 | Über die Fechtkunst und den Ringkampf | MS 963 | Über die Fechtkunst und den Ringkampf (MS 963) |
| 1539 | Ringer Kunst | 2° Codex MS Philos.62 | Ringer Kunst (2° Cod.MS.Philos.62) |
| 1539/1552/1566 | Hans Medel Fechtbuch | Codex I.6.2°.5 | Hans Medel Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2°.5) |
| 1540 | Burgkmair Turnierbuch | Codex Icon 403 | Burgkmair Turnierbuch (Cod.Icon.403) |
| 1542 | Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica | MSS Dresden C93/C94 | Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica (MSS Dresd.C.93/C.94) |
| 1544 | Lamberger Turnierbuch | Codex A.2290 | Lamberger Turnierbuch (Cod.A.2290) |
| 1548 | Geschlechterbuch der Stadt Augsburg | Codex Icon 312b | Geschlechterbuch der Stadt Augsburg (Cod.Icon.312b) |
| 1550s | Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica | Codex Icon 393 | Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica (Cod.Icon.393) |
| 1550s | Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica | Codex Vindobonensis 10825/10826 | Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica (Cod.Vindob.10825/10826) |
| 1550s | Codex Amberger | Codex Amberger | |
| 1553 (1540s) | Rast Fechtbuch | Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82 | Rast Fechtbuch (Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82) |
| 1556 | Lienhart Sollinger Fechtbuch | CGM 3712 | Lienhart Sollinger Fechtbuch (CGM 3712) |
| 1560 | Joachim Meyers Faktbok | MS A.4°.2 | Joachim Meyers Faktbok (MS A.4°.2) |
| 1561 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | Codex I.6.2°.1 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2°.1) |
| 1562 | Hans Entner Fechtbuch | Location unknown | Hans Entner Fechtbuch |
| 1569 | Lectiones auf das Einfachen rappier | 4° MS Mathern 038 | Hans Wilhelm Schöffer Fechtbuch (4° MS Math.038) |
| 1570-71 | Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss | MS Var.82 | Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss (MS Var.82) |
| 1591 | Das Ander Theil Des Newen Kůnstreichen Fechtbůches | Cod.Guelf.83.4 Aug.8° | Das Ander Theil Des Newen Kůnstreichen Fechtbůches (Cod.Guelf.83.4 Aug.8°) |
| 1595 | Schermkunst | VAULT Case MS Fol.U.423.792 | Schermkunst (VAULT Case MS Fol.U.423.792) |
| 1599 | Paradoxes of Defence | Additional MS 34192 | Paradoxes of Defence (Additional MS 34192) |
| 1600-1609 | La Scientia della Spada | MS KB.73.J.38 | La Scientia della Spada (MS KB.73.J.38) |
| 1600s | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | 2° Codex MS Philos.61 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (2° Cod.MS.Philos.61) |
| 1600s | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | MS 26.236 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS 26.236) |
| 1600s | Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch | Location unknown | Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch (Cod.1246) |
| 1600s | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | Codex Guelf 125.16 Extrav. | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.Guelf.125.16.Extrav.) |
| 1600s | Cabinet d'escrime de l'espee et poingnardt | MS KB.73.J.39 | Cabinet d'escrime de l'espee et poingnardt (MS KB.73.J.39) |
| 1602-1608 | Cort Bevvijs' Van t'Rapier alleen | MS KB.72.F.37 | Cort Bevvijs' Van t'Rapier alleen (MS KB.72.F.37) |
| 1605 | Bref Instructions vpõ My Pradoxes of Defence | Sloane MS No.376 | Bref Instructions vpõ My Pradoxes of Defence (Sloane MS No.376) |
| 1620 | Grůndtliche vñ eigentlichte Beschreibung der Fechtkunst | 4° MS Mathern 2 | Grůndtliche vñ eigentlichte Beschreibung der Fechtkunst (4° MS Math.2) |
| 1625 | Compendio y Philosophia y Dztreza de las Armas | MS R4-B274 | Compendio y Philosophia y Dztreza de las Armas (MS R4-B274) |
| 1651 | Memorial Da Prattica do Montante | MS 49.III.20.nº.21 | Memorial Da Prattica do Montante (MS 49.III.20.nº.21) |
| 1686 | Mathern Fechtbuch | 2° MS Mathern 7 | Mathern Fechtbuch (2° MS Math.7) |
| 1699 | Il Fior di Battaglia | MS XXIV | Fior di Battaglia (MS XXIV) |
| 1820 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | Codex Icon 395 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.icon.395) |
| 1820 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch | Codex Icon 394 | Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.icon.394) |
Incunabula and Post-Incunabula
