Nuremberg Group

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Nuremberg Group
Opening to the Codex Wallerstein
Author(s) Principal unknown
Antonius Rast
Compiled by Albrecht Dürer
Paulus Hector Mair
Illustrated by Principal unknown
Albrecht Dürer
Date 15th Century

The Nuremberg Group is a series of German manuscripts that describe a common set of techniques and seem to have originated in the area of Nuremberg, Germany in the 15th century. It has been suggested that these treatises define a local martial arts tradition native to that city, which would be a subset of the mainstream German style. The first two sections of the Codex Wallerstein are the oldest entry in the group, and it's possible that the later treatises are dependent on it, particularly that of Albrecht Dürer. However, this issue is complicated by the fact that the first grappling section of the Glasgow Fechtbuch, which is comprised of material not drawn from Wallerstein, contains much of the remainder of Dürer's work.

Despite the existence of several fencing manuals describing these teachings, there are few known masters of this tradition. A master Hartman von Nuremberg is mentioned by Paulus Kal as a member of the Society of Liechtenauer,[1] but no writings of his that might demonstrate a connection to the tradition are known to exist. Despite attempts by a few modern writers to connect Albrecht Dürer to the Marxbrüder fencing guild, there is no evidence suggesting that he was anything but a master painter, and it seems unlikely that he practiced the techniques in his book.[2] In fact, the only known master whose connection to the tradition is certain is Antonius Rast, a former Captain of the Marxbrüder who left a partially-completed fencing manual upon his death in 1549. This manuscript was later acquired and completed by Paulus Hector Mair, and it seems to have influenced his own writings to some extent.

Contents

Treatises

Additional Resources

References

  1. Kal, Paulus. Untitled [manuscript]. CGM 1507. Munich, Germany: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, 1470.
  2. Amberger, J. Christoph. "The Death of History: Historic European fighting arts in the Mis-information Age". Fencers Quarterly Magazine. Retrieved 12 October 2010.


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