Wiktenauer logo.png

Difference between revisions of "Johannes Liechtenauer"

From Wiktenauer
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 301: Line 301:
 
{{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 018r.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 018v.jpg|1|lbl=18v|p=1}}
 
{{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 018r.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 018v.jpg|1|lbl=18v|p=1}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 003v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 003v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
| '''[2r] {{red|Hie lert der talhofer ain gemaine ler in dem langen Schwert von der zetel etc.}}'''
+
| {{section|Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 002r.jpg|1|lbl=2r}}
<poem>{{red|W}}iltu kunst schowen
 
So vicht gelingg gen recht mit howen
 
und lingt gen Rechten
 
Ist daz du starck wilt fechten
 
wer nach gaut slechten höwen
 
Der tarff sich kunst wenig fröwen
 
How nahnt waß du wilt
 
lauß kain wechsel an din schilt
 
zu dem koppf und zu dem lib
 
Die zick ruorn ouch nit vermyd
 
Nun ficht wyt mit gantzen liben
 
waß du starck wollest triben
 
Nun merck aber furbaß
 
und verstand ouch gar rechte daz
 
 
 
ficht nit obnen lingg so recht bist
 
 
 
 
 
far nach zwayen ding
 
sind aller kunst ain ursprung
 
Din schwöch und din sterck
 
Din arbait darby eben merck
 
So machstu lern
 
Mit fechten dich erwern
 
wer also erschricket gern
 
Der sol kain fechten nymen lern
 
Der höw sind fünff und haissent funff focal Die lern
 
recht und mercks fürwär und dar von
 
 
 
 
 
komet unß der rechte grund
 
Daz ist lützeln fechtern kund</poem>
 
 
| <br/><br/>
 
| <br/><br/>
 
<poem>Wiltu kunst schawe~
 
<poem>Wiltu kunst schawe~
Line 599: Line 567:
 
|  
 
|  
 
{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 003v.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}} {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|1|lbl=4r|p=1}}
 
{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 003v.jpg|3|lbl=-|p=1}} {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|1|lbl=4r|p=1}}
| '''[2v] {{red|Die tailung der kunst nach dem text den nähsten weg zuo dem mann zuo schlahen oder zuo stossen}}'''
+
| {{section|Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 002v.jpg|1|lbl=2v}}
<poem>Zorn how du krump wer
 
how schihler mit schaitler
 
aulber versetzt
 
nachraissen höw letzt
 
überlouffen bind wol an
 
nit stand luog waß er kan
 
Durchwechsel zuck
 
Durchlouff hendtruck
 
wind in die blössin
 
Slachfach straich stich mit stössen</poem>
 
 
| <br/><br/>
 
| <br/><br/>
 
<poem>Tarnhaw kru~phaw thwere
 
<poem>Tarnhaw kru~phaw thwere
Line 768: Line 726:
 
| {{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 018v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 018v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
| {{red|b=1|Das ist vo dem zornhow der underschid}}
+
| {{section|Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 002v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
<poem>wer dier Oberhowt
 
zorn how ortt dem trowt
 
und wirt erß gewar
 
Nymß obnen ab vnd folfar
 
biß stercker wind wÿder
 
stich sicht erß // so nymß nider
 
Daz also eben merck
 
Ob sin leger sy waich oder hört
 
{{red|Jn dem far nach
 
hört an krieg sy dir nit gauch}}</poem>
 
 
| <br/>
 
| <br/>
 
<poem>wen dir oben hauwz
 
<poem>wen dir oben hauwz
Line 938: Line 886:
  
 
{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
 
{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
| <br/>
+
| <p><br/></p>
<poem>waß der krieg rempt
+
 
Der wirt obnen nider geschempt
+
{{section|Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 002v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
Du machst in allen hewen winden
 
Im how ler stich vinden
 
ouch soltu Mit
 
Mercken stich oder schnit
 
In allen treffen
 
wiltu den maister effen</poem>
 
 
| <br/>
 
| <br/>
 
<poem>Wes der krig Rempt
 
<poem>Wes der krig Rempt
Line 1,057: Line 999:
 
| {{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 019r.jpg|1|lbl=19r}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 019r.jpg|1|lbl=19r}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|4|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|4|lbl=-}}
| '''[3r] {{red|von den vir plößen}}'''
+
| {{section|Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 003r.jpg|1|lbl=3r}}
<poem>{{red|vier plöß wisse
 
Der hab acht so schlechtu gewisse
 
nit slach ungefar
 
lug eben wie er gebar}}</poem>
 
 
| <br/>
 
| <br/>
 
<poem>Veyr blos dey wisse
 
<poem>Veyr blos dey wisse
Line 1,153: Line 1,091:
 
| {{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 019r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 019r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|5|lbl=-}}
 
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|5|lbl=-}}
| {{red|b=1|Die vier plöß brechen}}
+
| {{section|Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 003r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
<poem>wiltu dich rechen
 
Die vier ploß künstlich brechen
 
obnen toplir
 
unden recht mutir
 
So sag ich ouch dier fürbaß
 
stand vest und biß nit laß
 
und erschrick ab kainen man
 
stand und sich in ernstlich an
 
hastuß denn recht vernomen
 
zuo dem slag mag er nit kumen</poem>
 
 
| <br/>
 
| <br/>
 
<poem>wiltu dich rechen
 
<poem>wiltu dich rechen
Line 1,329: Line 1,257:
 
|  
 
|  
 
{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|6|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004v.jpg|1|lbl=4v|p=1}}
 
{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004r.jpg|6|lbl=-|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 004v.jpg|1|lbl=4v|p=1}}
| {{red|b=1|von krumm // wiedre schnyd da kumm}}
+
| {{section|Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 003r.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
<poem>
 
 
 
Werff. krum uff sin hende
 
Slach den ort nach sinr lende
 
und darby wol versetz
 
Mit schaitler vil höw letst
 
how uff sin fleche
 
so tuostu in schwechen
 
wenn eß knilt obnen
 
So nym ab Daz wil ich loben
 
und wer krum zu dir how
 
Durch wechsel du in schow
 
wil er Dich Irren
 
Der krieg in verfieret
 
Daz er nit nympt war
 
wa er ist ungefar</poem>
 
 
| <br/><br/>
 
| <br/><br/>
 
<poem>krum uff bohe~de
 
<poem>krum uff bohe~de
Line 2,904: Line 2,816:
 
c&#658;uck alle treffen /
 
c&#658;uck alle treffen /
 
&#383;o du die mai&#383;ter wild offen</poem>
 
&#383;o du die mai&#383;ter wild offen</poem>
 
'''Von c&#658;uckn'''
 
 
<poem>Trit nahendt in pund /
 
die c&#658;uckñ gebñ guet fundt /
 
c&#658;uck trift er &#383;o c&#658;uck mer /
 
da&#383;&#658; thut ym we /
 
c&#658;uck alle treffen /
 
wildu die mai&#383;ter offñ</poem>
 
 
| '''Die ausrichtung von dem Treffn und Zuckn'''
 
| '''Die ausrichtung von dem Treffn und Zuckn'''
 
<poem>Dritt mein die binder  
 
<poem>Dritt mein die binder  

Revision as of 02:46, 30 March 2017

Die Zettel
The Recital
Johannes Liechtenauer.png
Full Title A Recital on the Chivalric
Art of Fencing
Ascribed to Johannes Liechtenauer
Illustrated by Unknown
Date Fourteenth century (?)
Genre
Language Middle High German
Archetype(s) Hypothetical
Manuscript(s)
First Printed
English Edition
Tobler, 2010
Concordance by Michael Chidester
Translations

Johannes Liechtenauer (Hans Lichtenauer, Lichtnawer) was a German fencing master in the 14th or 15th century. No direct record of his life or teachings currently exists, and all that we know of both comes from the writings of other masters and scholars. The only account of his life was written by the anonymous author of the MS 3227a, one of the oldest texts in the tradition, who stated that "Master Liechtenauer learnt and mastered the Art in a thorough and rightful way, but he did not invent and put together this Art (as was just stated). Instead, he traveled and searched many countries with the will of learning and mastering this rightful and true Art." He may have been alive at the time of the creation of the fencing treatise contained in MS 3227a, as that source is the only one to fail to accompany his name with a blessing for the dead.

Liechtenauer was described by many later masters as the "high master" or "grand master" of the art, and a long poem called the Zettel ("Recital") is generally attributed to him by these masters. Later masters in the tradition often wrote extensive glosses (commentaries) on this poem, using it to structure their own martial teachings. Liechtenauer's influence on the German fencing tradition as we currently understand it is almost impossible to overstate. The masters on Paulus Kal's roll of the Fellowship of Liechtenauer were responsible for most of the most significant fencing manuals of the 15th century, and Liechtenauer and his teachings were also the focus of the German fencing guilds that arose in the 15th and 16th centuries, including the Marxbrüder and the Veiterfechter.

Additional facts have sometimes been presumed about Liechtenauer based on often-problematic premises. The MS 3227a, often erroneously dated to 1389 and presumed to be written by a direct student of Liechtenauer's, has been treated as evidence placing Liechtenauer's career in the mid-1300s.[1] However, given that the 3227a may date as late as 1494 and the earliest records of the identifiable members of his tradition appear in the early 1400s, it seems more probable that Liechtenauer's career occurred toward the beginning of the 15th century. Ignoring 3227a as being of indeterminate date, the oldest version of the Recital appears in the MS G.B.f.18.a, dating to ca. 1418-28 and attributed to an H. Beringer, which both conforms to this timeline and suggests the possibility that Liechtenauer was himself an inheritor of the teaching rather than its original composer (presentations of the Recital that are entirely unattributed exist in other 15th and 16th century manuscripts).

Treatise

Liechtenauer's teachings are preserved in a brief poem of rhyming couplets called the Zettel ("Recital"). These "secret and hidden words" were intentionally cryptic, probably to prevent the uninitiated from learning the techniques they represented; they also seem to have offered a system of mnemonic devices to those who understood their significance. The Recital was treated as the core of the Art by his students, and masters such as Sigmund ain Ringeck, Peter von Danzig zum Ingolstadt, and Jud Lew wrote extensive glosses that sought to clarify and expand upon these teachings.

Twenty-one manuscripts contain a presentation of the Recital as a separate (unglossed) section; there are dozens more presentations of the verse as part of one of the several glosses. The longest version of the Recital by far is found in the gloss from MS 3227a, which contains almost twice as many verses as any other. However, given that the additional verses tend to either consist of repetitions from elsewhere in the Recital or use a very different style from Liechtenauer's work, they are generally treated as additions by the anonymous author or his instructor rather than being part of the standard Recital. The other surviving versions of the Recital from all periods show a high degree of consistency in both content and organization, excepting only the version attributed to H. Beringer (which is also included in the writings of Hans Folz).

The following tables include only those manuscripts that quote Liechtenauer's Recital in an unglossed form. Note that in the case of Beringer and Folz, the verse is presented in an alternative sequence; they have been reordered to match the others in this rendition, but you can find the original layout in their articles.

In addition to the verses on mounted fencing, several treatises in the Liechtenauer tradition include a group of twenty-six figuren ("figures")—single line abbreviations of the longer couplets, generally drawn in circles, which seem to sum up the most important points. The precise reason for the existence of these figures remains unknown, as does the reason why there are no equivalents for the armored fencing or unarmored fencing verses.

One clue to their significance may be a parallel set of teachings first recorded by Andre Paurñfeyndt in 1516, called the "Twelve Teachings for the Beginning Fencer".[17] These teachings are also generally abbreviations of longer passages in the Bloßfechten, and are similarly repeated in many treatises throughout the 16th century. It may be that the figures are a mnemonic that represent the initial stage of mounted fencing instruction, and that the full verse was taught only afterward.

Additional Resources

References

  1. Christian Henry Tobler. "Chicken and Eggs: Which Master Came First?" In Saint George's Name: An Anthology of Medieval German Fighting Arts. Wheaton, IL: Freelance Academy Press, 2010. p6
  2. Kein eindeutiges z.
  3. The first letter has been corrected so that the word is ambiguous to identify.
  4. Written larger than normal.
  5. In the Bavarian dialect: freien = freuen, a freit = eine Freude.
  6. Gotha inserts the title Das ist der krieck in this position, but no other version separates it in that way.
  7. Between "Dupliere" and "doniden" there is a lack of space, possibly the "d" was added later.
  8. Corrected from »Im«.
  9. There is probably a missing letter here, making it "durchwechseln".
  10. W has been corrected to V.
  11. Erster Buchstabe schwer zu lesen. Eve. Könnte auch "in" heißen.
  12. This appears in place of the Durchwechseln verse.
  13. "oder"
  14. The meaning is unknown, but may be a part of the bridle.
  15. There are dots above the e, but it is not clear whether it really is an umlaut.
  16. "Vecht" (sound shift b→v)
  17. Andre Paurñfeyndt, et al. Ergrundung Ritterlicher Kunst der Fechterey. Hieronymus Vietor: Vienna, 1516.