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{{master begin
 
{{master begin
 
   | title = Short Sword
 
   | title = Short Sword
   | width =283em
+
   | width = 283em
 
}}
 
}}
 
{| class="wikitable floated master"
 
{| class="wikitable floated master"
 
|-  
 
|-  
! style="width:3em;" |  
+
! style="width:31em;" | <p>{{rating|A}}<br/>Rome Version by [[Christian Tobler]]</p>
! <p>{{rating|A}}<br/>Rome Version by [[Christian Tobler]]</p>
 
 
! <p>[[Nuremberg Hausbuch (MS 3227a)|Nuremberg Transcription]] (1400s){{edit index|Nuremberg Hausbuch (MS 3227a)}}<br/>by [[Dierk Hagedorn]]</p>
 
! <p>[[Nuremberg Hausbuch (MS 3227a)|Nuremberg Transcription]] (1400s){{edit index|Nuremberg Hausbuch (MS 3227a)}}<br/>by [[Dierk Hagedorn]]</p>
 
! <p>[[Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558)|Gotha Transcription]] (1443){{edit index|Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558)}}<br/>by [[Dierk Hagedorn]]</p>
 
! <p>[[Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558)|Gotha Transcription]] (1443){{edit index|Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558)}}<br/>by [[Dierk Hagedorn]]</p>
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|-  
 
|-  
| <br/><br/><br/>
+
| <p>{{red|b=1|Here begins the Art with the Short Sword in Dueling, of Master Johannes Liechtenauer, God have mercy on him,}}<br/><br/></p>
<poem><small>1</small>
 
  
<small>2</small>
+
{| class="zettel"
 +
|-
 +
| <small>1</small>
 +
| Who dismounts<br/>&emsp;Fighting on foot begins
 +
|-
 +
| <small>2</small>
 +
| This do with the spear<br/>&emsp;Two positions to begin truly
 +
|-
 +
| <small>3</small>
 +
| Spear and point<br/>&emsp;Thrust the initial thrust without fear
 +
|-
 +
| <small>4</small>
 +
| Spring, wind set truly upon<br/>&emsp;If he defends pull, that will defeat him
 +
|-
 +
| <small>5</small>
 +
| If you want to thrust before<br/>&emsp;With pulling learn to break his defense
 +
|-
 +
| <small>6</small>
 +
| Note if he wants to pull back<br/>&emsp;From harm and flee
 +
|-
 +
| <small>7</small>
 +
| Then approach him<br/>&emsp;To surely attend to grasp
 +
|}
 +
| <p><br/><br/><br/></p>
  
<small>3</small>
+
{{paget|Page:MS 3227a|60r|jpg}}
 +
| {{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 048v.jpg|1|lbl=48v}}
 +
| {{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 008v.jpg|1|lbl=08v}}
 +
| {{section|Page:MS KK5126 105v.jpg|2|lbl=105v}}
 +
|
 +
| {{paget|Page:MS Germ.Quart.2020|199r|jpg}}
  
<small>4</small>
+
{{section|Page:MS Germ.Quart.2020 199v.jpg|1|lbl=199v}}
 +
|
 +
| {{section|Page:Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82 018v.jpg|15|lbl=18v}}
  
<small>5</small>
+
{{section|Page:Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82 019r.jpg|1|lbl=19r}}
 +
|
  
<small>6</small>
+
|-
 +
| <p>{{red|b=1|This is the wrestling in dueling}}</p>
  
<small>7</small></poem>
+
{| class="zettel"
| {{red|b=1|Here begins the Art with the Half-Sword in Dueling, of Master Johannes Liechtenauer, God have mercy on him,}}<br/>
+
|-
<poem>Who dismounts
+
| <small>8</small>
:Fighting on foot begins
+
| If you want to wrestle<br/>&emsp;learn to spring correctly behind the leg
This do with the spear
+
|-
:Two positions to begin truly
+
| <small>9</small>
Spear and point
+
| A bar shoot forth<br/>&emsp;That skillfully locks the leg
:Thrust the initial thrust without fear
+
|-  
Spring, wind set truly upon
+
| <small>10</small>
:If he defends pull, that will defeat him
+
| From both sides<br/>&emsp;If you want to skillfully end
If you want to thrust before
+
|-
:With pulling learn to break his defense
+
| <small>11</small>
Note if he wants to pull back
+
| If it happens that<br/>&emsp;The sword against the spear is drawn
:From harm and flee
+
|-
Then approach him
+
| <small>12</small>
:To surely attend to grasp</poem>
+
| Then behold the thrusts.<br/>&emsp;Spring, catch, hasten to him to wrestle
| <br/><br/><br/>
+
|-
<poem>'''[60r]''' {{red|W}}Er abesynnet •
+
| <small>13</small>
vechtens czu fuße begyñet /
+
| Strike long with the left hand<br/>&emsp;Spring wisely and seize him
Der schicke syn sper •
+
|-
czwey sten am anheben rechte wer /
+
| <small>14</small>
Sper vnd orte •
+
| If he wants to draw<br/>&emsp;from the scabbard, grasp and press in
den vorstich ane vorchte /
+
|-
Sprink vnd setz recht an •
+
| <small>15</small>
wert her czuk das sigt ym an /
+
| So that his openings<br/>&emsp;With the sword point are troubled
Wiltu vorstechen /
+
|-
mit czücken lere were brechen /
+
| <small>16</small>
Merk wil her czihen •
+
| Leather and gauntlets<br/>&emsp;Under the eyes seek the openings correctly
von scheiden vnd wil her flyen /
+
|-
So salt im nahen /
+
| <small>17</small>
y warte weislich des vahen /
+
| The forbidden wrestling<br/>&emsp;surely learn to use
[53v] Vör allen sachen •
+
|-
saltu mit fleysse achten /
+
| <small>18</small>
Der edlen leren /
+
| To lock your foe<br/>&emsp;The strong thereby overcome
dy im blozfechten ist geschreben /
+
|-
Indes • vnd • vor • noch /
+
| <small>19</small>
saltu hie wol merken och /
+
| In all teachings<br/>&emsp;Turn the point against the openings
Rischeit vnd kunheit /
+
|-
vorsichtikeit list vnd klugheit /</poem>
+
| <small>20</small>
| '''[48v] Kampffechten hebt sich Hye an'''<br/><br/><br/>
+
| When one sees that from the scabbard<br/>&emsp;Both swords are being drawn
<poem>Wer absynnet
+
|-
vechtens czu fueß beginnet
+
| <small>21</small>
der sterck sein sper
+
| Then shall one strengthen<br/>&emsp;The protection now truly remember
czu sten am an hebñ reich vber
+
|-
sper vnd ort
+
| <small>22</small>
dem verstich ane vorcht
+
| Before and After, these two things<br/>&emsp;Explore surely, learn also to spring away
spring wind vnd recht secz an
+
|-
wer erß czuck du gesiest In an
+
| <small>23</small>
wiltu vor streichen
+
| Follow in all meetings<br/>&emsp;If you want to fool the strong.
mit czucken ler were prechñ
+
|-
merck wil er preche~
+
| <small>24</small>
von schaÿde~ vñ wil er flihñ
+
| If he defends, then pull<br/>&emsp;Thrust, if he defends, move to him
so soltu Im nahen
+
|-
ye weislicher wart deß vahñ </poem>
+
| <small>25</small>
| '''[8v] {{red|Hye hebt sich an Maister Johansen Liechtenawers kunst Dem got genädig sey mit dem kurtzen swert zu° kampff /}}'''
+
| If he fights extended<br/>&emsp;Then be artfully instructed
<poem>Wer absynt {{red|/}}
+
|-
ffechtens zu° fuess begint {{red|/}}
+
| <small>26</small>
Der schick sein sper
+
| If he also attacks strongly<br/>&emsp;The thrusting defeats him
zway sten {{red|/}} An heben recht wer {{red|/}}
+
|-
Sper vnd ort {{red|/}}
+
| <small>27</small>
den vorstich stich an vorcht {{red|/}}
+
| With his battering point<br/>&emsp;He defends himself—hit without fear
Spring wind setz recht an {{red|/}}
+
|-
wert er zuckt das gesigt im an {{red|/}}
+
| <small>28</small>
wiltu vor stechen {{red|/}}
+
| With both hands<br/>&emsp;Learn to turn your point to the eyes
mit zucken lere wer prechen {{red|/}}
+
|-
Merck wil er zÿhen {{red|/}}
+
| <small>29</small>
von schaiden vnd wil er er fliechen {{red|/}}
+
| The forward foot<br/>&emsp;With striking you must protect.
So soltu im nahen {{red|/}}
+
|}
zu° weißleich wart des vahen</poem>
 
| '''[105v] Das seind maister hansen liecht[e]nauers fechtenn im harnasch zum champf'''<br/><br/>
 
<poem>wer absinnet
 
fechtens zw ross peginet
 
der schick sein sper
 
zwen sten an heben rechte wer
 
sper vnnd ort
 
den vorstich /an stich// vorcht
 
spring wind secz recht an
 
wer ee zuckt das gesigt im an
 
wild dw verstechen
 
mit zuckenn lere wer prechen
 
merck wil er zuckenn
 
von schaidenn vnd wil er fliechen
 
so solt dw im nachen
 
ja weyslich ward des fachens</poem>
 
 
|  
 
|  
| '''[199r]'''
+
{{paget|Page:MS 3227a|61v|jpg|p=1}}<br/>{{paget|Page:MS 3227a|59v|jpg|p=1}}<br/>{{paget|Page:MS 3227a|60v|jpg|p=1}}
<poem>
+
| <p><br/></p>
  
 
+
{{section|Page:MS Chart.A.558 048v.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'''[199v]'''</poem>
 
 
|  
 
|  
 +
{{section|Page:Cod.44.A.8 008v.jpg|2|lbl=-|p=1}} {{paget|Page:Cod.44.A.8|009r|jpg|p=1}}
 
|  
 
|  
 +
{{section|Page:MS KK5126 105v.jpg|3|lbl=105v|p=1}} {{section|Page:MS KK5126 106r.jpg|1|lbl=106r|p=1}}
 
|  
 
|  
 +
{{paget|Page:MS M.I.29|129r|jpg|p=1}}<br/>{{paget|Page:MS M.I.29|129v|jpg|p=1}}<br/>{{section|Page:MS M.I.29 130r.jpg|1|lbl=130r|p=1}}
 +
| {{section|Page:MS Germ.Quart.2020 199v.jpg|3|lbl=-}}
  
|-
+
{{paget|Page:MS Germ.Quart.2020|200r|jpg}}
| &nbsp;
 
<poem><small>8</small>
 
 
 
<small>9</small>
 
 
 
<small>10</small>
 
 
 
<small>11</small>
 
 
 
<small>12</small>
 
 
 
<small>13</small>
 
 
 
<small>14</small>
 
 
 
<small>15</small>
 
 
 
<small>16</small>
 
 
 
<small>17</small>
 
 
 
<small>18</small>
 
 
 
<small>19</small>
 
 
 
<small>20</small>
 
 
 
<small>21</small>
 
 
 
<small>22</small>
 
 
 
<small>23</small>
 
 
 
<small>24</small>
 
 
 
<small>25</small>
 
 
 
<small>26</small>
 
 
 
<small>27</small>
 
 
 
<small>28</small>
 
 
 
<small>29</small></poem>
 
| {{red|b=1|This is the wrestling in dueling}}
 
<poem>If you want to wrestle
 
:learn to spring correctly behind the leg
 
A bar shoot forth
 
:That skillfully locks the leg
 
From both sides
 
:If you want to skillfully end
 
If it happens that
 
:The sword against the spear is drawn
 
Then behold the thrusts.
 
:Spring, catch, hasten to him to wrestle
 
Strike long with the left hand
 
:Spring wisely and seize him
 
If he wants to draw
 
:from the scabbard, grasp and press in
 
So that his openings
 
:With the sword point are troubled
 
Leather and gauntlets
 
:Under the eyes seek the openings correctly
 
The forbidden wrestling
 
:surely learn to use
 
To lock your foe
 
:The strong thereby overcome
 
In all teachings
 
:Turn the point against the openings
 
When one sees that from the scabbard
 
:Both swords are being drawn
 
Then shall one strengthen
 
:The protection now truly remember
 
Before and After, these two things
 
:Explore surely, learn also to spring away
 
Follow in all meetings
 
:If you want to fool the strong.
 
If he defends, then pull
 
:Thrust, if he defends, move to him
 
If he fights extended
 
:Then be artfully instructed
 
If he also attacks strongly
 
:The thrusting defeats him
 
With his battering point
 
:He defends himself—hit without fear
 
With both hands
 
:Learn to turn your point to the eyes
 
The forward foot
 
:With striking you must protect.</poem>
 
| '''[62r] {{red|Das ist nü von Ringen / etc etc}}'''
 
<poem>{{red|A}}b du wilt ringen /
 
hinder beyne recht lere springen /
 
Regel vörschißen /
 
das vorbeyn künstlichen slyßen /
 
Von beiden henden /
 
ab du mit ku~st gerest enden /
 
'''[59v]''' Ab sich vorrukt •
 
das swert keyn sper wirt geczukt /
 
Der strich ia war nym •
 
sprink vach ringens yle czu ym /
 
link lang von hant slach •
 
sprink weislich vnd den vach /
 
Ab her wil czücken
 
von scheiden vach vnd drük in /
 
das her dy blöße
 
mit sw°tes orte vordröße /
 
leder vnde hantschuch •
 
vnder dy awgen dy bloße recht zuch /
 
Vorboten ringen •
 
weislichen czu lere bre~gen /
 
Czu fleißen vinde
 
dy dy starken do mete vinde /
 
In aller lere •
 
den ort kegen der bloßen kere /
 
'''[60v]''' {{red|W}}O man von scheiden •
 
swert czücken siet von in beide~ /
 
Do sal man sterken •
 
dy schrete eben mete merken /
 
<u>Vor</u> • <u>noch</u> • dy czwey dink <del>sint alle</del> /
 
prüfe mit lere abesprink /
 
Volge allen treffen •
 
den starken wiltu sye / effen /
 
Wert her czo czücke /
 
stich • wert her ia czu ym rücke /
 
Ab her lank fichtet /
 
zo bistu künslich berichtet /
 
greift her auch sterke an /
 
das <del>sciße</del> schißen sigt ym an /
 
Mit synem slaen • harte •
 
schützt her sich • trif ane forte /
 
Mit beiden henden /
 
czu~ awgen ort lere bre~gen •
 
Des fürdern fußes /
 
mit slegen du hüten müsest /</poem>
 
| <br/>
 
<poem>ab du wilt ringñ
 
hinter In lern recht springe
 
rigel vorschissen
 
das vor beyn chunstlich slißenn
 
võ beyden henden
 
ab du mit chunst gerst czu enden
 
ab sich verruckt
 
das sper gege~ sper wirt geczuckt
 
der stich Jo võ Im
 
spri~g Jach ringens eil czu Im
 
linck lang võ hant slahe
 
spring weißlich vnd den vach <del>v</del>
 
ob er wil czuckñ
 
võ schaÿd~ vahe vnd truck In
 
das er dÿ ploße
 
mit swerteß ort vor droße
 
leder vñ hantschuch
 
vnd augñ dÿ ploß recht suech
 
vechtñ ringen
 
weißlich czu lere springñ
 
czu schlissenn findenn
 
dy starckenn do mit findenn
 
In aller ler
 
den ort gege~ der ploße kere
 
wo mã võ scheyden
 
wirt czuckñ sich võ In beydenn
 
do sol mã stercke~
 
den schadenn recht obñ merckenn
 
vor vnd nach dye czwey ding
 
prueff weißlich ler mit abspringñ
 
volg alle treffen
 
den starckenn wiltu sye effenn
 
wert er so zucke
 
wert er io zu Im winck
 
ab er lang vichtet
 
so bistu chunstlichen berichtet
 
greifft er auch sterck an
 
das schiessñ sigt Im an
 
mit deine~ lindenn ort
 
schuczt er sich triff ane vorcht
 
mit peÿd~ hend~
 
czum auge~ ort lere bre~gen
 
des vorder fußes
 
mit slegenn huten maßest etc ~</poem>
 
| {{red|b=1|Das sind dye ringen zu° champff /}}
 
<poem>Ob dw wild ringen {{red|/}}
 
hinder pain recht lere springen {{red|/}}
 
Rigel für schiessen
 
das vor pain künstlich schliessen {{red|/}}
 
von paiden henden {{red|/}}
 
ob du mit kunst gerest enden {{red|/}}
 
Ob es sich vor ruckt {{red|/}}
 
Das swert gegen sper wirt gezuckt {{red|/}}
 
Der stich Jü war nÿm {{red|/}}
 
Spring vach ringens eil zu° ÿm {{red|/}}
 
linck lanck von hant slach {{red|/}}
 
Spring weisleich vnd deñ vach {{red|/}}
 
Aber wil zucken
 
von schaiden vach {{red|/}} vnd druck In
 
das er dy plöss {{red|/}}
 
Mit swertes ort verdroß {{red|/}}
 
leder vnd hantschuech {{red|/}}
 
vnder augen dÿ plöss recht suech {{red|/}}
 
Verpotne ringen {{red|/}}
 
Weisleich zu° lere pringen {{red|/}}
 
Zu° schliessen viende {{red|/}}
 
Die starken do mit vber winde {{red|/}}
 
In aller lere {{red|/}}
 
Dein ort gegen der plöss kere {{red|/}}
 
Wo man von schaiden
 
swert zuck sicht von in paiden {{red|/}}
 
So sol man stercken {{red|/}}
 
Die schütten recht eben mercken {{red|/}}
 
Vor vnd '''[9r]''' nach dÿe zway dingk {{red|/}}
 
Prueff weysleich lere mit ob spring {{red|/}}
 
volg allen treffen
 
den starcken wiltu sÿ effen {{red|/}}
 
Wert er so zuck {{red|/}}
 
Stich wert er {{red|/}} Jü zu° ÿm ruck {{red|/}}
 
Ob er lanck vichtet {{red|/}}
 
So pistu kunstlich berichtet {{red|/}}
 
Greift er auch sterck an {{red|/}}
 
Das schiessen gesigt ÿm an {{red|/}}
 
Mit seinem slahenden ort {{red|/}}
 
Schützt er sich triff anne vorcht {{red|/}}
 
Mit paiden hendñ {{red|/}}
 
Dein ort zu° den augen lere wenden {{red|/}}
 
Des vorderñ fuess {{red|/}}
 
Mit slegen du hütten müest</poem>
 
| '''Das seind die kingen (sic) zu dem champf'''
 
<poem>[O]b dw wild ringenn
 
hinder pain recht lere springen
 
rigel fur schiessenn
 
<del>das</del> vorpain kunstleichen sliessenn
 
von uaidenn hennden
 
ob dw mit chunst gerest zu enden
 
ob es sich ver ruckt
 
das swert gegen sper wiert gezuckt
 
der stich ja wer nym
 
spring vach ringens eyl zw im
 
linck lannck von hanndt slach
 
spring weislich vnd den stich
 
ob er wil zuckenn
 
von schaiden stich vnd druck in
 
das er die ploss
 
mit swertes ort verdrosse
 
leder vnd hantschuech
 
vnd aug[e]n die ploss recht suech
 
verpotne ringen
 
weyslich zw lere pringenn
 
zw sliessenn winde
 
die sterck da mit vber winde
 
in aller
 
den ort gegenn der ploss cher
 
wo man von schaiden
 
swert zucken sicht von in paidenn
 
So sol man streckenn
 
die schutt[e]n von in paiden mercken
 
vor nach die zwai ding
 
pruff weyslich lere mit ab springen
 
volg allenn treffen
 
den starcken wildw / affen sy //
 
wert es zuck
 
stich werd es ja zu im ruck
 
ob er lannck ficht
 
so pist dw kunstleich '''[106r]''' berichtet
 
greifft er mit sterck an
 
die sliessung gesigt im an
 
mit seinem slachenn dem ort
 
schuczt er sich triff ane vorcht
 
mit paidenn hennden
 
den ort zu den augen kere wenden
 
des vodern fuess
 
mit slegenn zw huetten muesst</poem>
 
| '''[129r] {{red|Die zÿttel weist ringen züm kanff zu fuß}}'''
 
<poem>{{red|Ob du wilt ringen}}
 
hinter beyn recht ler springen
 
Rigel Schiessenn
 
daß vor beyn recht schlissenn
 
von beden henden
 
Ob du mit künst gerest enden
 
Ab es sich ver rucket
 
das schwert geny~ wurt gezu<sup>e</sup>ckett
 
der stich vernÿm
 
Spring vach ringes eyl zu Im
 
Linck lang von hant schlag
 
Spring weyßlichen dem vach
 
Ob er wil zu<sup>e</sup>cken
 
von scheiden vach vnd drueckenn
 
das er die ploß
 
Mit schwertz ort ver droß
 
Leder vnd hantschuch
 
vnder augen bloß recht su<sup>e</sup>ch
 
'''[129v]''' Verborgen ringen
 
Weyßlich ler zu springenn
 
Ernstlichen wendte
 
dÿ starcken do mit vber windt
 
In aller lere
 
den ort gen dem gesicht kere
 
Wie man von scheydenn
 
Swert zucken sich von ÿn beydenn
 
So sol man sterckenn
 
die schutte~ eben recht mercken
 
vor vnd noch dÿ zweÿ ding
 
Bruff weyßlich ler mit ab spring
 
Volg allem treffenn
 
den starckenn wiltu sie effenn
 
Werter so zu<sup>e</sup>ck
 
Stich / wert er / zu ym ru<sup>e</sup>ck
 
Ob er lang vicht
 
So bistü künstig bericht
 
Griff er auch starck an
 
daß schiessenn gie sich ym an
 
Mit sinem schliechendenn ortt
 
Schutz er sich trifft on vorcht
 
'''[130r]''' Mit beden hendenn
 
dein ort zu den ougen lere wendenn
 
des vorderenn fusses
 
Mit schlegenn du huete~ mu<sup>e</sup>st</poem>
 
| <br/>
 
<poem>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'''[200r]'''
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
'''[200v]'''
+
{{paget|Page:MS Germ.Quart.2020|200v|jpg}}
  
 +
{{paget|Page:MS Germ.Quart.2020|201r|jpg}}
 +
| {{section|Page:MS 26-232 100v.png|4|lbl=100v}}
 +
| {{section|Page:Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82 019r.jpg|2|lbl=-}}
  
 +
{{section|Page:Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82 019v.jpg|1|lbl=19v}}
 +
| <p><br/></p>
  
 
+
{{section|Page:MS Var.82 074v.png|2|lbl=74v|p=1}} {{paget|Page:MS Var.82|075r|png|lbl=75r|p=1}}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'''[201r]''' </poem>
 
|  
 
|  
 
|  
 
  
 
|}
 
|}

Revision as of 03:28, 2 July 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 Nuremberg Hausbuch, 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 the Nuremberg Hausbuch, 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 Nuremberg Hausbuch, 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 Nuremberg Hausbuch 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 the Nuremberg Hausbuch 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 the Nuremberg Hausbuch, 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.

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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".[34] 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. The text diverges here, omitting Liechtenauer's couplet and inserting this quatrain instead:
    Dagge swert stãge lãse schon
    Messer bockler has vñ rõken
    Taegñ darde vnd schilt
    Miden allen zu ringe~ uff du wilt
  3. First letter almost illegible.
  4. First letter illegible.
  5. Text terminates at this point. The leaves with the rest of the text are gone, probably lost.
  6. kam
  7. deinen
  8. faler
  9. Gotha inserts the title Das ist der krieck in this position, but no other version separates it in that way.
  10. Text adds an additional couplet: "hastu es vernomen zu kain / schlag mag er komen".
  11. Text adds an additional couplet: "hast dus vernomen / zu kaim schlag mag er komen".
  12. Text adds an additional couplet: "hastu es vernomen / zu kainen schlag mag er komen."
  13. Text adds an additional line: "das son ich vernomen".
  14. Text adds an additional line: "ha das han ich vernomen".
  15. There is no space between "Dupliere" and "doniden", the "D" was possibly added later.
  16. Text adds an additional line: "dz haw ich vermunen??".
  17. Corrected from »Im«.
  18. The text doubles the title of this section.
  19. 19.0 19.1 Corrected from »Twir«.
  20. haust
  21. Talhoffer adds an additional couplet: [4r] Page:Ms.Thott.290.2º 004r.jpg
  22. Hier hat der Schreiber offensichtlich ein Häkchen vergessen.
  23. should be "dreffen"
  24. This section is followed by one titled "Von durchlauffen ab seczen", which repeat the verse on Absetzen.
  25. Text adds an additional couplet: "Das schwertt bind / zu der fleche truck in die hend".
  26. Text adds an additional couplet: "Das schwert binden / zu der flech trukh in die hand"
  27. Text adds an additional couplet: "thutt er sich gegen dir greisen / schlagen das er seisse".
  28. Text adds an additional couplet: "thutt er sich gegen dir greifen / schlagen das er Seise".
  29. Text adds an additional couplet: "thuet er sich gegen dir raisen / schlagen dz er seisse."
  30. ";" in a circle
  31. The meaning is unknown, but may be a part of the bridle.
  32. There are dots above the e, but it is not clear whether it really is an umlaut.
  33. "Vecht" (sound shift b→v)
  34. Andre Paurñfeyndt, et al. Ergrundung Ritterlicher Kunst der Fechterey. Hieronymus Vietor: Vienna, 1516.