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Hans Seydenfaden von Erfurt
| Hans Seydenfaden von Erfurt | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15th century |
| Occupation | Fencing master |
| Nationality | German |
| Citizenship | Erfurt |
| Movement | Fellowship of Liechtenauer |
| Influences | Johannes Liechtenauer |
| Influenced | Hans Medel von Salzburg |
| Language | Early New High German |
Hans Seydenfaden von Erfurt (Hanns Seyden Faden vo~ Erfürt) was a 15th century German fencing master. Seydenfaden means silk thread, possibly a reference to his occupation, and Erfurt is a city in the German state Thuringia. Though no treatise authored by him is currently know to survive, his renown as a master was sufficient for Paulus Kal to include him in the list of members of the Fellowship of Liechtenauer in 1470.[1]
Seydenfaden is also mentioned twice in the 1539 Hans Medel Fechtbuch.[2] This may indicate that Hans Medel possessed a treatise by Seydenfaden that is now lost, or even that he was a direct student of Seydenfaden himself.
Treatise
Though no treatise by Seydenfaden is known to survive, the two statements definitely attributed to him by Hans Medel are given below. This gloss also includes a number of other statements attributed only to "Master Hans", which might equally be a reference to Hans Seydenfaden or Hans Medel, but given their unclear authorship they are not included here.
Transcription | |
|---|---|
Glossing verse 60, "Squint-on if he shortens you. / Changing-through brings victory": If you stand crookedly or openly in the hanging parrying, as Seydenfaden had taught, it is also shortened and good for you to change-through. |
[29v] [Margin] So dw steest in der verhangenden versatzung krump oder offen wie Seydenfaden gelert hat ist auch kurtz vnd dir gut durchwechseln |
Glossing verses 63-64, "The scalper / is a threat to the face. / With its turn, / the chest is quickly": Master Hans Seydenfaden also taught the scalper thusly: straight above from the top of the head striking-into with the long edge and swiftly upon that, an under-cut to the right side of his head. Thereafter according to the two plays in his school rules with other strikes, steps and deception. |
[30v] Maister hans seydenfaden leret auch also den schaitler gerichtz oben von der schaittel zuschlagen mit langer schneid vnd resch darauf ain vnderhaw ym zw der rechten seitten zw dem haubt Darnach noch zway stuck in seinem schulrecht mit etlichen schlegen triten vnd verfurung |
References
- ↑ The Fellowship of Liechtenauer is recorded in three versions of Paulus Kal's treatise: MS 1825 (1460s), Cgm 1570 (ca. 1470), and MS KK5126 (1480s).
- ↑ Medel, Hans, et al. Untitled [manuscript]. Cod.I.6.2º.5. Augsburg, Germany: Universitätsbibliothek Augsburg, ca. 1556. ff 29v, 30v
