Treatises

Modern historical European martial arts reconstruction is founded on the study of so-called fencing manuals. While most regions of the world have produced a few martial arts treatises over the centuries, the European treatise tradition far exceeded any other in both its complexity and its sheer volume: well over a hundred and fifty distinct manuscripts and hundreds more printed works survive from the Medieval and Early Modern time periods. In some sense, the practice of writing fencing treatises 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 treatises 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 treatises, wrestling treatises, and books of military strategy.

Predecessors

Detail of the wrestling scenes at Beni Hasan.

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 treatises 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 Roman military tactics De Re Militari.

Types of texts

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 book

Fencing book (or Fechtbuch) is a catch-all term for treatises on armed combat. Medieval fencing treatises 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 treatises. Some of these works were created as draftbooks for later complete fencing treatises.

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 treatises 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 book

The wrestling book (or Ringbuch) can be seen as a subset of the fencing treatise genre. Most 15th century martial arts manuscripts include at least one wrestling treatise, 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.

Treatise Index

Note that these dates are approximate in many cases. More specific information about the dates of treatises can be found on their respective pages.

Manuscript treatises

For known manuscripts that do not yet have separate pages, see manuscript purgatory.

For an expanded table with additional information, see Manuscripts.

Year	Name	Inventory	Article
0100s	Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 466	MS P.Oxy.Ⅲ.466	Oxyrhynchus Papyrus (MS P.Oxy.III.466)
1320s	Walpurgis Fechtbuch	FECHT1	Walpurgis Fechtbuch (MS I.33)
1400s	Pol Hausbuch	MS 3227ª	Pol Hausbuch (MS 3227ª)
1400s	Trattato della scherma	MS M.0383	Tratt‍ato della sch‍erma (MS M.383)
1404	Il Fior di Battaglia	MS Ludwig ⅩⅤ 13	Fior di Battaglia (MS Ludwig XV 13)
1409	Flos Duellatorum	Pisani Dossi MS	Flos Duellatorum (Pisani Dossi MS)
1410-30	Florius de Arte Luctandi	MS Latin 11269	Florius de Arte Luctandi (MS Latin 11269)
1416-1444	Modus Dimicandi	MS G.B.f.18a	Modus Dimicandi (MS G.B.f.18a)
1420	Die Blume des Kampfes	Cod.5278	Die Blume des Kampfes (Cod.5278)
1420s/1470s	Bauman Fechtbuch	Cod.Ⅰ.6.4º.2	Bauman Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.4º.2)
1424	Hec Sunt Guardiae in Dimicatione Videlicet	MS 01020	Hec Sunt Guardiae in Dimicatione Videlicet (MS 01020)
1430s	Gladiatoria	MS KK5013	Gladiatoria (MS KK5013)
1430s	Gladiatoria	MS U860.F46 1450	Gladiatoria (MS U860.F46 1450)
1438	Livro da enssynança de bem cavalgar toda sela	MS Portugais 5	Bem cavalgar (MS Portugais 5)
1440	Man yt Wol	MS Harley 3542	Man yt Wol (MS Harley 3542)
1440s	Codex 11093	Cod.11093	Wiener Fechtbuch (Cod.11093)
1440s	Gladiatoria	MS germ. quart. 16	Gladiatoria (MS Germ.Quart.16)
1443-1448	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	MS Chart.A.558	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558)
1446-1459	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	MS ⅩⅨ.17-3	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS XIX.17-3)
1450-1465		Cotton MS Titus A ⅹⅹⅴ	Cotton MS Titus A XXV
1450s	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	MS 78.A.15	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS 78.A.15)
1452	Starhemberg Fechtbuch	Cod.44.A.8	Starhemberg Fechtbuch (Cod.44.A.8)
1459	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	MS Thott.290.2º	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Thott.290.2º)
1460	The Poem of the Pel	MS 243	Knyghthode and Bataile (MS.243)
1460-1480	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch	MS 1825	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (MS 1825)
1460-85	Le Jeu de la Hache	MS Français 1996	Le Jeu de la Hache (MS Français 1996)
1460s	Codex Lew	Cod.Ⅰ.6.4º.3	Codex Lew (Cod.I.6.4º.3)
1462/1493	Schwabenspiegel Codex	Cgm 558	Schwabenspiegel Codex (Cgm 558)
1465-1480	Wolfenbüttel Picture Book	Cod.Guelf.78.2.Aug.2º	Wolfenbüttel Picture Book (Cod.Guelf.78.2 Aug.2º)
1467	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	Cod.icon. 394a	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.icon. 394a)
1469-1474	Debrecener Ringbuch	MS R.605	Debrecener Ringbuch (MS R.605)
1470	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch	Cgm 1507	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (Cgm 1507)
1470-1500	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch		Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (M.A.M. Kal MS)
1473-1503	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch	MS Chart.B.1021	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (MS Chart.B.1021)
1475-1515	Ortenburg Fechtbuch	Location unknown	Ortenburg Fechtbuch
1478	Kunst des Messerfechtens	Cod.Pal.germ.430	Kunst des Messerfechtens (Cod.Pal.Germ.430)
1479	Die Meisterlieder des Hans Folz	MS Q.566	Die Meisterlieder des Hans Folz (MS Q.566)
1480-1500	Ambraser Codex	MS KK5342	Ambraser Codex (MS KK5342)
1480s	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch	MS KK5126	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (MS KK5126)
1480s-1500s	Cluny Fechtbuch	MS Cl. 23842	Cluny Fechtbuch (Cl. 23842)
1482	Kunst des Messerfechtens	Cgm 582	Kunst des Messerfechtens (Cgm 582)
1482-1487	De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi	MS Vitt.Em.1324	De Arte Gladiatoria Dimicandi (MS Vitt.Em.1324)
1491	Codex Speyer	MS M.Ⅰ.29	Codex Speyer (MS M.I.29)
1492	De la Palestra	alfa.T.7.25	De la Palestra (alfa.T.7.25)
1495	Meister peter falkners kunste Zu Ritterlicher Were	MS KK5012	Kunste Zu Ritterlicher Were (MS KK5012)
1500	Falkner Turnierbuch		Falkner Turnierbuch
1500	Ludwig von Eyb Kriegsbuch	MS B.26	Eyb Kriegsbuch (MS B.26)
1500	Pirckheimer's Fechtbuch	Pirckh. Papp. 353	Pirckheimer's Fechtbuch (Pirckh.Papp.353)
1500	The Poem of the Pel	Ashmole MS 45 Ⅱ	Knyghthode and Bataile (Ashmole MS 45 II)
1500	Kölner Fechtregeln	MS Best.7020 (W*)150	Kölner Fechtregeln (MS Best.7020 (W*)150)
1500	The Poem of the Pel	Cotton MS Titus A ⅹⅹⅲ	Knyghthode and Bataile (Cotton MS Titus A XXIII)
1500-1510	Paulus Kal Fechtbuch		Paulus Kal Fechtbuch (Günther MS)
1500/1552/1566	Hans Medel Fechtbuch	Cod.Ⅰ.6.2º.5	Hans Medel Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2º.5)
1500s	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	MS 26.236	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS 26.236)
1500s	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	Cod.Ser.Nov.2978	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.Ser.Nov.2978)
1500s	Fechtbuchleinn	Cod.Guelf.1074.Novi	Fechtbuchleinn (Cod.Guelf.1074.Novi)
1500s	Anonimo Riccardiano	MS Ricc.2541	Anonimo Riccardiano (MS Ricc.2541)
1504-1519	Johan Liechtnawers Fechtbuch geschriebenn	MS Dresd.C.487	Johan Liechtnawers Fechtbuch geschriebenn (MS Dresd.C.487)
1506-1514	Das Solothurner Fechtbuch	Cod.S.554	Solothurner Fechtbuch (Cod.S.554)
1508	Glasgow Fechtbuch	MS E.1939.65.341	Glasgow Fechtbuch (MS E.1939.65.341)
1509	Libro del exercicio de las armas	MS a.Ⅳ.23	Libro del exercicio de las armas (MS a.IV.23)
1510s	Anonimo Bolognese	MSS Ravenna M-345/346	Anonimo Bolognese (MSS Ravenna M-345/M-346)
1512	Berlin Picture Book	Libr.Pict.A83	Berlin Picture Book (Libr.Pict.A.83)
1512	Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch	Sloane MS No.5229	Albrecht Dürers Fechtbuch (Sloane MS No.5229)
1512	Oplodidaskalia sive Armorvm Tractandorvm Meditatio Alberti Dvreri	MS 26-232	Οπλοδιδασκαλια sive Armorvm Tractandorvm Meditatio Alberti Dvreri (MS 26-232)
1515-19	Ein Hausbuch des mittelalterlichen Wissens	BJ Rkp. Przyb. 35/64	Ein Hausbuch des mittelalterlichen Wissens (BJ Rkp. Przyb. 35/64)
1520s	Vechtboek	MS BPL.3281	Vechtboek (MS BPL.3281)
1522	Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg	Cod.Ⅰ.6.4º.5	Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg (Cod.I.6.4º.5)
1522	Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg	Cod.Ⅰ.6.2º.3	Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg (Cod.I.6.2º.3)
1523	Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg	Cgm 3711	Jörg Wilhalm Hutters kunst zu Augspurg (Cgm 3711)
1523/1564	Wilhalm/Sollinger Fechtbuch	Cod.Ⅰ.6.2º.2	Wilhalm/Sollinger Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2º.2)
1524	Liber Quodlibetarius	MS B.200	Liber Quodlibetarius (MS B.200)
1528	Las nueve reglas de la espada de dos mano	MS 2790	Las nueve reglas de la espada de dos mano (MS 2790)
1530-1545	Jörg Breu's Draftbook	Cod.Ⅰ.6.2º.4	Jörg Breu Draftbook (Cod.I.6.2º.4)
1533	Gregor Erhart Fechtbuch	MS E.1939.65.354	Gregor Erhart Fechtbuch (MS E.1939.65.354)
1535-1540	Goliath Fechtbuch	MS germ. quart. 2020	Goliath Fechtbuch (MS Germ.Quart.2020)
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	Wassmannsdorff's Fechtbuch	Location unknown	Wassmannsdorff's Fechtbuch
1539	Ringer Kunst	2º Col.MS.Philos.62	Ringer Kunst (2º Col.MS.Philos.62)
1539-1569	Monomachia ovvero Arte di Scherma	MS Ⅱ.ⅲ.315	Monomachia ovvero Arte di Scherma (MS II.iii.315)
1539-1569	Monomachia ovvero Arte di Scherma	MS L.V.23	Monomachia ovvero Arte di Scherma (MS L.V.23)
1542	Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica	MSS Dresd.C.93/C.94	Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica (MSS Dresd.C.93/C.94)
1548	Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica	Cod.icon. 393	Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica (Cod.icon. 393)
1550s	Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica	Cod.10825/10826	Opus Amplissimum de Arte Athletica (Cod.10825/10826)
1550s	Codex Amberger		Codex Amberger
1553 (1540s)	Rast Fechtbuch	Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82	Rast Fechtbuch (Reichsstadt "Schätze" Nr. 82)
1556	Maister Liechtenawers Kunstbuech	Cgm 3712	Maister Liechtenawers Kunstbuech (Cgm 3712)
1561	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	Cod.Ⅰ.6.2º.1	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2º.1)
1561	Joachim Meyers Fechtbuch	MS Bibl. 2465	Joachim Meyers Fechtbuch (MS Bibl. 2465)
1562	Hans Endter Fechtbuch	Location unknown	Hans Endter Fechtbuch
1563	Las reglas del montante	CCPB000152417-8	Las reglas del montante (CCPB000152417-8)
1563-68	Joachim Meyers Fäktbok	MS A.4º.2	Joachim Meyers Fäktbok (MS A.4º.2)
1567	Trattato d'uno Schermo	Cod.10723	Trattato d'uno Schermo (Cod.10723)
1570	Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss	MS Var.82	Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss (MS Var.82)
1570-1600	Ιπποκομικη	MS Md 24	Ιπποκομικη (MS Md 24)
1573	Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch	MS Var.83	Hugold Behr's Fechtbuch (MS Var.83)
1579	Sciomachia et hoplomachia	MS Dresd.C.15	Sciomachia et hoplomachia (MS Dresd.C.15)
1580	Modo di cacciare mano all spada	MS Italien 959	Modo di cacciare mano all spada (MS Italien 959)
1580	Sobre el arte de la esgrima	MS Ⅱ/1579(2)	Sobre el arte de la esgrima (MS II/1579(2))
1580s	Nobilissimo discorso intorno il schermo	MS Italien 1527	Nobilissimo discorso intorno il schermo (MS Italien 1527)
1588	Künnst zu fechten vonn dem Lienhartt Sollinger	Cod.Guelf.38.21.Aug.2º	Künnst zu fechten vonn dem Lienhartt Sollinger (Cod.Guelf.38.21 Aug.2º)
1591	Das Ander Theil Des Newen Kůnstreichen Fechtbůches	Cod.Guelf.83.4.Aug.8º	Das Ander Theil Des Newen Kůnstreichen Fechtbůches (Cod.Guelf.83.4 Aug.8º)
1593	Verzeichnis etlicher Stücke des Fechtens im Rapier	MS Germ.Fol.1476	Verzeichnis etlicher Stücke des Fechtens im Rapier (MS Germ.Fol.1476)
1595	Schermkunst	VAULT Case MS Fol.U.423.792	Schermkunst (VAULT Case MS Fol.U.423.792)
1599	Arte de Esgrima	MS PBA 58	Arte de Esgrima (MS PBA 58)
1599	Paradoxes of Defence	Additional MS 34192	Paradoxes of Defence (Additional MS 34192)
1600	Discorso del Gioco di Spada	MS Urb.lat.1231	Discorso del Gioco di Spada (MS Urb.lat.1231)
1600	Reit und Turnierbuch	MS KK5247	Reit und Turnierbuch (MS KK5247)
1600	Discorso sopra l'arte della scherma	MS 14/10	Discorso sopra l'arte della scherma (MS 14.10)
1600	Confectbuch von Abrichtung vollständiges Turnierbuch	Cod.Guelf.1.6.3 Aug.2º	Confectbuch von Abrichtung vollständiges Turnierbuch (Cod.Guelf.1.6.3 Aug.2º)
1600	Confectbuch von Abrichtung vollständiges Turnierbuch	Cod.Guelf.5 Blank	Confectbuch von Abrichtung vollständiges Turnierbuch (Cod.Guelf.5 Blank)
1600	Lectiones auf das Einfachen rappier	4º MS Math.38	Lectiones auf das Einfachen rappier (4º MS Math.38)
1600		Additional MS 23223	Additional MS 23223
1600-1609	La Scientia della Spada	MS KB.73.J.38	La Scientia della Spada (MS KB.73.J.38)
1600-1620	Oplodidaskalia sive Armorvm Tractandorvm Meditatio Alberti Dvreri	Location unknown	Oplodidaskalia sive Armorvm Tractandorvm Meditatio Alberti Dvreri (Cod.1246)
1600-20	Figures nues, positions d'escrime à l'épée	MS 17	Figures nues, positions d'escrime à l'épée (MS 17)
1600s	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	Cod.Guelf.125.16.Extrav.	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.Guelf.125.16.Extrav.)
1600s	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	2º Col. MS. philos. 61	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (2º Col.MS.Philos.61)
1600s	Italiänische Fechtkunst	MS Dresd.C.91	Italiänische Fechtkunst (MS Dresd.C.91)
1600s	Talhoffer Sammelhandschrift	2° MS iurid. 29	Talhoffer Sammelhandschrift (2º MS iurid. 29)
1601	Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme	GKS 1868 kvart	Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme (GI.kgl.Saml.1868.4040)
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)
1609	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)
1610	Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes	MS E.1939.65.435	Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes (MS E.1939.65.435)
1610s	Traite des armes	MS E.1939.65.359	Traite des armes (MS E.1939.65.359)
1610s	Traite des armes	MS E.1939.65.360	Traite des armes (MS E.1939.65.360)
1610s	Traite des armes	MS X.911	Traite des armes (MS X.911)
1611	Fechtbuch des einfachen Rapiers	MS germ.qu.1190/1191	Fechtbuch des einfachen Rapiers (MS germ.qu.1190/1191)
1611-19	Eigentliche Beschreibung des Fechtens ihm einfachen Rappir	MS Var.7	Eigentliche Beschreibung des Fechtens ihm einfachen Rappir (MS Var.7)
1614	Della Scherma	MS 381	Della Scherma (MS 381)
1619	Eigentliche beschreibung des fechtens ihm Einfachen Rappir	MS E.ö.Ⅴ.36	Eigentliche beschreibung des fechtens ihm Einfachen Rappir (MS E.ö.V.36)
1620	Anweisung zur Fechtkunst	4º MS Math.2	Anweisung zur Fechtkunst (4º MS Math.2)
1620	Schöffer Addenda	8 ARS MIL 1090/61	Schöffer Addenda (8 ARS MIL 1090/61)
1620s	Las cien conclusiones de la destreza de las armas	MS Phill.1941	Las cien conclusiones de la destreza de las armas (MS Phill.1941)
1623	Die Blume des Kampfes	Cod.10799	Bũech von fechter Vnnd Ringstückhen zũ Ross vnnd Fuoß (Cod.10799)
1623	Fechtbuch	MS 62	Fechtbuch (MS 62)
1623	Discours des armes	MS 66S230	Discours des armes (MS 66S230)
1625	Compendio y Philosophia y destreza de las Armas	MS R4-B274	Compendio y Philosophia y Dztreza de las Armas (MS R4-B274)
1628	Oplosophia e Verdadeira Destreza das Armas	MS Vermelho.nº.91	Oplosophia e Verdadeira Destreza das Armas (MS Vermelho.nº.91)
1629	Compendio e discorso di tutto quello, in che consiste la virtù delle spada	Cod.10784	Compendio e discorso di tutto quello (Cod.10784)
1632	Etliche General Regeln undt Observationes	MS Mil. IV 30	Etliche General Regeln undt Observationes (MS Mil. IV 30)
1635	Fechtkunst aus dem Italienischen	MS Dresd.C.94a	Fechtkunst aus dem Italienischen (MS Dresd.C.94a)
1640	Sobre la Destreza de las Armas	MS E.1939.65.398	Sobre la destreza de las armas (MS E.1939.65.398)
1650-1700	Three treatises on the art of fencing	Add MS 17533	Three treatises on the art of fencing (Add MS 17533)
1651	Memorial Da Prattica do Montante	MS 49.Ⅲ.20.nº.21	Memorial Da Prattica do Montante (MS 49.III.20.nº.21)
1657	Fechtbuch eines ungenannten Studenten	Cod.Guelf.264.23.Extrav.	Fechtbuch eines ungenannten Studenten (Cod.Guelf.264.23.Extrav.)
1662	Phrases ex variis autoribus quam studiosissimi collectae	MS Chart.B.2117	Phrases ex variis autoribus quam studiosissimi collectae (MS Chart.B.2117)
1670	Traité d'escrime à pied et à cheval	MS Français 1236	Traité d'escrime à pied et à cheval (MS Français 1236)
1671	Eigentliche Beschreibung des Stoßfechtens	MS Dresd.C.13	Eigentliche Beschreibung des Stoßfechtens (MS Dresd.C.13)
1675-1700	Lições de Marte	MS 49.Ⅲ.6	Lições de Marte (MS 49.III.6)
1675-1700	Libro intitulado defensa de la berdadera destreça de las armas	M 1-3-3	Defensa de la berdadera destreça de las armas (M 1-3-3)
1676	Mathematical Demonstration of the Sorde	MS Harley 5219	Mathematical Demonstration of the Sorde (MS Harley 5219)
1676	Truthe of the Sworde	MS Harley 4206	Truthe of the Sworde (MS Harley 4206)
1677	Veldens Fecht-Buch	HDW FAB 1677	Veldens Fecht-Buch (HDW FAB 1677)
1679-1681	Compendio di Scherma	Cod.256	Compendio di Scherma (Cod.256)
1699	Il Fior di Battaglia	MS ⅩⅩⅣ	Fior di Battaglia (MS XXIV)
1700s	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	MS 014	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS 014)
1727	Reglas para La Destreza de Las Armas	MS E.1939.65.597	Reglas para La Destreza de Las Armas (MS E.1939.65.597)
1731	Anweisung zum Fechten	Fol 351 [c]	Anweisung zum Fechten (Fol 351 (c))
1731-1755	Die Adeliche und Ritterliche Fechtkunst	MS Best.7010 (W*)289	Die Adeliche und Ritterliche Fechtkunst (MS Best.7010 W*289)
1733	Die Adeliche und Ritterliche Fechtkunst	MS Germ.Oct.227	Die Adeliche und Ritterliche Fechtkunst (MS Germ. Oct. 227)
1749	L'exercice des armes	MS E.1939.65.488	L'exercice des armes (MS E.1939.65.488)
1750	Anfangsgründe der Fechtkunst	MS B.215	Anfangsgründe der Fechtkunst (MS B.215)
1763	Tableau de l'académie d'armes	Cod.Ⅰ.6.2º.6	Tableau de l'académie d'armes (Cod.I.6.2º.6)
1801-1940	Bref instructions upon my Paradoxes of defence	MS 1086	Bref instructions upon my Paradoxes of defence (MS 1086)
1820	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	Cod.icon. 394	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.icon. 394)
1820	Talhoffer Fechtbuch	Cod.icon. 395	Talhoffer Fechtbuch (Cod.icon. 395)
1838	Reit und Turnierbuch	MS 23.279	Reit und Turnierbuch (MS 23.279)

Other relevant manuscripts

Year	Name	Inventory	Article
1400	Arzneibuch, kunsttechnische und Hausrezepte	Cgm 824	Arzneibuch, kunsttechnische und Hausrezepte (Cgm 824)
1430	Kunst und Wunderbuch	Cod.Pal.lat.1888	Kunst und Wunderbuch (Cod.Pal.lat.1888)
1437	Sammelhandschrift zur Kriegskunst	Cod.3062	Sammelhandschrift zur Kriegskunst (Cod.3062)
1506-1511	Marx Turnierbuch	Cgm 1930	Marx Turnierbuch (Cgm 1930)
1511	Turnierbuch Ritterspiele	Cod.icon. 398	Turnierbuch Ritterspiele (Cod.icon. 398)
1519	Ludwig von Eyb Turnierbuch	Cgm 961	Eyb Turnierbuch (Cgm 961)
1529	Burgkmair Turnierbuch	Location unknown	Burgkmair Turnierbuch (Wittelsbach MS)
1537	Thůrnẙer und Scharpfrennen	Cod.I.6.4º.1	Thůrnẙer und Scharpfrennen (Cod.I.6.4º.1)
1540	Burgkmair Turnierbuch	Cod.icon. 403	Burgkmair Turnierbuch (Cod.icon. 403)
1544	Lamberger Turnierbuch	Cod.A.2290	Lamberger Turnierbuch (Cod.A.2290)
1548	Geschlechterbuch der Stadt Augsburg	Cod.icon. 312b	Geschlechterbuch der Stadt Augsburg (Cod.icon. 312b)
1550-1650	Nuremberg Turnierbuch	MS 22.229	Nuremberg Turnierbuch (MS 22.229)
1553	Burgkmair Turnierbuch	Location unknown	Burgkmair Turnierbuch (Hohenzollern Sigmaringen MS)
1560	Tournament Book	MS Ludwig ⅩⅤ 14	Tournament Book (MS Ludwig XV 14)
1570	Kriegsbuch u.a. Über Schützen- und Turnierwesen	MS B.213	Kriegsbuch u.a. Über Schützen- und Turnierwesen (MS B.213)
1630	Einige Figuren von Fus-Thurnieren	2º MS Math.7	Einige Figuren von Fus-Thurnieren (2º MS Math.7)

Incunabula and post-incunabula

Year	Title	Author	Article
1471, 1476, 1501, 1509, 1515, 1518, 1521, 1523, 1525, 1530, 1536, 1540, 1543, 1544, 1560, 1580	Questions of Honor and Arms	Paride del Pozzo	De duello, vel De re militari in singulari certamine (Paride del Pozzo)
1490s	The Landshut Wrestling Manual		Das Landshuter Ringerbuch (Hans Wurm)
1492	On the Discernments of Man	Pedro Monte	De Dignoscendis Hominibus (Pedro Monte)
1509	Collected Martial Arts and Exercises	Pedro Monte	Exercitiorum Atque Artis Militaris Collectanea (Pedro Monte)
1513	Viridario	Giovanni Filoteo Achillini	Viridario (Giovanni Filoteo Achillini)
1516	Foundation of the Chivalric Art of Swordplay	Johannes Liechtenauer Andre Lignitzer Andre Paurenfeyndt	Ergrundung Ritterlicher Kunst der Fechterey (Andre Paurenfeyndt)
1530s, 1545, 1558	The Ancient Fencer's Thorough Art	Johannes Liechtenauer Hans Lebkommer Andre Lignitzer Andre Paurenfeyndt	Der Allten Fechter gründtliche Kunst (Christian Egenolff)
1531	A New Work	Antonio Manciolino	Opera Nova (Antonio Manciolino)
1536, 1540s, 1550, 1567, 1568, 1615	A New Work	Achille Marozzo	Opera Nova (Achille Marozzo)
1538	The Noble Science of Swordplay	Andre Lignitzer Andre Paurenfeyndt	La noble science des ioueurs d'espee (Andre Paurenfeyndt)
1539, 1669	The Art of Wrestling: Eighty-Five Pieces	Fabian von Auerswald	Ringer Kunst (Fabian von Auerswald)

Books and other printed matter

Year	Title	Author	Article
1552	Fencers and Wrestlers		Fechter & Ringer (Maarten van Heemskerck)
1553	The Three Days	Marc'Antonio Pagano	Le tre giornate (Marc'Antonio Pagano)
1553	Treatise on the Science of Arms, with a Dialogue on Philosophy	Camillo Agrippa	Trattato di Scientia d'Arme, con vn Dialogo di Filosofia (Camillo Agrippa)
1570	Discourse on Wielding Arms with Safety	Giacomo di Grassi	Ragione di adoprar sicuramente l'Arme (Giacomo di Grassi)
1570, 1573, 1580, 1599, 1608	The Equestrian	Johann Fayser	Ιπποκομικη (Johann Fayser)
1570, 1600	A Thorough Description of the… Art of Fencing	Joachim Meyer	Gründtliche Beschreibung der… Kunst des Fechtens (Joachim Meyer)
1572	Three Books on the Art of Defense	Giovanni dall'Agocchie	Dell'Arte di Scrima Libri Tre (Giovanni dall'Agocchie)
1573	Secrets of the Premier Book on the Single Sword	Henry de Sainct Didier	Les secrets du premier livre sur l'espée seule (Henry de Sainct Didier)
1575, 1588	On Defense	Angelo Viggiani dal Montone	Lo Schermo (Angelo Viggiani)
1577	Chapter by Mr. Mercurio Spetioli of Fermo	Mercurio Spezioli	Capitolo di M. Mercvrio Spetioli da Fermo (Mercurio Spezioli)
1579	The True Principles of the Art of Fencing	Heinrich von Gunterrodt	De Veris Principiis Artis Dimicatoriae (Heinrich von Gunterrodt)
1582, 1612, 1616	On the Philosophy of Arms and its Skill, and Christian Offense and Defense	Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza	De la Filosofia de las Armas y de su Destreza y la Aggression y Defensa Cristiana (Jerónimo Sánchez de Carranza)
1584	New and Brief Method of Fencing	Alfonso Falloppia	Nuovo et brieve modo di schermire (Alfonso Falloppia)
1587	Rules of Many Knightly Exercises	Federico Ghisliero	Regole di molti cavagliereschi essercitii (Federico Ghisliero)
1589	Dialogue on the Use of the Sword	Girolamo Lucino	Dialogo del uso della spada (Girolamo Lucino)
1591	Discourses of War and Single Combat	Bertrand de Loque	Deux Traitéz: l'un de la guerre, l'autre du duel (Bertrand de Loque)
1594	His True Art of Defense	Giacomo di Grassi	DiGrassi his true Arte of Defence (Giacomo di Grassi)
1595	His Practice, in Two Books	Vincentio Saviolo	His Practise, in Two Bookes (Vincentio Saviolo)
1595, 1597, 1609, 1610, 1617, 1628	Treatise or Instruction on Fighting with Weapons	Girolamo Cavalcabo Angelo Paternostraro	Traité ou instruction pour tirer des armes (Girolamo Cavalcabo)
1599	Paradoxes of Defense	George Silver	Paradoxes of Defence (George Silver)
1600, 1605	A Book on the Greatness of the Sword	Luis Pacheco de Narvaez	Libro de las Grandezas de la Espada (Luis Pacheco de Narváez)
1601	Treatise on Matters of Defense	Marco Docciolini	Trattato in Materia di Scherma (Marco Docciolini)
1606, 1610, 1619, 1622, 1628, 1644	School, or Theater	Nicoletto Giganti	Scola, overo teatro (Nicoletto Giganti)
1606, 1619, 1622, 1624, 1672, 1676, 1713	The Science of Arms	Salvator Fabris	Scienza d’Arme (Salvator Fabris)
1607, 1608, 1609, 1610, 1619	The Exercise of Armes For Calivres, Muskettes, and Pikes		Wapenhandelinghe van Roers Musquetten ende Spiessen (Jacob de Gheyn II)
1608	The Second Book of Niccoletto Giganti	Nicoletto Giganti	Libro secondo (Nicoletto Giganti)
1609	The Complete Cavalier	Torquato d'Alessandri	Il Cavalier Compito (Torquato d'Alessandri)
1610	Discourse on Theory, Practice, and Excellence at Arms	André des Bordes	Discours de la théorie de la pratique et de l’excellence des armes (André des Bordes)
1610, 1629, 1632, 1652	Great Representation of the Art and Use of Fencing	Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli	Gran Simulacro dell'Arte e dell'Uso della Scherma (Ridolfo Capo Ferro da Cagli)
1611	A New Illustrated Fencing Manual on Rapier	Michael Hundt	Ein new Kůnstliches Fechtbuch im Rappier (Michael Hundt)
1611, 1612	New Illustrated Fencing Manual	Girolamo Cavalcabo Angelo Paternostraro	Neues Kunstliches Fechtbuch (Girolamo Cavalcabo)
1612, 1849	New Illustrated Fencing Manual	Jakob Sutor von Baden	New Kůnstliches Fechtbuch (Jakob Sutor von Baden)
1615, 1616, 1617, 1626, 1627, 1630, 1640, 1665	New Illustrated Fencing Manual	Sebastian Heußler	Neu Kunstlich Fechtbuch (Sebastian Heußler)
1617	The School of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence	Joseph Swetnam	The Schoole of the Noble and Worthy Science of Defence (Joseph Swetnam)
1618, 1625	On the Weapon-Handling of Nassau with Shield, Spear, Rapier, and Target	Adam van Breen	De Nassavsche Wapen-Handelinge (Adam van Breen)
1619, 1625, 1639, 1880	New Discourse on the Knightly and World- Renowned Art of Fencing	Joachim Köppe	Newer Discůrs Von der Rittermeszigen und Weitberůmbten Kůnst des Fechtens (Joachim Köppe)
1619, 1650	The Art-Rich Italian Fencing Art	Salvator Fabris	Des Kunstreichen Italiänische Fechtkunst (Salvator Fabris)
1620	Thorough and Proper Description of the Art of Fencing	Hans Wilhelm Schöffer von Dietz	Grůndtliche vñ eigentlichte Beschreibung der Fechtkunst (Hans Wilhelm Schöffer von Dietz)
1630, 1668	Academy of the Sword	Gérard Thibault d'Anvers	Academie de l'Espée (Gérard Thibault d'Anvers)
1638, 1641	The Banner of Francesco Fernando Alfieri	Francesco Fernando Alfieri	La Bandiera (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)
1639	Pallas Armata, the Gentleman's Armory	G. A.	Pallas Armata, the Gentlemans Armorie (G.A.)
1640	Objections and Admonishments on the Subject of Fencing	Jacopo Monesi	Opposizioni et Avvertimenti sopra la Scherma (Jacopo Monesi)
1640, 1646	The Fencing of Francesco Fernando Alfieri	Francesco Fernando Alfieri	La Scherma (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)
1641	The Pike of Francesco Fernando Alfieri	Francesco Fernando Alfieri	La Picca (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)
1641	The Practice of the Sword Governed by the Perfect Conception of Fencing	Terenziano Ceresa	L'Esercizio della spada regolato con la perfetta idea della scherma (Terenziano Ceresa)
1646	The Chivalric and Noble Art of Fencing	G. A.	Den Ridderlige og Adelige Fecht-Konstis (G.A)
1653	The Art of Handling the Sword Well	Francesco Fernando Alfieri	L'arte di ben maneggiare la spada (Francesco Fernando Alfieri)
1657, 1658, 1659	Brief Information About the Pike, the Flag, the Half-Pike, the Vaulting Horse, the Grapple, the Fence of Thrust and Blow, and Finally the Carving Knife	Johann Georg Pascha	Kurze Unterrichtung belangend die pique die Fahne, den Jägerstock, ... (Johann Georg Pascha)
1658, 1678	Short Though Thorough Instruction in Cut-fencing	Erhard Henning	Kurtze jedoch gründliche Unterrichtung vom Hieb-fechten (Erhard Henning)
1659	Brief but Thorough Information About the Pike, Pike Drills, the Flag, the Half-Pike, the Carving Knife, and Fencing with the Thrust and the Blow	Johann Georg Pascha	Kurtze doch Gründliche Unterrichtung den Pique, den Trillens in der Pique, ... (Johann Georg Pascha)
1660	The True Handling of the Sword	Alessandro Senese	Il vero maneggio di spada (Alessandro Senese)
1660	A Short but Thorough Description of Vaulting	Johann Georg Pascha	Kurtze iedoch gründliche Beschreibung des Voltiger (Johann Georg Pascha)
1660	Short Instructions for the Hunting Stick or Half-Pike	Johann Georg Pascha	Kurtze Anleitung des Jägerstocks oder Halbe Pique (Johann Georg Pascha)
1660, 1661	Short but Clear Description of the Pike-Play, as well as the Drills of the Pike	Johann Georg Pascha	Kurtze jedoch deutliche Beschreibung Des Pique (Johann Georg Pascha)
1661, 1664, 1666, 1667, 1678	Short but Clear Description Treating Fencing with the Thrust and Blow	Johann Georg Pascha	Kurze jedoch deutliche Beschreibung handelnd vom Fechten auf den Stoss und Hieb (Johann Georg Pascha)
1663, 1665	Complete Wrestling Manual	Johann Georg Pascha	Vollständiges Ring-Buch (Johann Georg Pascha)
1664, 1708	Clear Explanation of the Art of Fencing	Johann Daniel Lange	Deutliche Erklårung der Fechtkunst (Johann Daniel Lange)
1666, 1667, 1673, 1683	Complete Book of Fencing, Wrestling, and Vaulting	Johann Georg Pascha	Vollständiges Fecht- Ring- ûnd Voltigier-Bũch (Johann Georg Pascha)
1670	The True Principles of the Single Sword	Philibert de la Touche	Les Vrais Principes de l'Espée Seule (Philibert de la Touche)
1671, 1676	Thorough Description of the Noble and Knightly Fencing- or Weapon-Art	Johannes Georgius Bruchius	Grondige Beschryvinge van de Edele ende Ridderlijcke Scherm- ofte Wapen-Konste (Johannes Georgius Bruchius)
1673	Clearly Described and Differentiated Flag-Lessons, Divided into Eight Plays / In Addition the Play of the Pike, the Partisan, and the Half-Pike or Jägerstock	Johann Georg Pascha	Deutliche Beschreibung Unterschiedener Fahnen-Lectionen (Johann Georg Pascha)
1674, 1675, 1679, 1680, 1712, 1814	Clear Education in the Magnificent Art of Wrestling	Nicolaes Petter	Klare Onderrichtinge der Voortreffelijke Worstel-Konst (Nicolaes Petter)
1674, 1675, 1679 1814, 1887, 1969	The Artful Wrestler	Nicolaes Petter	Der künstliche Ringer (Nicolaes Petter)
1676, 1713	The Science and Practice of Arms	Salvator Fabris	Sienza e pratica d'arme (Salvator Fabris)
1679	The Artful Fencer	Theodori Verolini	Der Kůnstliche Fechter (Theodori Verolini)
1680, 1712	The Academy of the Admirable Art of Wrestling	Nicolaes Petter	L’Académie de l’admirable art de la Lutte (Nicolaes Petter)
1696	A Primer and light on the Verdadera Destreza	Nicolás Tamariz	Cartilla, y luz en la verdadera destreza (Nicolás Tamariz)
1711	The Master Art	Carlo Giuseppe Colombani	L'Arte maestra (Carlo Giuseppe Colombani)

Other relevant books

Year	Title	Author	Article
1512	Battle Force	Konrad Kyeser	Bellifortis (Konrad Kyeser)
1585	Dialogue on a Method for Entering Battle Quickly and Easily	Camillo Agrippa	Dialogo del Modo di Mettere in battaglia presto & con facilità (Camillo Agrippa)
1589	Honors and Praise to the Art of Fencing	Christoff Rösener	Ehrentitel und Lopspruch der Fechtkunst (Christoff Rösener)
1616	New Illustrated Flag-Waving Manual	Sebastian Heußler Johannes Renner	New Kůnstlich Fahnenbůchlein (Sebastian Heußler)