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Johannes Lecküchner

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Johannes Lecküchner
Born ca. 1430s
Nuremberg, Germany
Died December 31, 1482
Herzogenaurach, Germany
Occupation Fencing master
Priest
Alma mater University of Leipzig
Influences Johannes Liechtenauer (?)
Genres Fencing manual
Language Early New High German
Notable work(s) Kunst des Messerfechtens
Archetype(s) Cod.Pal.germ. 430 (1478)
Cgm 582 (1482)
Manuscript(s)
Concordance by Michael Chidester
Signature Johannes Lecküchner Sig.jpg
Edition.jpg
French Translation.png
German Translation.png
Polish Translation.png

Johannes Lecküchner (or Hans Lebkommer; ca. 1430s – 1482) was a 15th century German cleric and fencing master. He was born in the Nuremberg area, and in 1455 he was inscribed at the University of Leipzig. In 1457, he received the title of baccalaureus, and he was consecrated as a Catholic acolyte in 1459. At some point before creating his first manuscript in 1478, Lecküchner was consecrated as a priest. From 1480 until his death on December 31, 1482, he was employed as a communal priest in Herzogenaurach, Germany.[1] Lecküchner dedicated his fencing manual to Philip "the Upright" of Wittelsbach, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, but the nature of his connection to the duke remains unclear.[2]

Some 19th century scholars assumed that Lecküchner's name was a corruption of "Liechtenauer" and a reference to Johannes Liechtenauer, the grand master of the primary German longsword tradition. However, biographical information from historical records, as well as the colophon in the manuscript itself, thoroughly disproves this theory. Lecküchner's system of Messer fencing does, however, seem to be related in some way to the longsword teachings of Liechtenauer from the previous century. His teachings are organized in a similar fashion using similar terminology, and often his epitome is nearly identical to that of Liechtenauer.

Two autograph copies of Lecküchner's treatise, entitled Kunst des Messerfechtens ("The Art of Messer Fencing"), are preserved: the Codex Palatine German 430, completed in 1478, and the Cgm 582, completed on 19 January 1482 (the year of his death).[3] The Cgm 582 mentions in the last paragraph that a previous draft had been produced, which is presumed to be a reference to the CPG 430. Despite the Cgm 582 being the more extensive and elaborate of the two, it is the CPG 430 that seems to be the source for all later repetitions of Lecküchner's teachings. A slightly abridged version of this treatise (probably based on a lost intermediary) was included by Hans von Speyer in the MS M.I.29 in 1491, and similar (but not identical) abridged versions were reproduced by Gregor Erhart in 1533, Paulus Hector Mair in the 1540s, and David Lienhart Sollinger in 1556.

Preceding the treatises of Lecküchner and Liechtenauer in the MS M.I.29 are brief notes by a Magister Andreas explaining equivalences in concepts and terminology between the two,[4] perhaps indicating that by this time Lecküchner's teachings had been integrated into the Liechtenauer school of fencing. This notion is further supported by the appearance of Lecküchner's epitome alongside Liechtenauer's in Marxbrüder captain Peter Falkner's treatise of ca. 1495.

One final note of interest is that in 1531, printer Christian Egenolff published a fencing anthology entitled Der Altenn Fechter anfengliche kunst, and included in it a brief treatise on the Messer attributed to Master Hans Lebkommer. This is likely a misspelling or alternate rendering of "Lecküchner" given that the text appears to be a brief summary of Lecküchner's teachings, intermingled with the Messer teachings of Andre Paurñfeyndt (uncredited).

Treatise

Lecküchner's two manuscripts contain a number of substantial differences, some of which can be interpreted as corrections in the later edition and others which are less explicable. In this compilation, we've merged the translations of both texts and selected in most cases the longest or most detailed description available. While we judge that this will be of the most use to the practitioner, readers interested in a deeper cut should go straight to the source and read the original PDF prepared by Grzegorz Żabiński, Russell A. Mitchell, and Falko Fritz (see the sidebar); this excellent document not only separates out the two translations wherever the texts differ but also offers original transcriptions of both as well as a lengthy introduction to give them greater context.

Additional Resources

References

  1. Julia and Carsten Lorbeer (in German). "Johannes Lecküchner - der fechtende Pfarrer". Ochs: Historische Kampfkünst e.V., 2002. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  2. Fencing master Ludwig VI von Eyb was a powerful noble in service to Philip from 1499 to 1504 (and possibly longer), but his writings demonstrate no connection to or awareness of those of Lecküchner.
  3. The Cgm 582 states on folio 216v that "This material was composed by the Reverend Johannes Lecküchner, at that time of the parish in Herzogenaurach, in the year of our Lord 1478, but this book was written and completed in the 82nd year on the eve of St. Sebastian." (Composita est materia illa per domine Johanne Lecküchner tunc tempore plebanus jn Hertzogaurach Anno domini M°CCCC° septuagesimo octauo sed iste librum Scriptum est et completus Anno 8° secundo jn vigilia sancti Sebastiani).
  4. Hans von Speyer. Untitled [manuscript]. MS M.I.29. Salzburg, Austria: Universitätsbibliothek Salzburg, 1491. ff 5r-7r
  5. recept = Rezept ( Hennig, S263 )
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 oder
  7. In the left margin in the page is an unknown character, perhaps from where the scribe started too far to the left.
  8. Cgm 582 continues differently: "If he displaces the thrust aside, go high to the other side to the other peak under his right arm on the chest. In case he follows the thrust, work to the next opening that you can find."
  9. schalt = Schwung ( Hennig, S279 )
  10. The word “seitten” was added later.
  11. The CPG 430 reverses the edges, binding with the short edge and striking with the long edge.
  12. The CPG 430 instructs to hold the long edge up and to execute the strike thus: "wind the hilt of the Messer under your arm and strike to him with the long edge to his Messer and turn the blunt edge to his head"
  13. vmb süst = umsonst; sus = sunst ( Baufeld, S231 )
  14. The writer probably intended to write “deinem”
  15. geschrieben
  16. The word “pist“ was added later.
  17. Sa alt. von sar = gleich darauf, alsbald sodann ( either alone or compounded by words of similar expressions ) ( Lexer, S205 ) end = ehe, bevor ( Lexer, S43 )
  18. The word “zehenden” is written in another script: according to the list on 6r the tenth element is “hend drucken” and the eleventh is “ablauffen” and on 26v the tenth element is “nachraysen.” Maybe this note was done by Lecküchner himself for the new version of his teaching, as recorded in his manuscript from 1482?
  19. The writer first attempted to write the correct word above "vbersich", but then crossed it out
  20. handt hab
  21. 21.0 21.1 See Matthew, 7: 6
  22. "linck[e]n" is a side note for the crossed out "recht[e]n"
  23. CPG 430: his
  24. CPG 430: above
  25. CPG 430: below
  26. Word is misspelled.
  27. 27.0 27.1 Wort könnte von sambalde kommen = alsbald ( Hennig, S276 ) or sam = als ( Hennig, S275 )
  28. Könnte von senen = ersehnen kommen ( Lexer, S225 )
  29. The writer probably intended to write "Messer".
  30. Should read "In".
  31. "ge-" can occur before all forms of the verb to complete or enhance the action ( Lexer, S60 )
    rucke, rücke, ze ruck = zurück, nach hinten
  32. "tener" or "tenner" means a lack of armor protecting the palm. (Baufeld, S50)
  33. Sa alt. von sar = gleich darauf, alsbald sodann ( either alone or compounded bywords of similar expressions ) ( Lexer, S205 )
  34. end = ehe, bevor ( Lexer, S43 )
  35. For armoured combat of Andreas Lignitzer see von Danzig, 73r-79v. This teaching was copied (with some omissions) by Lew Jud, see Lew, 70r-83v. A technique based on a similar principle is featured in Lew, 79v-80r.
  36. gefast
  37. The character could represent a link to another page on which this F can be seen. This method the writer has also been applied to other sites.
  38. pinden = binden, fesseln ( Baufeld, S34 )
  39. kostlich = kostspielig, aufwendig ( Hennig, S190 )
  40. The word actually looks like "knorren".
  41. mug = mag
  42. dast könnte von dasten = tasten kommen ( Hennig, S51 ).
  43. vber seyn danc = Gegen seinen Willen ( Hennig, S50 )
  44. Should be "deyn"
  45. A small cross between “inbendigs” and “zu” indicates that "gewappe[n] on the side of the page belongs here.
  46. vahen = greifen, fassen, einfangen ( Lexer, S310 )
  47. weifen = fuchteln, schwingen, schwencken ( Grimm, Bd 28, Sp. 632, 5 )
  48. Haspel [Garnwinde] ( Hennig, S147 )
  49. doch
  50. After "auch" there is a symbol, but no corresponding note.
  51. zäumen = gefangen nehmen ( Baufeld, S254 )
  52. "Item" was added later.
  53. albeg(en), alleweg = 1. immer, immer noch 2. überall (Baufeld, S6)
  54. abenteuerlich = ausgefallen, nicht alltäglich (Baufeld, S1)
  55. straufen = 1. die Haut abziehen, abstreifen 2. streuen. ( Baufeld, S228)
  56. durchwechseln
  57. plüpflich = plötzlich ( J.A. Schmeller, Bayerisches Wörterbuch, I,460 )
  58. Should be "seynem"
  59. Scribe probably meant to write "zu".
  60. Cgm 582 instead states the following: Here the master speaks about the thrusting through from above and they are to be performed with great prudence and close to the man, so that you do not fail in them. Now, do him this way: go to the man with your Entrüsthau to his left side and strike then around to the right side. Then, wind the weak of your Messer above his Messer to his left side and go through below his arm again to his right side, and fall with your left hand in the middle of the blade of your Messer, and press with it outside in the joint of his arm and elbow. Then, turn your left side to his right one, and press with the left hand from above quickly downwards, and with the right one at the bind, and raise his hand up. This way he is clenched.
  61. "d" is written over "s" to turn "seyne[m]" into "deyne[m]".
  62. Symbol which indicates that the text will be continued on the next page. The symbol looks similar to "qd", standing for quondam (Cappelli, S306).
  63. Symbol indicating that the text will be continued from the previous page. This looks different from the symbol on the previous page.
  64. The letter "f" has been written over a "g".
  65. These letters at the beginning of the paragraphs (B here and A on 158r) seem to indicate that the order of the paragraphs should be reversed, i.e., the content from 158r should be followed by that from 157r. This corresponds to the sequence of these techniques in Cod. Pal. Germ. 430. This may be related to the way in which the manuscript was written, as in all probability the manuscript was first illustrated and then provided with the text.
  66. Along with the letter A, which can be found on page 158r, this B indicates that the two sides have been swapped. The images have been switched accordingly in this composite.
  67. Along with the letter B, which can be found on page 157v, this A indicates that the two sides have been swapped. The images have been switched accordingly in this composite.
  68. prangen = prangen, glänzen (Hennig, S256)
  69. beiten = warten, zögern (Hennig, S24)
  70. A bird is painted on the left margin, near the beginning of the gloss. There are two pairs of fighters presenting two phases of the technique. Another bird is painted next to one of these pairs.
  71. Cgm 582 text: Here the master states a breaking against the counter-breaking. You should understand it this way: if he wants to take your Messer and grab with his left hand from above on your bind, and pushes your Messer down to your left side, and wants to take your Messer, “simultaneously” grab with your left hand in his left one, and pull firmly downwards to your left side. Then, strike your right arm from above over his left one, and go down through the same arm with your right hand, and swing well to your left side, and throw him over your right foot, as it is depicted below.
  72. A symbol () crossed with three vertical lines, a reference to a margin note with another script, the same hand
  73. A symbol )( crossed with three vertical lines, a reference to a margin note with another script, the same hand
  74. At the bottom of the page is the elaborate letter B, and on the following, the letter A (164v). In Cpg 430, these are located in the reverse order. This error suggests that the artist has swapped the pictures and allows the conclusion that the drawings have been received before the text in the manuscript. This has been corrected in this composite.
  75. gen = geben ( Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Willhelm Grimm,Bd. 5, Sp. 3342,21 )
  76. gereicht zur Ehre
  77. poß = böse ( Baufeld, S39 )
  78. teding kommt von tedinc = (Zwei-)kampf ( Henning, S236 ), dinc = ding ( Baufeld, S52 ). tedingen = strafen, büßen ( Baufeld, S49 )
  79. nindert = keinesfalls, keineswegs, nirgendwo ( Hennig, S243 )
  80. The writer apparently meant to start with a "v".
  81. zäumen = gefangen nehmen ( Baufeld, S254 )
  82. Letter crossed out at the end of the word.
  83. leme = Lähmung ( Hennig, S204 )
  84. scharpff
  85. vürbaz = weiter, darüber hinaus ( Hennig, S448 )
  86. verworfen
  87. gagen = gegen : räumlich hin, zu, nach etwas ( Lexer, S59/S63 )
  88. Unnecessary repetition, a scribe’s mistake.
  89. stich
  90. graffeln = grabschen, greifen ( Hennig, S138 )
  91. Under the number is "HC".
  92. Added by a later hand.