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{{infobox writer
+
{{Infobox writer
| name                = Joachim Meÿer
+
| name                = Salvator Fabris
| image                = file:Joachim Meyer.png
+
| image                = File:Salvator Fabris.png
| imagesize            = 250px
+
| imagesize            = 200px
| caption              =  
+
| caption              =  
  
| pseudonym            =  
+
| pseudonym            =  
| birthname            =  
+
| birthname            =  
| birthdate            = ca. 1537
+
| birthdate            = 1544
| birthplace          = Basel, Germany
+
| birthplace          = Padua, Italy
| deathdate            = 24 February 1571 (aged 34)
+
| deathdate            = 11 Nov 1618 (aged 74)
| deathplace          = Schwerin, Germany
+
| deathplace          = Padua, Italy
| resting_place        =  
+
| resting_place        =  
| occupation          = {{plainlist | Cutler | [[Freifechter]] }}
+
| occupation          = {{plainlist
| language            = [[Early New High German]]
+
| Assassin (?)
| nationality          =  
+
| [[Fencing master]]
| ethnicity            =  
+
}}
| citizenship          = Strasbourg
+
| language            = [[Italian]]
| education            =  
+
| nationality          = [[Italian]]
| alma_mater          =  
+
| ethnicity            =  
| patron              = {{collapsible list
+
| citizenship          =  
  | title = List of patrons
+
| education            =  
  | 1    = Johann Albrecht
+
| alma_mater          = University of Padua (?)
  | 2    = Johann Casimir
+
| patron              = {{plainlist
  | 3    = Heinrich von Eberst
+
| Christianus Ⅳ of Denmark
  | 4    = Otto von Sulms
+
  | Johan Frederik of Schleswig-Holstein-<br/>Gottorp
}}
+
}}
  | period              =
 
| genre                = [[Fencing manual]]
 
| subject              =
 
| movement            = [[Freifechter]]
 
| notableworks        = ''[[Gründtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens (Joachim Meÿer)|Gründtliche Beschreibung der <br/>Kunst des Fechtens]]'' (1570)
 
| manuscript(s)        = {{plainlist | [[Joachim Meyers Fäktbok (MS A.4º.2)|MS A.4º.2]] (1560s) | [[Treatises/Manuscript purgatory|Lost manuscript]] (1561) | [[Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss (MS Var.82)|MS Varia 82]] (1563-70) }}
 
| principal manuscript(s)=
 
| first printed edition= [[Jeffrey L. Forgeng|Forgeng]], 2006
 
| wiktenauer compilation by=[[Michael Chidester]]
 
  
| spouse               = Appolonia Ruhlman
+
| period               =  
| partner              =
+
| genre                = [[Fencing manual]]
| children            =
+
| subject              =  
| relatives            =
+
| movement            =  
| influences          = {{collapsible list
+
| notableworks        = ''[[Scienza d’Arme (Salvator Fabris)|Scienza d’Arme]]'' (1601-06)
  | title = List of influences
+
| manuscript(s)        = {{collapsible list
  | 1    = [[Pseudo-Peter von Danzig]]
+
| [[Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme (GI.kgl.Saml.1868.4040)|GI.kgl.Saml.1868.4040]] (1601)
  | 2    = [[Johannes Lecküchner]]
+
| [[La Scientia della Spada (MS KB.73.J.38)|MS KB.73.J.38]] (1600-09)
  | 3    = [[Johannes Liechtenauer]]
+
  | [[Figures nues, positions d'escrime à l'épée (MS 17)|MS 17]] (1600-20)
  | 4    = [[Achille Marozzo]]
+
  | [[Fechtkunst aus dem Italienischen (MS Dresd.C.94a)|MS Dresd.C.94a]] (ca. 1635)
  | 5    = [[Andre Paurñfeyndt]]
 
  | 6    = [[Sigmund Schining ein Ringeck]]
 
  | 7    = [[Martin Syber]]
 
}}
 
  | influenced          = {{plainlist | [[Michael Hundt]] | [[Jakob Sutor von Baden]] | [[Theodori Verolini]] }}
 
  | awards              =
 
| signature            = [[File:Joachim Meyer sig.jpg|150px]]
 
| website              =
 
| translations        = {{plainlist | {{Dutch translation|http://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Joachim_Me%C3%BFer/Dutch|1}} | {{French translation|http://ardamhe.wordpress.com/2014/08/25/lepee-longue-selon-joachim-meyer/|1}} | {{Italian translation|http://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bxqzt-jcOCFsS01GVFRXZWZPc1U/edit|1}} }}
 
| below                =
 
 
}}
 
}}
{{foreignchar|Joachim Meyer|ÿ}}
+
| principal manuscript(s)=
'''Joachim Meÿer''' (ca. 1537 - 1571) was a [[century::16th century]] [[nationality::German]] [[Freifechter]] and [[fencing master]]. He was the last great figure in the tradition of the German grand master [[Johannes Liechtenauer]], and in the last years of his life he devised at least three distinct and quite extensive [[fencing manual]]s. Meÿer's writings incorporate both the traditional Germanic technical syllabus and contemporary systems that he encountered in his travels, including the Italian school of side sword fencing. In addition to his fencing practice, Meÿer was a Burgher and a master cutler.
+
| first printed edition=
 +
| wiktenauer compilation by=
  
Meÿer was born in Basel, where he presumably apprenticed as a cutler. He writes in his books that he traveled widely in his youth, most likely a reference to the traditional Walz that journeyman craftsmen were required to take before being eligible for mastery and membership in a guild. Journeymen were often sent to stand watch and participate in town and city militias (a responsibility that would have been amplified for the warlike cutlers' guild), and Meÿer learned a great deal about foreign fencing systems during his travels. It's been speculated by some fencing historians that he trained specifically in the Bolognese school of fencing, but this doesn't stand up to closer analysis.
+
| spouse              =
 +
| partner              =
 +
| children            =
 +
| relatives            =
 +
| influences          =
 +
| influenced          = {{plainlist
 +
| [[Sebastian Heußler]]
 +
| [[Hans Wilhelm Schöffer von Dietz]]
 +
}}
 +
| awards              = ''Supremus Eques'' of the Order of the Seven Hearts
 +
| signature            =
 +
| website              =
 +
| translations        =
 +
| below                =
 +
}}
 +
'''Salvator Fabris''' (Salvador Fabbri, Salvator Fabriz, Fabrice; 1544-1618) was a 16th – 17th century [[Italian]] knight and [[fencing master]]. He was born in or around Padua, Italy in 1544, and although little is known about his early years, he seems to have studied fencing from a young age and possibly attended the prestigious University of Padua. The French master [[Henry de Sainct Didier]] recounts a meeting with an Italian fencer named "Fabrice" during the course of preparing his treatise (completed in 1573) in which they debated fencing theory, potentially placing Fabris in France in the early 1570s. In the 1580s, Fabris corresponded with Christian Barnekow, a Danish nobleman with ties to the royal court as well as an alumnus of the university. It seems likely that Fabris traveled a great deal during the 1570s and 80s, spending time in France, Germany, Spain, and possibly other regions before returning to teach at his alma mater.
  
Records show that by 4 June 1560 he had settled in Strasbourg, where he married Appolonia Ruhlman (Ruelman) and joined the Cutler's Guild. His interests had already moved beyond knife-smithing, however, and in 1561, Meÿer petitioned the City Council of Strasbourg for the right to hold a [[Fechtschule]] (fencing competition). He would repeat this in 1563, 1566, 1567 and 1568; the 1568 petition is the external record in which he identifies himself as a fencing master.
+
It is unclear if Fabris himself was of noble birth, but at some point he seems to have earned a knighthood. In fact, he is described in his treatise as ''Supremus Eques'' ("Supreme Knight") of the Order of the Seven Hearts. In Johann Joachim Hynitzsch's introduction to the 1676 edition, he identifies Fabris as a Colonel of the Order. It seems therefore that he was not only a knight of the Order of the Seven Hearts, but rose to a high rank and perhaps even overall leadership.
  
Meÿer wrote his first manuscript ([[Joachim Meyers Fäktbok (MS A.4º.2)|MS A.4º.2]]) in either 1560 or 1568 for Otto Count von Sulms, Minzenberg, and Sonnenwaldt. Its contents seem to be a series of lessons on training with [[longsword]], [[dussack]], and [[side sword]] ([[rapier]]). His second manuscript ([[Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss (MS Var.82)|MS Var.82]]), written between 1563 and 1570 for Heinrich Graf von Eberst, is of a decidedly different nature. Like many fencing manuscripts from the previous century, it is an anthology of treatises by a number of prominent German masters including [[Sigmund Schining ein Ringeck]], [[pseudo-Peter von Danzig]], and [[Martin Syber]], and also includes a brief outline by Meyer himself on a system of side sword fencing based on German [[Messer]] teachings. Finally, on 24 February 1570 Meÿer completed (and soon thereafter published) an enormous multiweapon treatise entitled ''[[Gründtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens (Joachim Meÿer)|Gründtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens]]'' ("A Thorough Description of the Art of Combat"); it was dedicated to Johann Casimir, Count Palatine of the Rhine, and illustrated at the workshop of [[Tobias Stimmer]].
+
Fabris' whereabouts in the 1590s are uncertain, but there are rumors. In 1594, he may have been hired by King Sigismund of Poland to assassinate his uncle Karl, a Swedish duke and competitor for the Swedish crown. According to the story, Fabris participated in a sword dance (or possibly a dramatic play) with a sharp sword and was to slay Karl during the performance when the audience was distracted. (The duke was warned and avoided the event, saving his life.) In ca. 1599, Fabris may have been invited to England by noted playwright William Shakespeare to choreograph the fight scenes in his premier of ''Hamlet''. He also presumably spent considerable time in the 1590s developing the [[fencing manual]] that would guarantee his lasting fame.
  
Unfortunately, Meÿer's writing and publication efforts incurred significant debts (about 1300 crowns), which Meÿer pledged to repay by Christmas of 1571. Late in 1570, Meÿer accepted the position of Fechtmeister to Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg at his court in Schwerin. There Meÿer hoped to sell his book for a better price than was offered locally (30 florins). Meÿer sent his books ahead to Schwerin, and left from Strasbourg on 4 January 1571 after receiving his pay. He traveled the 500 miles to Schwerin in the middle of a harsh winter, arriving at the court on 10 February 1571. Two weeks later, on 24 February, Joachim Meÿer died. The cause of his death is unknown, possibly disease or pneumonia.
+
What is certain is that by 1598, Fabris had left his position at the University of Padua and was attached to the court of Johan Frederik, the young duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. He continued in the duke's service until 1601, and as a parting gift prepared a lavishly-illustrated, three-volume manuscript of his treatise entitled ''Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme'' ([[Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme (GI.kgl.Saml.1868.4040)|GI.kgl.Saml.1868 4040]]).
  
Antoni Rulman, Appolonia’s brother, became her legal guardian after Joachim’s death. On 15 May 1571, he had a letter written by the secretary of the Strasbourg city chamber and sent to the Duke of Mecklenburg stating that Antoni was now the widow Meÿer’s guardian; it politely reminded the Duke who Joachim Meÿer was, Meÿer’s publishing efforts and considerable debt, requested that the Duke send Meÿer’s personal affects and his books to Appolonia, and attempted to sell some (if not all) of the books to the Duke.
+
<noinclude>In 1601, Fabris was hired as chief [[rapier]] instructor to the court of Christianus Ⅳ, King of Denmark and Duke Johan Frederik's cousin. He ultimately served in the royal court for five years; toward the end of his tenure and at the king's insistence, he published his opus under the title ''Sienza e Pratica d’Arme'' ("Science and Practice of Arms") or ''De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme'' ("On Defense, or the Science of Arms"). Christianus funded this first edition and placed his court artist, [[Jan van Halbeeck]], at Fabris' disposal to illustrate it; it was ultimately published in Copenhagen on 25 September 1606.
  
Appolonia remarried in April 1572 to another cutler named Hans Kuele, bestowing upon him the status of Burgher and Meÿer's substantial debts. Joachim Meÿer and Hans Kuele are both mentioned in the minutes of Cutlers' Guild archives; Kuele may have made an impression if we can judge that fact by the number of times he is mentioned. It is believed that Appolonia and either her husband or her brother were involved with the second printing of his book in 1600. According to other sources, it was reprinted yet again in 1610 and in 1660.
+
Soon after the text was published, and perhaps feeling his 62 years, Fabris asked to be released from his six-year contract with the king so that he might return home. He traveled through northern Germany and was in Paris, France, in 1608. Ultimately, he received a position at the University of Padua and there passed his final years. He died of a fever on 11 November 1618 at the age of 74, and the town of Padua declared an official day of mourning in his honor. In 1676, the town of Padua erected a statue of the master in the Chiesa del Santo.
  
The Fechtschule of Joachim Meÿer in Strasbourg, a thriving school of fence equal to many others in Germany at the time, was taken over during the Acquisition of Strasbourg by Louis XIV in 1681; it was turned into the "Academie de Arms" and essentially absorbed into the French school of fence.
+
The importance of Fabris' work can hardly be overstated. Versions of his treatise were reprinted for over a hundred years, and translated into German at least four times as well as French and Latin. He is almost universally praised by later masters and fencing historians, and through the influence of his students and their students (most notably [[Hans Wilhelm Schöffer]]), he became the dominant figure in German fencing throughout the 17th century and into the 18th.
  
([[Joachim Meÿer|Read more]]...)
+
</noinclude>([[Salvator Fabris|Read more]])
  
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Revision as of 21:15, 23 May 2022

Salvator Fabris
Born 1544
Padua, Italy
Died 11 Nov 1618 (aged 74)
Padua, Italy
Occupation
Nationality Italian
Alma mater University of Padua (?)
Patron
  • Christianus Ⅳ of Denmark
  • Johan Frederik of Schleswig-Holstein-
    Gottorp
Influenced
Genres Fencing manual
Language Italian
Notable work(s) Scienza d’Arme (1601-06)
Manuscript(s)

Salvator Fabris (Salvador Fabbri, Salvator Fabriz, Fabrice; 1544-1618) was a 16th – 17th century Italian knight and fencing master. He was born in or around Padua, Italy in 1544, and although little is known about his early years, he seems to have studied fencing from a young age and possibly attended the prestigious University of Padua. The French master Henry de Sainct Didier recounts a meeting with an Italian fencer named "Fabrice" during the course of preparing his treatise (completed in 1573) in which they debated fencing theory, potentially placing Fabris in France in the early 1570s. In the 1580s, Fabris corresponded with Christian Barnekow, a Danish nobleman with ties to the royal court as well as an alumnus of the university. It seems likely that Fabris traveled a great deal during the 1570s and 80s, spending time in France, Germany, Spain, and possibly other regions before returning to teach at his alma mater.

It is unclear if Fabris himself was of noble birth, but at some point he seems to have earned a knighthood. In fact, he is described in his treatise as Supremus Eques ("Supreme Knight") of the Order of the Seven Hearts. In Johann Joachim Hynitzsch's introduction to the 1676 edition, he identifies Fabris as a Colonel of the Order. It seems therefore that he was not only a knight of the Order of the Seven Hearts, but rose to a high rank and perhaps even overall leadership.

Fabris' whereabouts in the 1590s are uncertain, but there are rumors. In 1594, he may have been hired by King Sigismund of Poland to assassinate his uncle Karl, a Swedish duke and competitor for the Swedish crown. According to the story, Fabris participated in a sword dance (or possibly a dramatic play) with a sharp sword and was to slay Karl during the performance when the audience was distracted. (The duke was warned and avoided the event, saving his life.) In ca. 1599, Fabris may have been invited to England by noted playwright William Shakespeare to choreograph the fight scenes in his premier of Hamlet. He also presumably spent considerable time in the 1590s developing the fencing manual that would guarantee his lasting fame.

What is certain is that by 1598, Fabris had left his position at the University of Padua and was attached to the court of Johan Frederik, the young duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. He continued in the duke's service until 1601, and as a parting gift prepared a lavishly-illustrated, three-volume manuscript of his treatise entitled Scientia e Prattica dell'Arme (GI.kgl.Saml.1868 4040).

In 1601, Fabris was hired as chief rapier instructor to the court of Christianus Ⅳ, King of Denmark and Duke Johan Frederik's cousin. He ultimately served in the royal court for five years; toward the end of his tenure and at the king's insistence, he published his opus under the title Sienza e Pratica d’Arme ("Science and Practice of Arms") or De lo Schermo, overo Scienza d’Arme ("On Defense, or the Science of Arms"). Christianus funded this first edition and placed his court artist, Jan van Halbeeck, at Fabris' disposal to illustrate it; it was ultimately published in Copenhagen on 25 September 1606.

Soon after the text was published, and perhaps feeling his 62 years, Fabris asked to be released from his six-year contract with the king so that he might return home. He traveled through northern Germany and was in Paris, France, in 1608. Ultimately, he received a position at the University of Padua and there passed his final years. He died of a fever on 11 November 1618 at the age of 74, and the town of Padua declared an official day of mourning in his honor. In 1676, the town of Padua erected a statue of the master in the Chiesa del Santo.

The importance of Fabris' work can hardly be overstated. Versions of his treatise were reprinted for over a hundred years, and translated into German at least four times as well as French and Latin. He is almost universally praised by later masters and fencing historians, and through the influence of his students and their students (most notably Hans Wilhelm Schöffer), he became the dominant figure in German fencing throughout the 17th century and into the 18th.

(Read more…)

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