A fifteenthcentury manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat by hans talhoffer. His martial lineage is unknown, but his writings make it clear that he had some connection to the tradition of johannes liechtenauer, the grand master of the german school of fencing. Documentary about an illustrated medieval book fechtbuch on weapons and fighting, written in 1459 by hans talhoffer, kept in the royal library of denmark. Fight earnestly the fight book from 1459 ad by hans talhoffer transcription, translation and commentary by jeffrey hull the fechtbuch fight book from 1459 ad by hans talhoffer is truly an uncanny work. Hans talhoffer dalhover, talhouer, thalhoffer, talhofer, ca. Talhoffer s professional fencing manual of 1467 illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the judicial duel an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute and personal combat.
The talhoffer manuscript was in the possession of count otto thott, who was a danish prime minister and a famous collector of books and manuscripts. A journal of working in denmark for the national geographic channel program, medieval fight book, produced by wild dream films by john clements in october 2010, i was asked by the production company wild dream films to write a short blog about some of my experiences as fight master and historical consultant for their program on the 1459 edition of hans talhoffer s fightbook. Talhoffer sfechtbuchs or fight books survive in at least 3 editions. Hans talhoffers fight book, a sixteenthcentury manuscript about. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture. The oldest extant european martial arts manual is royal armouries ms. Wrestling, armored combat, fighting with pollaxesthese are just some of the topics covered in a rare sixteenthcentury copy of a fight book in the met collection that is attributed to hans talhoffer, a german combat expert who was active in the midfifteenth century. Talhoffer reveals the techniques for wrestling, unarmored fighting with the long sword, poleax, dagger, sword and buckler, and mounted combat. The gotha codex is one of the many remarkable fechtbuchs fight master hans talhoffer produced during his lifetime. Hans talhoffer dalhover, talhouer, thalhoffer, talhofer was a. However, if these protagonists are medieval knights or fencing masters, some modern authors.
Hans talhoffer dalhover, talhouer, thalhoffer, talhofer was a 15thcentury german fencing master. Hans talhoffer medieval combat a fifteenthcentury illustrated manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat translated and edited by mark rector foreword by john clements hans talhoffer greenhill books, london stackpole books, pennsylvania. In this edition of his work, the fight master opens a window for us to his world. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read medieval combat. His martial lineage is unknown, but his writings make it clear that he had some connection to. This is a reprint of hans talhoffers 15th century fechtbuch. Written by german fencing master hans talhoffer in 1467, this book illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the judicial duel an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute and.
Hans talhoffer s illustrated manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat from 1467 by talhoffer, hans and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He is the author of several fechtbucher, illustrated treatises describing methods of fighting with various weapons, including unarmed combat grappling, dagger, long sword, pole weapon s and mounted combat. Its an enigma, not so much for what it leaves in, but for what it leaves out. Medieval and early modern german terminology, may have missed a couple things.
Medieval combat, talhoffer abebooks shop for books. With pia bach, owen bush, jason alan carvell, jens christiansen. Few medieval european martial arts instruction books survived the middle ages. Lastly i wanted to express that, altough it has never been put down that hans talhoffer fought an duel, it is likely that he did. Nov 10, 20 hans talhoffer dalhover, talhouer, thalhoffer, talhofer was a 15thcentury german fencing master. Talhoffer reveals the techniques for wrestling, unarmored fighting with the long sword, poleaxe, dagger, sword and buckler, and mounted combat. Yet the biography of the historic hans talhofer also. Talhoffers medieval fight book blog historical fencing. Several years ago there were few medieval fencing treatises that were widely available to the public, and of those that were available, even fewer were translated into anything but their original language. Six illustrated originals of talhoffer s fight book are known to exist, spanning 24 years the oldest dates from 1443 and the youngest from 1467. Inspired by the famous swordsman and fencing master hans talhoffer. Medieval fight book the leather covered book dates to over 5 centuries ago, written in old german, illustrating war technology in middle aged europe.
A fifteenthcentury manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat. In 1467, talhoffer, a swabian fencing instructor, produced a lavishly illustrated fechtbuch fight book with 270 illuminations demonstrating techniques for nearly every weapon in the medieval knights arsenal, as well as techniques for judicial combats between nobles and between peasants. Hans talhoffer s professional fencing manual of 1467 illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the judicial duel an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute and personal batants in the middle ages used footwork, avoidance, and. The authentic fifteenthcentury techniques of master of arms hans talhoffer are illustrated in detail, presenting not only a unique historic record but also a visual guide for modern practitioners. Det er uvist, hvordan han har erhvervet sig viden om kamp, men hans v. Medieval fight book uses the thott 290 2 copy at denmarks royal library in copenhagen kongelige bibliotek. This brilliant and attractive book makes one of the most influential and lavishlydrawn fencing manuals of the middle ages available in english for the first time. This is a reprint of hans talhoffer s 15th century fechtbuch.
Hodges, university of oklahoma for the academy of european medieval martial arts. Hans talhoffer dalhover, talhouer, thalhoffer, talhofer was a german fencing master. This manual is based principally on talhoffers fechtbuch of 1467. Six illustrated originals of talhoffers fight book are known to exist, spanning 24 years the oldest dates from 1443 and the youngest from 1467. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Skirmish the first english translation of his remarkable howto. His martial lineage is unknown, but his writings make it clear that he had some connection to the tradition of johannes liechtenauer, the grand master of the medieval german school of fencing. German medieval sword of the fifteenth century with one hand. Hans talhoffer 1467 fight book part 1 of 2 youtube. Medieval combat, a 15th c illustrated manual of sword fighting and close quarter combat hans talhoffer. The bulk of this book is images of two combatants, their various moves, and a translation of the 15th. Includes sheath decorated with the cross of the knights templar. His martial lineage is unknown, but his writings make it clear that he had some connection to the tradition of johannes liechtenauer, the grand master of a wellknown medieval german school of fencing. Feb 27, 2018 would like to thank the guys on the hema discord, especially the server owner ry, who compiled this for the public. The authentic fifteenthcentury techniques of master of arms hans talhoffer are illustrated in detail, presenting not only a unique. Hans talhoffer also spelled talhofer was a fencingmaster in southern germany in the 15th century. Sep 05, 2017 talhoffer s fight book blog a journal of working in denmark for the national geographic channel program, medieval fight book. There were at least six manuscripts from talhoffer, generally referred to as fechtbucher plural for fechtbuch, or fight book.
A fifteenthcentury manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat by hans talhoffer isbn. Hans talhoffer s 1459 fightbook fechtbuch is one of medieval worlds most mysterious manuscripts, challenging the legends and myths that surrounded. Historical european martial arts german fechtbucher. His influential treatise, first produced in 1443, was reproduced many times. The most famous master at arms of the fifteenth century little is known about talhoffer s life. Talhoffer s fechtbuch aus dem jahre 1467 or fencing book of the year 1467 was reprinted in prague, 1887 by an officer in the austriahungarian empire by the name of gustave hergsell. Illustrations only manuals do not become extinct with the appearance of prose instructions, but rather exist alongside these, e. Two people are to be thanked for this fine book, mark rector, the translator and hans talhoffer, the medieval fencing master whose work is shown here for the first time in english. Academy of european medieval martial arts aemma hans talhoffer fechtbuch aus dem jahre 1467 the following document is the result of the efforts of a number of individuals within the aemma membership, including shawn hickey, scott walman and mike rasmusson. The fechtbuch fightbook from 1459 ad by hans talhoffer is truly an uncanny.
Hans talhoffer s professional fencing manual of 1467 illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the judicial duel an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute and personal batants in the middle ages used footwork, avoidance, and the ability to judge and manipulate timing and. Fight techniques fighting poses late middle ages 15th century fighting poses late middle ages 15th century. In medieval and renaissance europe, the art of fighting was usually divided into. Hans talhoffer wiktenauer insquequo omnes gratuiti fiant. Hans talhoffer talhoffer s professional fencing manual of 1467 illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the judicial duel an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute and personal combat. Talhoffers fechtbuch aus dem jahre 1467 or fencing book of the year 1467 was reprinted in prague, 1887 by an officer in the austriahungarian empire by the name of gustave hergsell. The mysterious fightmaster of the middle ages and the author of the mysterious medieval fight book. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country.
Hans talhoffer 1467 fight book part 2 of 2 youtube. Medieval combat a fifteenthcentury illustrated manual by. Hans talhoffer was a highly experienced fighter, and seeing these techniques illustrated really helps display the brutal and complex fighting styles of the time, as well as dismiss many of the myths of medieval combat, especially the idea that long swords are onehanded, or that greatswords are slow and clumsy. Although commonly dated to 1443the date attributed to it in the influential facsimile edition published by gustav hergsell in 18931448 is a more likely date for most of the content in the original manuscript. A rare manuscript in the metropolitan museum of arts collection is a prime example of this genre. The tome in reference fechtbuch was a fencing manual written in 1443 by hans talhoffer. Talhoffers fechtbuchgothaer codex aus dem jahre 1443. This reminded me so much of a medieval german comic. The fencing manual portion is largely textless and it may. Combatants in the middle ages used footwork, avoidance, and the ability to judge and manipulate timing and distance to exploit and enhance the swords. Among the best known of these works is that of hans talhoffer.
Hans was also an inventor, having written down instructions on several inventions that actually work like an medieval tank and an medieval diving suit. Written by german fencing master hans talhoffer in 1467, this book illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the judicial duel an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute and personal combat. His martial lineage is unknown, but his writings make it. Talhoffer s fechtbuch is primarily an illustrated work and much interpretation.
Medieval combat livros na amazon brasil 9781853677069. Talhoffer s fight book blog a journal of working in denmark for the national geographic channel program, medieval fight book. Hans talhoffer s professional fencing manual of 1467 illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the judicial duel an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute and personal combat. Hodges, university of oklahoma for the academy of european medieval. A fifteenthcentury manual of swordfighting and closequarter combat ebook written by hans talhoffer. Talhoffer s fechtbuch is primarily an illustrated work and much interpretation still needs to be done on his combat system. This unparalleled guide to medieval combat, illustrated with 268 contemporary images, provides a glimpse of real people fighting with skill, sophistication and. This manual is based principally on talhoffer s fechtbuch of 1467. The striking images sketched in this treatise illustrate the. Late middle ages medieval military sketches art sketch high middle ages kunst medieval military sketches art sketch high middle ages kunst. Hans talhoffer 1467 longsword combat self defense guides. Fechtbuch by hans talhoffer, c 1443 late middle ages. Talhoffer was a well educated man, who took interest in astrology, mathematics, onomastics, and the auctoritas.
Carbon steel blade, steel handle and handle and leathercoated handle. D history it is a common misconception that the combat in the medieval period was crude and haphazard, relying on brute strength over skill. Talhoffer was a welleducated man who took interest in astrology, mathematics, onomastics, and the. Fight earnestly association for renaissance martial arts. Talhoffer s this brilliant and attractive book makes one of the most influential and lavishlydrawn fencing manuals of the middle ages available in. The talhoffer manuscript was in the possession of count otto thott, who was a danish prime minister and a famous collector of books. Although commonly dated to 1443the date attributed to it in the influential. The fight books of hans talhof er between 1443 and 1467 ce, five.
Hans talhoffers fight book, a sixteenthcentury manuscript. Talhoffer was following a tradition established by. Talhoffersfechtbuchs or fight books survive in at least 3 editions. Iscriviti a prime film e tv vai ricerca ciao, accedi. Medieval combat hans talhoffer bok 9781853677069 bokus. Talhoffer was a well educated man who took interest in astrology, mathematics, onomastics, and the. Dec 31, 2000 hans talhoffer was a highly experienced fighter, and seeing these techniques illustrated really helps display the brutal and complex fighting styles of the time, as well as dismiss many of the myths of medieval combat, especially the idea that long swords are onehanded, or that greatswords are slow and clumsy. Hans talhoffer dalhover, talhouer, thalhoffer, talhofer was a 15th century german fencing master. This unparalleled guide to medieval combat, illustrated with 268 contemporary images, provides a glimpse of real people fighting with skill, sophistication and ruthlessness. This authentic contemporary guide to medieval combat is a must for reenactors engaging in close combat.