Your browser does not support the PubReader view.
Go to this page to see a list of supporting browsers.
국제무예학회 학술지영문홈페이지
[ Article ]
International Journal of Martial Arts - Vol. 8, No. 0, pp.43-68
ISSN: 2287-8599 (Online)
Print publication date 28 Feb 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.51222/injoma.2023.03.8.43

Historical European Martial arts in the spectrum of Martial Arts. Part 2: The use of the buckler in different fencing treatises in the Middle Ages and the early period of early modern Europe: a scoping review of literature

Sean Wauters
Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussel, Martial Arts Research and Studie, Beigemsesteenweg 304,1852,Beigem, Belguim

Correspondence to: Seanwauters@gmail.com; +32 496 840 715

Abstract

Introduction: Medieval and early modern sword and buckler fencing treatises of the “German” tradition or systems are often vague and incomplete. Few treatises are fully dedicated to it. Often they combine many different weapons such as grappling, dagger, onehanded or two-handed sword and pole arms. Methods: Scoping narrative review of medieval and the first period of the early modern age (renaissance) treatises in the “German” style of fencing, mainly Liechtenauer Tradition combining and reviewing different sword and buckler sources. Results: Several fencing treatises and manuscripts deal with the use of the sword and buckler, yet none of them explain the complete system. Fecht1 is the only one that is fully dedicated to the subject (100%). Others like the Liechtenauer treatises (Ms.3227a, Cod44.a.8, MS Dresd.C.487, Cod I.6.4.3°), Paulus Kal (CGM.1507, Ms.1825, Ms.KK5126), Talhoffer (Cod.icon.394a, Ms.Thott.290.2°), Durer (Ms.26-232) and others (Ms.B.26, Ms.Cl.23842, Libr.Pict.A.83, Cod.Guelf.78.2.Aug.2) vary between a ratio of less than 1% to 13% (mean= 4.6%), all lacking deep explanations sometimes even no explanations at all. Some manuscripts combine the use of the buckler with (presuming) the one-handed arming sword (Cod.44.a.8, Cod.I.6.4.3°, Cod.icon.394a, Ms.Thott.290.2°; Ms.B.26, Ms.Cl.23842, Libr.Pict.A.83, Codex Guelf.78.2.Aug.2), the messer (Cod.icon.394a, Ms.Thott.290.2°; Ms.26-232) or long-hilted sword (CGM.1507). Many of the treatises seem to be copies of each other (CGM.1507, Ms.1825 & Ms.KK5126; Ms.CL.23842 & Ms.B.26; Cod.44a8, Cod.I.6.4°.3, Ms.KK5126, Ms.Dresd.C.487, Ms.E.1939.65.341 & Ms.Var. 82). Concussion: Several medieval and early modern manuscripts and sources deal with the use of the sword in conjunction with the buckler yet none of them are either complete. This can be either in terms of a finished manuscript or complete in terms of technical explanations. For the interpretation and analyzation of sword and buckler fencing several manuscripts might have to be combined. More research is necessary.

Keywords:

Historical European Martial Arts, Historical Fencing, Sword and buckler, Liechtenauer, Lignitzer, Leckuchner, Durer, Fecht1

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank mr Herbert Schmidt for his contribution, help and peer review, as well as Oskar ter Mors for his help. Special thanks to L.C., V.L.W, and V.P.W.

This work was done in collaboration with Martial Arts Research and Studies. There was no funding for this project.

References

  • "Berlin Picture Book Libr.Pict.A.83". (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from:https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Berlin_Picture_Book_(Libr.Pict.A.83), .
  • "CGM 1507" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Paulus_Kal_Fechtbuch_(Cgm_1507), .
  • "Cluney Fechtbuch Cl 23842" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Cluny_Fechtbuch_(Cl._23842), .
  • "Cod. Guelf. 78. 2 Aug. 2" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Wolfenb%C3%BCttel_Picture_Book_(Cod.Guelf.78.2_Aug.2%C2%BA), .
  • "Cod.Icon.394a"(2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Talhoffer_Fechtbuch_(Cod.icon._394a), .
  • "Codex Speyer"(2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Codex_Speyer_(MS_M.I.29), .
  • "Eyb Kriegsbuch MS B.26" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Eyb_Kriegsbuch_(MS_B.26), .
  • "Ms 1825" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Paulus_Kal_Fechtbuch_(MS_1825), .
  • "Ms Chart.A.558" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Talhoffer_Fechtbuch_(MS_Chart.A.558), .
  • "Ms Dresd.c.487" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Johan_Liechtnawers_Fechtbuch_geschriebenn_(MS_Dresd.C.487), .
  • "Ms KK5126" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Paulus_Kal_Fechtbuch_(MS_KK5126), .
  • "Ms Thott.290.2°" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Talhoffer_Fechtbuch_(MS_Thott.290.2%C2%BA), .
  • "Ms XIX.17-3" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Talhoffer_Fechtbuch_(MS_XIX.17-3), .
  • "Talhoffer" (2023). retrieved march, 2023 from: https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Hans_Talhoffer, .
  • Chidester M. & Hagedorn, D. (2021).The Long sword gloss of GNM Manuscript 3227a, Somerville: Hema Bookshelf.
  • Crowther, N. (2007). Sport in ancient times. Praeger Publishers Westport USA.
  • Deutscher, L., Kaiser, M. & Wetzler, S. (2019). The sword form and thought, Boydell & Brewer Ltd. [https://doi.org/10.1017/9781787444805]
  • Forgeng, J. (2015). The art of swordsmanship by Hans Lecküchner, 2 red., NY, USA: The Boydell Press.
  • Forgeng, J.L. (2018). The medieval art of swordmanship: Royal Armories Ms I,33. Royal Armories publication.
  • Gevaert, B (2016). Te Wapen! Europa's vergeten krijgskunsten. Davidsfonds, Leuven, Belguim.
  • Green, T.A. (2001). Martial art of the world. ABC-CLIO, Inc., California, USA.
  • Hagedorn, D. (2008). Pieter Von Danzig - Transkription und ubersetzung der handschrift 44 a 8. VS-Books, Herne, Germany.
  • Hagedorn, D. (2017). Jude Lew - das Fechtbuch. VS-Books, Herne, Germany.
  • Hagedorn, D. (2021). Albrecht Durer - das Fechtbuch. VS-Books, Herne, Germany.
  • Jaquet, D. & Walczak, B. (2015). Liegnitzer, Hundsfeld or Lew? The question of authorship of popular Medieval fighting teachings. Acta Periodica Duellatorum; 105-148. [https://doi.org/10.36950/apd-2014-004]
  • Jaquet, D., Sorenson, C.F. & Cognot, F. (2015) . Historical European Martial Art. A crossroad between academic research, martial heritage re-creation and martial sport practices. Acta Periodica Duellatorum, vol. 3, p. 5-35. [https://doi.org/10.1515/apd-2015-0001]
  • Mardsen, R. (2016) , Historical European Martial Arts in its context, Tyrant Industries, USA. Mardsen (2016) , Historical European Martial Arts in its context, Tyrant Industries, USA.
  • Offenberg, S. (2018) Sword and Buckler in Masorah Figurata: Traces of Early Illuminated Fight Books in the Micrography of Bible, Paris, BnF, MS héb. 9. Acta Periodica Duellatorum.9(1). [https://doi.org/10.36950/apd-2021-001]
  • Wauters, S. (2021).Anatomy and Physics in Martial arts. In Schmidt, H. (ed). Meditations on Hema - Thruth seeker. Sofa books publishing, Austria.
  • Wauters, S. (2022). Injury and Prevention in Martial Arts, In Schmidt, H. (ed). Meditations on Hema – Fore warner. Sofa books publishing, Austria.
  • Wauters, S. (2023). Historical European Martial Art in the spectrum of martial arts. Part 1: What are Historical European Martial Arts and Historical Fencing and how do they fit in the spectrum of Martial Arts. International Journal of Martial Arts. In Submission.
  • Wauters, S. & ter Mors, O. (2023). Historical European Martial Art in the spectrum of martial arts. Part 3: Im Schwert, Im Messer. A comparison between the arming sword, the Messer and the falchion A scoping review. . International Journal of Martial Arts. In Submission.
  • Weimann, W. (1997). Lexicon of martial arts. Berlin, Germany: Weimann Verlag.