Hans Talhoffer : "Fechtbüch aus dem Jahre 1467", 1467

Notes on Talhoffer's 1467 Fechtbüch

The original source for this material is from: Hergsell, Gustav: Hans Talhoffer's "Fechtbüch aus dem Jahre 1467", Prague, 1887. A secondary source includes a publication of Talhoffer's 'Fechtbüch aus dem Jahre 1467' or 'Fencing Book of the Year 1467' by VS Books, 1998, Herne (Germany). The 1998 publication is a reprint of Hergsell's work except for the incorporation the plates or "tafels" with a modern German translation of the text.

The work is a catalog of fencing actions and consists of illustrations with short descriptions for the two-handed sword, sword and buckler, sword and shield, dagger, wrestling, pollaxe, judicial combat, and mounted combat. As well as some specialized forms for the judicial duel: double-ended dueling pavises used with sword or club, and man in a pit with a club woman with a rock in a sock. Aside from the man and woman sequences, it appears that the book is oriented to those individuals that already possess the fundamental skills in combat.

Note: A number of tafels have audio files linked containing a verbal presentation of the German text. Thanks to Michael Rasmusson for his German expertise and interpretive skill.

About the presentation: The manuscript is presented as a combination of image files (jpg) and descriptive text (both German and English). Click on the links to retrieve the relevant page for closer examination. Click here for details on registering with AEMMA and obtaining your Online Library electronic card.

An Introduction to Talhoffer's Fechtbüch - by Dr. M. Lacy

(1) Langes Schwert (The Long Sword) - plates 1 - 67

(2) Kämpfe in den Schranken mit Spiess und Schwert in voller Rüstung (Fight in the Lists with Spear and Sword in Full Armor) - plates 68 - 73

(3) Langes Schwert (The Long Sword) - plates 74 - 78

(4) Streitaxt (Pole-axe) - plates 79 - 103

(5) Schild und Kolben (Shield and Club) - plates 104 - 126

(6) Schild und Schwert (Shield and Sword) - plates 128 - 150

(7) Schild (Shield) - plates 151 - 164

(8) Gekehlte und Hackenschilde (Throated and Hewing Shield) - plates 165 - 169

(9) Degen (Dolch) (Dagger) - plates 170 - 190

(10) Ringen (Wrestling) - plates 191 - 221

(11) Messer (Single-handed Sword) - plates 223 - 230

(12) Messer und kleiner Schild (bouclier) (Sword and small Shield (buckler)) - plates 231 - 239

(13) Einer gegn zwei (One against two) - plates 240 - 241

(14) Kämpfe zwischen Mann und Frau (Fight between Man and Wife) - plates 242 - 250

(15) Schwertkämpfe zu Ross (Sword Fight on Horse Back) - plates 251 - 260

(16) Ringkämpfe zu Ross (Hand-to-hand on Horse Back) - plates 261 - 264

(17) Kämpfe zu Ross mit Spiess und Schwert (Fight on Horse Back with Lance and Sword) - plates 265 - 266

(18) Kämpfe zu Ross mit Armbrust gegen Spiess (Fight on Horse Back with the Cross-bow) - plates 267 - 270


Explanation of Text Fonts: Text font of the type "Bold" indicates text or versers as it was written by Hans Talhoffer.  Text font of the type "Bold" indicates an English translation of the text or verses written by Hans Talhoffer (The translations of the ancient verse into English are very approximate and AEMMA does not take any responsibility for their accuracy of Medieval German to modern English).  Text font of the type "Italics" is an English explanation by David Cvet  of the relevant illustration.

Credits: Initial portions of the translations was  undertaken during September - November 1998 by , however, these are now long gone and have been replaced with later works beginning around April, 2000 by .  You can check on Mike's other works, including his Meyer translation at his website by clicking on the shield. This online book has been "webbed" by on behalf of the Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts, November 1998.
 
 
 
 


Copyright © 1998 Academy of European Medieval Martial Arts  (AEMMA)
Released: November 9, 1998 / Updated: November 23, 2008