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The Art of Sword Combat: A 1568 German Treatise on Swordmanship
Following the success of Jeffrey L. Forgeng’s translation of Joachim Meyer’s The Art of Sword Combat the author was alerted to an earlier recension of the work which was discovered in Lund University Library in Sweden.
The manuscript, produced in Strassburg around 1568, is illustrated with thirty watercolor images and seven ink diagrams.
The text covers combat with the long sword (hand-and-a-half sword), dusack (a one-handed practice weapon comparable to a saber), and rapier. The manuscript’s theoretical discussion of guards is one of the most critical passages to understanding this key feature of the historical practice, not just in relation to Meyer but in relation to the medieval combat systems in general.
The manuscript offers an extensive repertoire of training drills for both the dusack and the rapier, a feature largely lacking in treatises of the period as a whole but critical to modern reconstructions of the practice. The translation also includes a biography of Meyer, much of which has only recently come to light, as well as technical terminology, and other essential information for understanding and contextualizing the work.
The manuscript, produced in Strassburg around 1568, is illustrated with thirty watercolor images and seven ink diagrams.
The text covers combat with the long sword (hand-and-a-half sword), dusack (a one-handed practice weapon comparable to a saber), and rapier. The manuscript’s theoretical discussion of guards is one of the most critical passages to understanding this key feature of the historical practice, not just in relation to Meyer but in relation to the medieval combat systems in general.
The manuscript offers an extensive repertoire of training drills for both the dusack and the rapier, a feature largely lacking in treatises of the period as a whole but critical to modern reconstructions of the practice. The translation also includes a biography of Meyer, much of which has only recently come to light, as well as technical terminology, and other essential information for understanding and contextualizing the work.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published August 18, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 24, 2022
Historically fascinating, some of the routines take a lot of reading (and a bit of youtube!) to properly visualise but I am glad that the translation allows for an authentic reading experience.
June 23, 2025
The Art of Sword Combat is a translation of a 1568 fencing manuscript by Meyer, which the translator believes is a draft version of Meyer's more famous 1570 printed treatise. This book is a hardcover volume, consisting of an introduction talking about the sources, Meyer's life, and a little bit of context on the state of fencing in Meyer's time; the main text, covering the longsword, dussack, and rapier, with 28 colour illustrations; and a glossary of the terms used, the German they translate, and the translator's interpretation of what they mean.
As far as this edition is concerned, it's a fantastic little book. Pretty, durable, and well researched, it can grace the shelf of a martial artist, history enthusiast, and general nerd alike. As for Meyer's actual text, the best word is interesting. Meyer was practicing at a time when longsword had recently transitioned from a combat art to a sport, so what you get is a mix of the old Liechtenauer tradition and whatever happened to work in the arena at the time. This is a tad frustrating because Meyer gives us a bit more detail than the older masters on what a fight feels like, but it can be difficult to distinguish how much of that applies to longsword combat in general, and how much to the specific sport practiced in Meyer's day.
As far as this edition is concerned, it's a fantastic little book. Pretty, durable, and well researched, it can grace the shelf of a martial artist, history enthusiast, and general nerd alike. As for Meyer's actual text, the best word is interesting. Meyer was practicing at a time when longsword had recently transitioned from a combat art to a sport, so what you get is a mix of the old Liechtenauer tradition and whatever happened to work in the arena at the time. This is a tad frustrating because Meyer gives us a bit more detail than the older masters on what a fight feels like, but it can be difficult to distinguish how much of that applies to longsword combat in general, and how much to the specific sport practiced in Meyer's day.
April 24, 2019
An interesting historical document. Broadsword was already not widely used by the military by the time this book was written, however remained popular as a sporting weapon. Quite a bit of vivid and efficient prose describing techniques and strategies in bouts. Had Protestant patrons, and organised several 'Fechtbuch' or encounter events, and took a big financial risk printing the book originally, not living to see it a success (death probably due to winter travelling).
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews