Codex Wallerstein: A Medieval Fighting Book from the Fifteenth Century on the Longsword, Falchion, Dagger, and Wrestling

by Grzegorz Żabiński, Bartłomiej Walczak

The Codex Wallerstein is one of the best known of the late medieval fencing treatises still in existence. Though perhaps not as widely known as Talhoffer 1467 or Flos Duellatorum, it is just as important to students of the Western martial arts. Originally written in Middle High German during the late 14th and early 15th centuries, the Codex Wallerstein has long been available to scholars in microfilm format from Augusburg University. Now with the publication of this book, the text and drawings are available to scholars and martial artists in the original Middle High German, as well as in Modern German and English translations. The translations were provided by Grzegorz Zabinski, with assistance from Bartlomiej Walczak, two of the most esteemed interpreters of medieval combat in the world. The codex offers a series of fundamental counters to common attacks, using the longsword, falchion and dagger, as well as the complete system of wrestling techniques. In this work the reader will find a great deal of instruction on thrusting at or closing in against an opponent, expanding Master Johannes Liechtenauer's art of longsword combat. For martial artists, medievalists, historians or anyone with an interest in historical arms or self-defense, Codex Wallerstein is sure to become an invaluable reference.

Genres: History, Martial Arts

392 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Harry · Rating 2 out of 5]

the translation is quite lacking. the plates and layout are nice. there is plenty of room to make your own notes. it's a good physical copy of the work and transcription. make it into your own book.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is, unfortunately, the only published translation of Wallerstein available, and the translation is a bit of a mess. I speak very little German - basically what Duolingo and Liechtenauer's zettel have taught me - but there were some passages I could understand in the modern German translation and some that made absolutely no sense.

On the other hand, the plates towards the end, which depict how to hold onto your captives and how to rob a peasant are certainly interesting, and some of the image-only plates of Part B deserve some further attention, especially in light of the recent Gladiatoria publication.

This edition *does* provide a transcription of the middle-high German, so serious students with some familiarity with the language may still get something more out of this.