Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat [Hardcover]

Hans Talhoffer (Author), Mark Rector (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

268 illustrations 6 x 9 This brilliant and attractive new book makes one of the most influential fencing manuals of the middle ages available in English for the first time. The authentic fifteenth-century 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. This unparalleled guide to medieval combat, illustrated with 268 contemporary images, provides a glimpse of real people fighting with skill, sophistication and ruthlessness. Mark Rector, the editor and translator of this work, is an actor, playwright, stage combatant and fight choreographer. He is a founder of the Chicago Swordplay Guild and Associate Director of Swordplay Symposium International.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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 knight's arsenal, as well as techniques for judicial combats between nobles and between peasants. Although long available in German, this is the first English translation of his remarkable how-to. Profusely illustratedAhere in black and whiteAthe book offers freeze-frame instructions on medieval martial arts using swords, shields, poleaxes, daggers and wrestling, both on foot and on horseback. Its repeatedly drawn figures are lifelike and even emotive, grimacing in pain or frowning with fierce determination. Many of the plates do not demonstrate step-by-step techniques, preserving instead images of a bout at the moment when one technique has prevailed over another. Without a contemporary instructor as a guide, the drawings can seem arcane and confusing, since they lack explanatory captions. Rector, a founder of the Chicago Swordplay Guild, does provide an introduction and footnotes, and along the way gives practical clarification of German martial arts and a harsh, complex picture of medieval society (particularly medieval justice), if not of specific moves. Aside from their historical merit, Talhoffer's beautiful and austere illustrations provide a visual vocabulary of historical combat that might prove inspirational for directors, artists, re-enactors or stunt coordinators; others should not be surprised to find themselves posing in front of the nearest mirror.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Greenhill Books (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853674184
• ISBN-13: 978-1853674181
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #618,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful, solid Must-Read of Historical Combat literature, November 8, 2000

By 

Christoph Amberger (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat (Hardcover)

Fightmaster Hans Talhoffer is one of the pivotal figures of German sword arts. Steeped into traditions that are as well documented as they remain inaccessible to full camprehension, his art (and showmanship?) belongs to the few medieval systems that have survived not in one but a few manuscripts.

The 1467 Gotha Codex, probably the artistically accomplished in its execution, was first revived for reproduction and re-publication by the Viennese fencing master Gustav Hergsell, whose transcription and interpretation of the instructions may not have remained without vocal critics, but whose leather-bound 1887 editions (both self-published and, later that year, by Calve) still command prices of between $500 and $900 that are eagerly paid by collectors.

Mark Rector has exercised restraint and competence in his endeavor of making Talhoffer accessible to the Anglophone market. He places the manuscript into its appropriate cultural and combative context that has as much to offer to the history buff as it has to the combative practitioner. His work finds a well deserved place in the literary canon of combative arts source literature.

The quality of the production is solid and well worth the price. This books has earned an unconditional seal of approval! Go buy it now.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable contribution to the history of the sword., December 6, 2000

By 

Anita Evangelista (Springfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat (Hardcover)

In making Talhoffer's fencing book accessible to the world again, Mark Rector has provided us with an important contribution to sword knowledge. Not just for those involved in recreationist swordplay, but for anyone interested in the roots of fencing. Moreover, for many young fencers today realizing that fencing didn't begin with them might be the first step to developing some respect for the art, science, and sport of fencing -- an attribute that is sorely lacking in many sport fencing circles these days. There's a long history here that makes individuals not all that important. Fencing is bigger than the moment, bigger than egos. The traditions, skills, and mindsets span centuries. The information in this book also has applications as a working reference for anyone wishing to hone their theatrical fencing skills along historical lines. And, of course, "Talhoffer" should be of interest to anyone in love with things medieval. As a fencing master of thirty years, the author of "The Encyclopedia of the Sword," "The Art and Science of Fencing," and "The Inner Game of Fencing," and the editor-in-chief of FENCERS QUARTERLY MAGAZINE, I recommend this fascinating book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most important medieval fencing treatises, September 29, 2003

By 

Stephen Hand (Hobart, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat (Hardcover)

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.

Talhoffer's fechtbuch is primarily an illustrated work and much interpretation still needs to be done on his combat system. I have personally used this translation in the preparation of a paper on medieval sword and shield techniques. Talhoffer presents a section on the use of an odd shaped shield in judicial duels, giving us our only substantial material on medieval sword and shield combat. An exhaustive examination of medieval illustrations reveals the positions shown in Talhoffer shown over and over. This suggests that despite his strange shield, what Talhoffer was showing in the mid 15th century was nothing new.

This book is useful to people who wish to interpret medieval combat. It contains some editorial comment on the techniques, but this is minimal. Readers should not expect a how-to guide. This is an original fencing treatise, faithfully reproduced. Furthermore the original work was pitched at a fairly advanced level, so don't expect to see the basics. Medieval Combat would work very well in conjunction with Christian Tobler's Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship. That book is a translation and interpretation of another treatise from the same tradition. Anyone who reads Tobler and wants more should buy Medieval Combat. Anyone who reads Medieval Combat and finds themselves confused, should buy Tobler's book to give themselves a solid grounding in German medieval swordsmanship.