Now combat with the sword is in essence a practice in which two opponents strive against each other with the sword with the intent that one will outmaneuver and overcome the other with intelligence and nimbleness, artfully, finely, and manfully, with cuts and other handwork; so that if it were necessary in earnest cases, through such practice one may be more quick and skillful, and more judicious for the protection of his body.
This can well and properly be divided into three main parts, namely the beginning, the middle, and the end. These three parts must each be held in mind in every single device that you undertake to execute: namely that you should know with what cuts you will lay on against your opponent from the guards; then when you have laid on against him, how you shall further work in the middle with the Handwork, flying readily to the openings to keep the initiative when you have rushed on him in the Onset; and finally, how you may well and properly withdraw from him, if not with harm to him, then at least without injury to yourself."
--Joachim Meyer - 1570
Joachim Meyer (unk: apx 1537 - 1571) was a middle class (Burgher) Messerschmidt, Formschneider[1] and distinguished Freifechter who wrote several works on Kunst des Fechten, that at their core are a comprehensive and systematic martial art that explains, completes and complements the art Meister Johannes Lichtenauer first cryptically penned in verse.
He was born in Basel[2] and later moved to Strasbourg[3], however little of Meyer’s youth and travels are known, save what he mentions briefly in his books. We can safely assume, where one of that time period would have achieve Rappier skills; Italy, Spain, or France, all of which are within realistic distances’ for traveling. Within Meyer’s works he quotes Lichtenauer and his art clearly draws itself from the well spring of the Lichtenauer School so influential in the Deutsche Fechtschule. It could also be suggested: By Meyer’s written tone, his statement to Otto Brauer about serving with him, and considering the timeframe of “relative” peace he grew up in, that the military service and experience of Meyer could have been under the employ of a city state as a mercenary. Such is unconfirmed speculation.
According to Meyer’s marriage certificate [4] in the Strasbourg archives on Tuesday the 4th of June 1560 he married Appolonia Ruhlman (Ruelman). This certificate also notes that Joachim Meyer is not from Strasbourg but from Basel.
Meyer petitioned the City Council of Strasbourg in 1561 for the right to organize a fencing event, and again in 1563, 1566, 1567 and 1568. Presumably this sort of petition required at least some explanation of his teaching status, his sources, proven by documents or letters at least detailed in some manner by the Meyer himself. Hopefully future research will uncover some details about these petitions.
Meyer penned a handwritten manuscript with fine painted plates (artist unknown) for private student, his former comrade in arms Otto Brauer in 1560. (S.l. : s.n., ca.1650 MS. (German) 88p.: il.)
In 1570 Meyer would publish his book, “A Thorough Description of the Free Knightly and Noble Art of Combat"(Strasbourg, 1570 edition; VD16 M 5087) with illustrations by Tobias Stimmer’s apprentices, which included at least one of his brothers, Hans Christoffel Stimmer and Christoph Maurer.
The Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss, was also like to have been
written during this time frame[5].
He incurred significant debts in his fechtbucher writing and publication efforts, 1300 crowns which he promised his financial backers to pay off by Christmas of 1571.
Late in 1570 Meyer made a deal with Johann Albrecht (1525 - 1576) the Duke of Mecklenburg, to assume the position of fechtmeister at his court in Schwerin. There Meyer had hoped to sell his book for a better price, than what was offered to him locally (30 florins). Meyer prepared to travel and sent his books ahead to Schwerin. He left from Strasbourg on the a Thursday early in January of 1571[6] after receiving his pay; traveling the (apx) 810 kilometers (503.3 miles) to Schwerin in the dead of a harsh winter. Meyer arrived at the court on Saturday the 10th of February 1571.
In the service of the Duke, two weeks later, on Saturday the 24th Fechtmeister Joachim Meyer died. The cause of his death is unknown, possibly disease or pneumonia; Meyer would have been around the age of 34-36. The Duke sent a letter to the City of Strasbourg announcing Meyer’s death.
Antoni Rulman, Appolonia’s brother became her legal guardian after Joachim’s death. He had a letter [7] sent to the Duke of Mecklenburg (on Tuesday the 15th of May 1571), penned by the secretary of the Strasbourg city chamber that states that Antoni was now the widow Meyer’s guardian, it politely reminds the Duke who Joachim Meyer was, Meyer’s publishing efforts and considerable debt, requests that the Duke send Meyer’s personal affects and his books to Appolonia and attempts to sell some (if not all) of the books to the Duke (see below).
Appolonia would later remarry (Monday the 14th of April 1572) another Messerschmidt named Hans Kuele, bestowing upon him the status of Burgher and Meyer's substantial debts.
Joachim Meyer and Hans Kuele are mentioned in the minutes of Messerschmidt Guild archives. Kuele may have made an impression if we can judge that fact by the number of times he is mentioned.
The fechtschule of Joachim Meyer in Strasburg, a thriving school of fence equal to many others in Germany at the time was taken over during the Acquisition of Strasburg by Lous XIV (1681) and so turned into the "Academie de Arms" and essentially absorbed into the French school of Fence.
It is believed that Meyer’s widow and possibly her husband or her brother were involved with republishing of "A Thorough Description of the Free Knightly and Noble Art of Combat" again in 1600 (Augsburg, 1600 edition VD16 M 5088). According to other sources[8], it (1570 MS) was reprinted yet again in 1610 and in 1660.
We know from the "Schools and masters of fence from the Middle ages to the eighteenth century" By Egerton Castle, that the fechtschule of Joachim meyer in Strasburg was teken over during the Acquisition of Strasburg by Lous XIV in 1681, at which time is was a thriving school of fence equal to many others in Germany at the time and so turned into the "Academie de Arms" and greatly Frenchified essentially being absorbed into the French school of Fence as was a similar thriving school in Brussels being of the Spanish school of Fence and in all probability turned in to the "Academie de Toulous".
-mike cartier
Meyer Frei Fechter Feb 2009 References
Allen, Jamie. The Pedigree of Johann Albrecht (Duke) of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Retrieved January 23,
2010, from http://fabpedigree.com/s028/f756745.htm
Burton, John Hill. (1905). The history of Scotland from Agricola's invasion to the extinction of the last
Jacobite insurrection. Vol. 4, (2nd ed) pg 472. William Blackwood
Bryan, Michael. Stanley, George. (1859). A Biographical and Critical Dictionary of Painters and
Engravers. pp 765-766. London: H.G. Bohn
Chatto, W. A. & Jackson, J. (1861). A treatise on wood engraving, historical and practical: with upwards
of three hundred illustrations engraved on wood (2nd ed.) pp 413. London: H.G. Bohn.
Dupuis, Olivier. (2006). Joachim Meyer, escrimeur libre, bourgeois de Strasbourg (1537 ? - 1571). In
Maîtres et techniques de combat. Dijon : AEDEH.
Hacker, Diana. (2004). APA Research Paper. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s.
Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Fechtbuch zu Ross und zu Fuss. Retrieved January 24, 2010, from
www.hmml.org/research08/catalogue
Karlsruhe, L., Kommission, B., Kommission, O. & Landesarchiv, B.(1905). Zeitschrift für die Geschichte
des Oberrheins Vol. 111-112. pp 680 -681. Heidelburg: Carl Winter's Universitatsbuchhandlung.
Rostenberg, Leona. (1945). The Library of Johann Albrecht, Duke of Mecklenburg, 1525-76. The Library
Quarterly, 15(2), pp 131-138. doi: 10.1086/617089 The University of Chicago Press
Schaer, Alfred.(1901) Die altdeutschen fechter und spielleute: Ein beitrag zur deutschen culturgeschichte.
K.J. Trübner.
Schiern, Frederik. (trans) Berry, David. (1880). Life of James Hepburn Earl of Bothwell. Edinburgh:
David Douglas.
Footnotes
[1]
From Robert Naumanns book Serapeum (vol 5 pg 53) translation done by Kevin Maurer:
"Joachim Meyer should incidentally, not only be known (only)as a Freifechter, but also as a Formschneider, by the way its shown in his Book Kunst des Fechtens, also the monograms of other Formschneider for example: (probably a Stimmer the Formcutter was, and not the well known monogram of Tobias Stimmer, the Famed Woodcarver, still less likely Christoffel van Sichem) Plates III. und XVII shown on the left KVS (the monogram) to the right of that indication with the Woodcarving knife."
[2]
In the Swiss Confederation, now in Switzerland
[6]
Possibly on the 4th, if “Swear Day” is the first of January.
[7]
Translation by Olivier Dupuis:
"The Thursday following the swear day, Joachim Meyer was gone to Schwerin in the coldest period of the year, invited by the duke to teach fencing. But Joachim Meyer died 14 days after his arrival in Schwerin. In name of my sister whom I was the guardian, I cannot hide that one year ago; he (Joachim Meyer) had sento to print a beautiful book, with plenty of pictures, explaining the art of fencing with a lot of know-how. Some people said that this book was of quality rarely seen and read. The print and diffusion cost was supported by him. He made prepared woodcuts for the illustrations and had made print a high stack of books. However he contracted huge debts she (his widow) must pay. He promised to get money back, 1300 crowns, for Christmas. He hoped to sell his books for a better price at the court of the duke, more than 30 florins. He sent all these books to Schwerin in the hope to sell them there but he died before.
I would like to get the books and his clothes back, whereas it will cost me a lot of money. I would like to ask you to think about his widow and send them back. But if you are interested by some books, do not hesitate to buy some. We would be grateful if you would do it."
[8]
We don’t know with certainty that Appalonia reprinted the 1570 in 1600 Augsbrug, or if she was involved with the other releases in 1610 or in 1660. It is the working theory. The 1610 and 1660 dates however are confirmed at bottom of page 76 of Die altdeutschen fechter und spielleute: Ein beitrag zur deutschen culturgeschichte. However there is an addendum to this as well; Prof Dr. Schaer’s 1901 work, however unquestionably accurate everywhere else, (which is not unusual for a German Historian of the 19th and 20th century) his quoted resources are gone, they no longer exist. So there is no definitive proof about the 1610 and 1660, yet.
"Everyone thinks differently from everyone else, so he behaves differently
in combat" -Joachim Meyer, Kunst des Fechten, 1570
"For as we are not all of a single nature, so we also cannot have a single style in combat, yet all must nonetheless arise and be derived from a single basis." -Joachim Meyer, Kunst des Fechten, 1570
"Who despises me and my praiseworthy craft,
I'll hit on the head that it resounds in his heart."
--Augustin Staidt, Federfechter
"The Truth in Combat is different for each individual.... Truth lies outside of All Fixed Patterns." -Bruce Lee
