Johannes Liechtenauer
Fencing Master / Grandmaster
The paramount father of the German school of fencing, whose verses shaped European combat for 200 years.
Quick Facts
Date of Birth14. století
Date of Death14. století
Era14th century
Country of Origin
Germany
GermanyRank / TitleFather of Kunst des Fechtens
Active Yearsca 1350–1390
Biography
Johannes Liechtenauer was the legendary 14th-century master who codified the German Kunst des Fechtens in mnemonic verses (Zettel), giving rise to the Society of Liechtenauer.
Associated Martial Arts
German School of FencingFounder→
The longsword tradition traced to master Liechtenauer in the fourteenth century. It is not an unbroken line of teaching — today's HEMA reconstructs it from manuscripts.
Schirmen (Medieval German Fencing)Founder→Historical designation for German fencing martial art with two-handed sword in 14-15th c.
HEMAPredecessor / teacher→The present-day movement that reconstructs European martial arts from surviving manuscripts and printed manuals.