Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558)

Talhoffer Fechtbuch (MS Chart.A.558), also known as the Gotha Codex, is a German fencing manuscript held in the Universitäts- und Forschungsbibliothek Erfurt/Gotha in Gotha under the shelfmark MS Chart.A.558. Its dating is not uniform: according to Wiktenauer it was made in 1443–1448, or only in 1448 or later, while English Wikipedia gives 1443 as probable. It has 151 leaves measuring 215 × 290 mm, written on both sides in a bastarda script in Early New High German. The content consists mostly of drawings with minimal text, meant to serve pupils as a visual aid. We have not been able to document the name of the illustrator. The book combines Talhoffer's sword stances, a treatise by Johann Hartlieb, Liechtenauer's recitals, combat with the long shield, the short sword, the war axe, the dagger, wrestling and an anonymous war book. The manuscript is usually attributed to Hans Talhoffer, but Wiktenauer points out that his authorship cannot be proved. Talhoffer is first documented in 1433, when he represented the Archbishop of Salzburg, Johann II of Reisberg, before a Vehmic court. In 1446–1459 he produced manuscripts for the Königsegg family and the last one in 1467 for Eberhard V of Württemberg. According to Wiktenauer, the Gotha manuscript is the archetype of later copies from the 17th and 18th centuries, which survive in Wolfenbüttel and Coburg. English Wikipedia ranks it as the oldest of the four known archetypes of Talhoffer's works.

Martial arts in this work

Contents

On leaves 2r–6r are Talhoffer's sword stances, followed on leaves 7r–17r by Johann Hartlieb's treatise Ueber die Erhaltung des Sieges. Liechtenauer's recitals are written on leaves 18r–20v (longsword) and 21v–23r (fighting on horseback), the recital on the short sword on leaf 48v. The most extensive parts are combat with the long shield (24v–48r) and the short sword (49r–72r). Further sections are the war axe (72v–79v), the dagger (83r–104v), Otto Jud's wrestling (109v–114v) and Talhoffer's wrestling (116v–133v). The manuscript closes with an anonymous war book (141r–148v). English Wikipedia describes the non-fencing parts differently and names Hartlieb's Onomatomantia, an astrological treatise and Kyeser's Bellifortis.

Authorship

On leaf 1r there is an erased ownership mark. According to Wiktenauer this may mean the manuscript was bought ready-made, and Talhoffer's authorship therefore cannot be proved. On leaf 28r the shield bears a coat of arms that matches Talhoffer's presumed heraldry, but the shield and the mantling differ from the form in other manuscripts, for example MS Thott.290.2o from 1459. English Wikipedia lists Talhoffer as the author. The figures for the dating also diverge: Wiktenauer gives the range 1443–1448, or possibly 1448 or later, and in its article on Talhoffer places the manuscript around 1448 as his first major work. English Wikipedia gives 1443 as probable.

People and martial arts

• Hans TalhofferAuthor
• Johannes LiechtenauerCo-author
• Johannes HartliebCo-author

Details

Form

Manuscript

Repository

Universitäts- und Forschungsbibliothek Erfurt/Gotha, Gotha

Shelfmark

MS Chart.A.558

Folios

151