Joachim Meyer

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Joachim Meÿer
fechtbuch
Notable worksGründtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens (1570)
MS A.4°.2 (1560)
MS Var.82 (1570-71)
SpouseAppolonia Ruhlman
Signature

Joachim Meyer (ca. 1537–1571) was a self-described

fechtbuch Gründtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens
(in English, Thorough Descriptions of the Art of Fencing) first published in 1570.

Works

In 1570, Joachim Meyer wrote a comprehensive, multi-weapon treatise entitled

messer), rapier, dagger, and polearms
.

Meyer's system generally flows from, and uses the terminology of, the

Johannes Lichtenauer, though Meyer's civilian system also appears to draw from contemporary Italian swordplay, including Achille Marozzo
.

Meyer's book itself consists of detailed explanatory text describing the guards or postures (huten) for each weapon, cuts, footwork and specific and often quite complex plays or devices (stücke), accompanied by a series of finely executed

Liechtenauer
tradition (Meyer mentions Liechtenauer by name), and remains one of the most detailed, systematic and complete sources for this weapon.

Life

Meyer's book was reprinted in 1600 in Augsburg, and became a highly influential source for other 16th- and 17th-century German fencing books, including the aforementioned book by Jacob Sutor and a book from 1672 by an Italian, Theodor Verolinus. Both versions were simplified redactions of Meyer's more detailed work. Meyer is mentioned in a brief Latin treatise on martial arts by Heinrich von Gunterrodt (1579) and is also the only German among the famous masters listed in the late 17th century fencing treatise by Giuseppe Morsicato Pallavicini.[1]

Little is known about Meyer himself. Some information on Meyer's life has come to light as a result of recent scholarship (Dupuis). "Originally from

Basel, he (Meyer) became a burgher of Strasbourg by marrying a widow in 1560, most likely during his apprenticeship as a cutler. He made a living as both a cutler and a professional fencer until 1570, in which year he published the book that was to make him famous. The making of this book left him deeply indebted, and the search for potential buyers led him to leave Strasbourg and work as a Master-of-Arms at the court of the Duke of Schwerin. Unfortunately, death seized him a short time after his arrival, leaving the burden of his debt to his widow and brother-in-law."[2]

References

  1. ^ Forgeng, Jeffrey. The Art of Combat: A German Martial Arts Treatise of 1570. Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.
  2. ^ Dupuis, Olivier. Joachim Meyer, escrimeur libre, bourgeois de Strasbourg (1537 ? - 1571). In Maîtres et techniques de combat. Dijon : AEDEH, 2006.

External links

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