Johannes Lichtenauer
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Image:MS 44 A 8 3v.jpg Johannes Lichtenauer (also spelled Liechtenauer) was a 14th century German fencing master. He was likely born in the early to mid 1300s, possibly in Lichtenau, Mittelfranken (Franconia). What little is known about his person is preserved, together with his teachings, in MS 3227a and later glossa by students of his tradition. According to this manuscript's author, Lichtenauer was a "great master" who had travelled to "many lands" to learn his art. In later, 15th century manuscripts, the Liechtenauer Association (Gesellschaft Liechtenauers) is referred to as a group of fencing masters who considered themselves Liechtenauer's disciples, in possession of his teachings.
Liechtenauer's teachings are preserved partly in rhyming couplets (possibly intentionally obscured, in order to prevent the uninitiated from learning the techniques he presented). Liechtenauer's system gave rise to what is now called the German school of swordsmanship. It was commented on, expanded and modified in glossa contained in Fechtbücher throughout the 15th century, by masters including Hanko Doebringer, Sigmund Ringeck, and Peter von Danzig, and continued in the 16th century, e.g. by Paulus Hector Mair. It became in fact almost compulsory for any self-respecting fencing master to present himself as standing in the Liechtenauer tradition, even if the influence is sometimes tenuous, or some elements in outright conflict with certain tenets of Liechtenauer's.
Already in Liechtenauer's time, instruction in combat (Fechten) was not restricted to a single weapon, but what was taught was rather a variety of techniques for using the longsword, sword and buckler, dagger, messer, and for unarmed grappling in both armoured and unarmoured combat, and sometimes also in mounted combat.
The Liechtenauer Association
By the mid 15th century, it was prestigious for a fencing master to claim to stand in the tradition of Liechtenauer. Paulus Kal (Cgm 1507, 1460) gives a list of 16 masters as belonging to the "society of Liechtenauer", including
- Peter Wildhans von Glass.
- Peter von Danzig
- Hans Schindler von Zwayen
- Lamprecht von Prag
- Hans von Erfurt
- Andres Lignitzer
- Jacob Lignitzer, brother of Andres
- Sigmund Ringeck
- Hartmann von Nürnberg
- Martin Huntzfeld
- Hans Pägnitzer
- Philip Perger
- Virgil von Krakau
- Dietrich Degen von Braunschweig
- Ott Jud, wrestling master of Austria
- Stettner, Paulus Kal's teacher