Illuminated Fightbook

Complicated stances, bold attack maneuvers, and reliable defensive techniques – all of this fell under the basic knowledge of a sword fighter in the Middle Ages. This fighting technique was significant both as a courtly amusement and symbol of nobility, but also necessary for practical application in serious violent confrontations. The so-called Tower Fightbook, the famous Ms. I.33 of the Royal Armouries in London, originated ca. 1310 from the region of Franconia and as such is considered to be the oldest known handbook on swordsmanship there is!

A Turbulent History

This great treasure of the Armories was first referenced in the year 1579 in Heinrich von Gunterrodt’s De veris principiis artis dimicatoridae (On the True Foundations of the Art of Combat). There it is written that the manuscript was discovered by a certain Johannes Herbart von Würzburg in a Franconian monastery. This probably occurred while the monastery was plundered by Margrave Albert II Alcibiades. Subsequently, the treasure found itself in the possession of the Duchy of Saxony-Gotha, where it was registered until the beginning of the Second World War and was then lost. It reappeared in the year 1950 and was finally acquired at auction by the Royal Armouries.

Battle with Sword and Buckler

The 32 parchment pages of the valuable martial arts manual are richly illustrated with colored pen drawings. This step-by-step depiction of fighting presents a clergyman, identifiable by his tonsure, who is conveying the art of fencing to his student. Both are concentrating on the fight with sword and buckler, a small, special round shield, which would have been typical at the time. After a depiction of the seven starting positions, 38 combat sequences are presented.

A Textbook on the Art of Fighting

The paintings wonderfully depict the body in a combat stance. Elaborate garment folds and demanding postures underline the high artistic quality of the illustrations. These elegant visual depictions are accompanied by a clarifying text. This is recorded in Latin and features some technical terms in German. The combat depicted is described therein, demonstrating alternatives and giving helpful tips. Additionally, the manuscript was furnished with comments by Herbart and his fencing student Friedrich Wilhelm at a later time. With all of these noteworthy components, the Tower Fightbook presents itself as a true treasure chest of medieval martial arts!