Lance, Spear, Sword, and Messer: A German Medieval Martial Arts Miscellany

The 14th century - a paradoxical time of world-shattering plague, the Hundred Years War, the Peasants' Revolt, but also literary and artistic innovation, formed the basis of the Renaissance. In the later years of this turbulent time a shadowy figure named Johannes Liechtenauer systematized lessons for swordsmanship, wrestling, armoured, and mounted combat. Recorded in cryptic, rhyming verses, it fell to masters of the 15th and 16th century to record, clarify and expand the grandmaster's ins...