Where are the Fencing Regulations of Strasbourg?
A collection of petitions, reminders, and ignored paperwork
In the article “Fencing, Martial Sport, and Urban Culture in Early Modern Germany: The Case of Strasbourg.” Journal of Medieval Military History: Volume XVII, by Ken Mondschein, Olivier Dupuis, and edited by John France et al, they mention that…
“The fencing masters made an attempt to have regulations concerning the procedures for holding contests [fechtschul] similar to those in place other cities passed in 1571, 1591, and 1608. Why they were unsuccessful is unclear. In 1610, the council required that fencing contests be separated by two weeks…” p. 247
So various fechmeisters wanted new regulations, and no actual regulations can be found in the records. Why or even if they were unsuccessful (one note below mentions “the official document shall follow”) is a mystery, but perhaps by having the resources out there to easily dig into these notes it will make it easier for more brains to explore where these documents are hidden.
Listed below are each mention of fencing regulations that I could find in the council records, listed by ascending date. Passages with full complete transcription and translation will have those fully copied below the link to the primary source, and work-in-progress transcriptions/translations will only be included with high-confidence lines copied, and will be marked by **. Every entry will have a hyperlink in bold to the primary source so you can dig, look for key terms, contribute to their transcription or translation, and so much more!
MR Mandates and Regulations Series
1470/71
Ordnung des Fechtens from the 1MR13 doc -- This article by Dupuis has tons of details and a full transcription and translation of this entry.
Council of XXI Records
10/17/1571
Wygand Brack and Geörg Fried(er) fencing regulation note #1 (WIP transcription)
This passage is difficult to transcribe due to a combination of bad handwriting and irregular spellings. Wygand Brack and Georg Frieder, together with a Mr. Anickel, submit what they think should be part of the fencing regulations. It may mention requesting “proper places” (gelegene Winkel) for fencing to take place, which may align with a request from Brack just one month earlier for a construction permit in the courtyard of the Temple Neuf church.
**Wygand Brack der freyfechter & Georg Frieder maister des Shwerts bede burger alhie vbergeben eyn supplication, samptend her Anickeln. so eyn ordnung mir[?] mannisch furterein[?] fechterhalten sollie[?], seyn sollt Vmtganng erhelung drofechtern begehraltt anlte mannlch kunst.
Wygand Brack, the free fencer, and Georg Frieder, master of the sword, both citizens here, submit a supplication, together with Mr. Anickel. If regulations manly in the future fencers should receive, it should hold bearing[?] elucidation to the fencers’ old manly art.**
2/2/1572
Wygand Brack and Geörg Fried(er) fencing regulation note #2 (Platy T/T)
Geörg and Wygand politely reminding the council to get their stuff together and reply to their fencing regulation submission above. I checked around Christmas in the 1571 record, with no new documents or entries close to that date.
Geörg Fried(er) und Weigand Brack bede fechtmeist(er) vrag p.d. Kned. für dazs sie vor Weihnachten bey einem herren schrifftlich bey einem hern supplition vmb verlesung der ordnung am Fechten, da die sach zubedacht zag ihnen aber seither kein bescheid Ward, bitten dabey vmb befür darney[?] dessen.
Erkant. Man solt ihnen sagen eine [???] verordnung zu gelegener Zeit eingedenk sein vnd ihnen bescheid wied(er)fahren lassen.
Georg Fried(er) and Weigand Brack, both fencing masters, inquire through Dr. Kned[er?]. Because before Christmas, they had submitted in writing a supplication to a gentleman concerning the reading-out-loud of the regulations on fencing, because the matter was considered this way, but since then they [received] no reply, they ask that this [shall] be expedited.
Acknowledged. One should tell them [that] a [?] regulation will be remembered in due time and they will be notified.
2/16/1572
With his request going nowhere, Brack seems to try and use the influence of a couple of young nobles (both 18 years old and studying at the University at the time) to get his regulations adopted. The two counts go on by espousing the virtues of fencing and vouching for Brack as an esteemed fencing instructor who should be allowed to hold fechtschul frequently.
Gottfried, Count at Öttingen, and Arnold, Count at Bentheim, submit a supplication through Dr Knader. Within it they oblige themselves by their own hands and writing...
...For many hundred years many certain persons of high standing, as princes, counts and lords, have practiced in tournaments on horseback and on foot and in other knightly games, and likewise because of this the knightly art of fencing has been in high value with them. Not only at the courts of princes and lords, but also in all distinguished cities and under well-governed administrations has the youth been led to good and the holding of public schools been allowed...
For something different from above: Wygand Brack, as well as Georg Frieder, master of the sword, have submitted to my gentlemen articles on how such knightly art might be preserved in good order according to their simple reasoning, and in the manner which has been communicated to them by many gentlemen. So that they might view the same and send them an appropriate reply.
As concerns the other request, my gentlemen are able to well remember what their citizens submit in supplication. Before you know it, my gentlemen will know how to behave themselves in a becoming manner towards their citizens, in matters such as this and others.
Proceeding from this, both gentlemen will need to accept that they shall not let themselves be used by citizens, to raise a ruckus.
The council is pissed. They approve a fechtschul request within the note, but take the time to point out that lines have been crossed in citizen/noble relations during this request, and reprimand Gottfried and Arnold for their role in the intercession.
2/18/1572
Brack gets yelled at for trying to use nobility to further his fencing cause
Just 2 days after he has Gottfried and Arnold write the “intercession” for him, Brack brings back his request for confirmation and gets chewed out by the council due to him soliciting nobility for help in submitting supplications.
Wygand Brack the fencing master requests through Dr Knader: to hold a public fechtschule according to the intercession by the young gentlemen which has been viewed last Saturday.
Recognized. The fechtschul is approved to him. But one should inform him at the same time that my gentlemen (the councilors) have a complaint about it. That he is able to solicit the young gentlemen to ask for replies to his supplications, from this he should refrain in the future; for my gentlemen know to reply him and other citizens at their convenience.
Brack is no stranger to knocking heads with the council by this point, with him being part of a complaint against the night's watch back in ‘68, and this case will be part of a trend of Wygand being at odds with the council during his whole life in Strasbourg. Perhaps he went too far in the eyes of the council, causing them to balk on approving any fencing regulations. This is the last mention of “ordnung des fechtens” relating to Brack.
2/23/1577
Georg Kellerle fechtschul requests which mentions necessity of a tower guard present (Platy T/T)
Not a regulation note itself, but is an explicit instance of the regulation regarding having security personnel present at fechtchul as mentioned in the “Martial Culture” article.
[...] Vnnd soll man eyn thurnhütter wie von altersherpetacht auch vff die fechtschule ordnung, d[er] fluch und ander Vngebür abschaff.
Additionally, a thurnhueter - as has been intended since old [times] - shall “be put on” the fechtschul ordinance, who suppresses curses and other impropriety.
9/22/1599
Georg Kellerle submits a request for new fencing regulations (Platy T/T)
This one is really well transcribed and translated. It follows similar trends in previous submissions, citing other cities having regulations, “knightly arts” getting name dropped, and a focus on it being a noble and good thing which can be kept that way through regulation.
Görg Kellerlin d[er] fechter vbergibt suppl[ikati]on darin er erzelt wie in anderen frey & Reichs Stätten allerhand ordnung in d[er] Ritter messigen kunst des fechtens fergesch[ie]ben seindt, die anweisung geben welcher gestalt heimische & fremdde fechter die schul ansbrug erwerben in anrichtung und eröffnung auch haltung vnd im fechten recheng stellen, damit nit durchvnd meng & leichtfertige leppigkeit die vralte Ritter massige Kunst in abgeng gerahten. D- dan[n] alhie solche Kunst noch täglich geübt auch viel fechtschulen gehalten werden & alter kein ordnung. Geb er an Ihn[?] solche ersinnen wollen.
Bitt auch ein ordnung zu machen. Welches dahrin gemeint damit Vndahtige vnd Landtstreicher ehe sie schul halten di[e] prob thun & der ordnung gemeß zu halten.
Erkant. Man soll die articel von imme empfangen vnnd [a]ls bereden ob inne zu willfahren oder nicht.
Görg Kellerlin the fencer submits a supplication, within it he recounts how in other Free Imperial Cities various ordinances concerning the knightly art of fencing have been enacted, which issue instructions on how local and foreign fencers receive permission to prepare and open [fechtschule], also how [they are] held and what gets charged [for] fencing; so that the ancient knightly art doesn't decline through quantity and spurious tomfoolery.
Here this art is practiced daily and many fechtschule are held but there has never been an ordinance. He declares that he wants to devise such [rules].
[He] requests to also enact an ordinance. Which provides that idlers and vagabonds prove themselves and hold [fechtschule] according to the ordinance.
Recognized. One should receive the articles from him and then discuss if they are to be followed or not.
9/29/1599
Georg Kellerle follows up on the above request after a Jacob Beck fechtschul request (Platy/WIP T/T)
[...] Herr Auer anmeldet d[as]z der Kellerlin [...] & er seine fechter ordnung einlegt.
Mister Auer declares that Kellerlin [...] submits his fencing regulations.
The index for the above Jacob Beck request mentions guards and mischief (Platy T/T)
Fechtschulen wegen vnfug sollen die Meister ein Thurnhueter zuge[?] st auf die schul bestellen
[Concerning] Fechtschulen, because of mischief the masters shall summon a thurnhueter to the school
4/10/1602
Georg Kellerle follows up with the council about his submission 2 years earlier (Platy/WIP T/T)
It seems that Georg’s 1599 note went nowhere, and he has to ping the council again to try and get movement on it.
Gorg Kellerlin p A[d]v[ocatu]s Mahnel [... erinnern …] vor 2 Jaren vbergebene supplion umb ein ordnung so auf den fechtschulen gleich in andern Reichstaten gebrauchig alhie auch solte gehalten werden. Vnd derweil[?] die selb zu bedacht gezogen und noch kein resolution erfolgt, Bitt er umb beferderung
Gorg Kellerlin, through advocate Mahnel, [... reminds about …] the supplication which has been submitted two years prior, concerning regulations like they are in use in other Imperial Cities, [these] should also be upheld here. And because this matter has been considered [carefully] and no resolution has been made yet, he requests expedition.
3/23/1608
Georg Kellerle, Hans Grasman, and a “David" submit fencing regulations again (Platy T/T)
Gorg and Hans (who would go on to be in the top fechtschul requesters) request that Imperial privileges given to the freyfechter be respected by the city authorities.
Weg[en] d[er] frey fechter erscheinen Gorg Kellerlin, Hans Grasman & ein fremder David.
Erkant. Vbergeben suppl[icati]on dorin anmelden welcher gestalt der Key Matt. sie mit privilegien ordnung & articulen begebet. [...]
Derweil sich dan[n] vil[?] vnordnung hir zutragen im fechten & underrichten.
For the free fencers appear Gorg Kellerlin, Hans Grasman & a stranger David.
Recognized. They submit a supplication, within it they declare in which manner the Imperial charter bestows upon them privileges, rules and articles. [...]
In the meantime, much disarray is happening here in fencing and tutoring.
5/28/1608
Georg Kellerle submits fencing regulations documents, will be discussed (Platy T/T)
Another follow up entry, but this time with a mention of “official document” following the submission. I was unable to find any document or entry in this, the MR records, nor the XV council records. Georg would request his last recorded fechtshul the next year after almost a decade of trying to affect change in the regulations.
Gorg Kellerlin d[er] freyfechter vbergibt suppl[icati]on vnd dabey ein besch[rie]bne ordnung wie es im fechten ordentlich soll gehalten vnnd bitten vmb confirmation. Wie auch vmb die besigelte patent wegen Key privilegien solche auf nechsten Sontag vor seiner schulen haben anzuschlagen.
EK die ordnung soll man bedenken vnd patent folgen lassen.
Gorg Kelerle the freyfechter submits a supplication and with it a written set of rules on how things shall be done properly in fencing. He requests confirmation. Also [he requests] the [official] sealed patent concerning Imperial privileges which he has to post next Sunday before his schule.
Recognized, the ordinance shall be discussed and the patent shall follow.
Additionally, in the marginalia of this note the scribe writes… (Platy T/T)
Was sie veg[en] [??] Key Privilegien zur offnen eingeben hatt er Gorg heut nachmittag von mir erfrag[t]
What they enter about Imperial privileges, for public [viewing], he, Gorg, has learned it from me this afternoon.
So Gorg knows from the person who wrote this that he has to post the patent for public viewing. But even after all of this, the most mention of actual documents, imperial charters, and a public posting, there were still no official fencing regulations entered into any Council records nor MR regulations book.
1/13/1610
Jacob Beck note which mentions the 14 day fechtschul gap
Index for the above entry which also states this (Liam + Platy T/T)
fechtschulen sollen nuhr zu 14 tagen erlaubt werden
fencing schools should only be allowed every 14 days
Conclusions and Further Research
The 1608 Kellerle notes which explicitly mentions an official document and public posting is the most compelling trail of breadcrumbs to follow. However, I was unable to track down an official passage in that same year (or following year’s) XXI, XV, or MR records which correlates to this entry. And given that way more skilled HEMA nerds have also dug into this problem, it makes me wonder if even if the documents DID exist, they have been lost to time. The mystery of the actual regulations of fencing in Strasbourg persist, but perhaps opening up these documents will help get more eyes on the case and advance towards a discovery!
Thank you to Platy for your continued assistance in checking over my transcriptions and providing historical insights during the research project. I cannot emphasize how much I appreciate your expertise!