
Medieval Combat in Colour
A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat
Hans Talhoffer(Author)
Greenhill Books (Publisher)
Published on 1. July 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-1-78438-285-8 (ISBN)
Description
Hans Talhoffer's professional fencing manual of 1467 illustrates the intricacies of the medieval art of fighting, covering both the 'judicial duel' (an officially sanctioned fight to resolve a legal dispute) and personal combat.
Combatants in the Middle Ages used footwork, avoidance, and the ability to judge and manipulate timing and distance to exploit and enhance the sword's inherent cutting and thrusting capabilities. These skills were supplemented with techniques for grappling, wrestling, kicking and throwing the opponent, as well as disarming him by seizing his weapon. Every attack contained a defence and every defence a counter-attack. Talhoffer reveals the techniques for wrestling, unarmoured fighting with the long sword, pole-axe, dagger, sword and buckler, and mounted combat.
This unparalleled guide to medieval combat, illustrated with 268 contemporary images, provides a glimpse of real people fighting with skill, sophistication and ruthlessness. This is one of the most popular and influential manuals of its kind.
Combatants in the Middle Ages used footwork, avoidance, and the ability to judge and manipulate timing and distance to exploit and enhance the sword's inherent cutting and thrusting capabilities. These skills were supplemented with techniques for grappling, wrestling, kicking and throwing the opponent, as well as disarming him by seizing his weapon. Every attack contained a defence and every defence a counter-attack. Talhoffer reveals the techniques for wrestling, unarmoured fighting with the long sword, pole-axe, dagger, sword and buckler, and mounted combat.
This unparalleled guide to medieval combat, illustrated with 268 contemporary images, provides a glimpse of real people fighting with skill, sophistication and ruthlessness. This is one of the most popular and influential manuals of its kind.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Colour illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 154 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
789 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78438-285-8 (9781784382858)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Talhoffer Hans Talhoffer
Medieval Combat in Colour
A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat
E-Book
11/2018
Greenhill Books
€5.99
Available for download
Person
HANS TALHOFFER was a fifteenth-century German fencing master. He authored at least five fencing manuals and made his living teaching and training people for trial by combat. The Translator and editor, MARK RECTOR, is a world-renowned practitioner of historical swordsmanship.