IN SERVICE OF THE DUKE: The Fighting Treatise of Paulus Kal

This is the world's first glimpse of the spectacular color and amazingly clear presentation of swordsmanship and martial tradition from 15th century Germany. Christian Henry Tobler, Chivalry Bookshelf, and the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Munich, have combined their strengths to produce a limited facsimile translations of one of the most important treatises in the tradition of Master Johannes Liechtenauer.

This leather-bound and slip-cased volume presents each of Kal's close to two hundred full color plates, faithfully produced at full scale in an oversized book, capturing the minute detail for the myriad examples of armour, arming clothes, and actions associated with various forms of feats of arms, including the judicial duel, jousts, tournaments, in and out of armour, on foot and on horseback.

Included techniques span the range of 15th century weapons, including the lance, messer, sword and buckler, dagger, longsword, and unique presentations of the dueling shield — even a dispute fought between a man and a woman! Kal's treatise is a treasure-trove of detail for students of military or chivalric history, Western martial arts, medieval costume, jousting, reenactment or foot combat.

Author Christian Henry Tobler presents a full transcription and English translation of the treatise, plus a detailed analysis of every plate and its relationship to other works from the Fechtbücher tradition, revealing a master whose manuscript is a far more canonical representation of Liechtenauer's Art than any other illustrated source, including his now more famous contemporary, Hans Talhoffer. This volume contains a substantial introduction, including historical information on Paulus Kal, a veritable 15th century success story, and his patron, Duke Ludwig the Rich of Bavaria. Also included are two appendices, a glossary, and copious notes.

Errata, Revisions, and Further Observations Regarding In Service of the Duke

FIGHTING WITH THE GERMAN LONGSWORD

Fighting With the German Longsword distills the foundational concepts that underly the German system and presents them in a logical order complete with drills and photographic support. With it, students of German swordsmanship can build their skills in a well-organized and sensible progression of skills. Fighting draws from the corpus of German manuscripts, including those of Hanko Döbringer, Sigmund Ringeck, Hans Talhoffer, Paulus Kals, the von Danzig fechtbuch, Jud Lew, Hans von Speyer, and Joachim Meyer. Most of the work is based on Mr. Tobler's original translations, tempered by his experience with the system as a whole.

No look at the historical techniques would be complete without close quarters work, and focus is given to the key principles of the Drei Ringen or "Three Wrestlings". Using this simple system, the fundamentals of the close quarters Krieg may be easily integrated. These principles are extended to the wrestling at the sword, in and out of armour. The sections on spear and half-swording step the combatant through an application of the principles in such a way that they can be applied to any martial system, including the study of historical swordsmanship for its own sake, for use in armoured tournaments, for stage, and for reenactment purposes.

SECRETS OF GERMAN MEDIEVAL SWORDSMANSHIP: Sigmund Ringeck's Commentaries on Liechtenauer's Verse

Secrets is a 2002 translation and interpretation of the 15^th Century fighting manual (or 'fechtbuch') of Master Sigmund Ringeck, at the time a master at arms in the employ of the Duke of Bavaria. His work is primarily a commentary on the work of Master Johannes Liechtenauer, the father of the German longsword tradition. Master Liechtenauer wrote his teachings as a series of cryptic verses - later masters, like Ringeck, interpreted those verses, providing commentary on their meaning. The book is approximately 400 pages and is hardbound. Over 800 photographs depict techniques for fighting with swords unarmoured, fighting with sword and buckler, wrestling and grappling, and fighting in armour on foot and on horseback.

Errata, Revisions, and Further Observations Regarding Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship