The Art of Combat: A German Martial Arts Treatise of 1570

About Joachim Meyer

JOACHIM MEYER was born in Basel in Switzerland in approximately 1537 possibly the son of Jacob Meyer a stationer and Anna Freund. He became a burgher of Strasbourg by marrying a widow in 1560 most likely during his apprenticeship as a cutler. He made a living as both a cutler and a professional fencer until 1570 in which year he published his Art of Combat - the book that made him famous. The making of this book however left him deeply indebted and the search for potential buyers led him to leave Strasbourg and work as a Master-of-Arms at the court of the Duke of Schwerin. Unfortunately he died shortly after his arrival on 24 February 1571 at the age of just thirty-four leaving the burden of his debt to his widow and brother-in-law. JEFFREY L. FORGENG is curator of the Worcester Art Museum's Higgins Collection the second largest collection of arms and armour in the Americas and also teaches as Adjunct Professor of History at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His academic work specialises in European treatises on the use of arms and armour. His publications include translations of Royal Armouries MS I.33 the earliest known treatise on swordplay and of Joachim Meyer's Lund manuscript. Forgeng was for many years an editor for the Middle English Dictionary and has published extensively on topics including the Robin Hood legend the history of games and sports and the history of daily life.