The affects that Religion had on the Fencers of the Rennaisance era have often been overlooked in many Modern day, Scholarly reconstructions of the Kunst des Fechtens. Especially with regard to the Middle High Rennaisance period of the Holy Roman Empire. Christianity was in turmoil and the effects of the reformists were changing the allegiances of many in Germany. The Church was all powerful, and influenced many of the decisions of the day. As well as the Leadership of Countries, the Leadership of Armies, was heavily influenced by the Church. Successors were arranged for by ubiquitous Marriages, all sanctioned by the Church.
Even after the decline of the Knight, and the rise of more Freedoms, the Church remained a predominant factor in all things.
The Fechschulen were not excluded. That all the known Orders or Guilds of Fencers, had chosen a Holy Saint as their Patron, is a very revealing source of how the Church influenced them. The Guild Histories are repleat with examples of the role that Christianity played.
Many poems were written by the fencers, celebrating and detailing their own personal participation in the Fighting Games. These poems were almost prayer-like in their textual formats. In addition, one has only to look at the earliest known fechtbuch to see Tonsured Monks, wielding Sword and Buckler.
With the coming of such Freedoms as the decline in Knightly Rule provided, Man soon questioned the very Faith that was so pervasive throughout all the Lands. The Reformation certainly changed the Face of Europe, and not just in ways Spiritual, the various fractions that further broke from the Reformed church, have all influenced their Trade Guilds. These changes can be seen in updates to traditonally accepted ways. The Kunst des Fechtens does not go untouched either. The fighting arts were Quick to adapt and evolve in the presence of danger.
These Wars Arts eventually evolved into a pastime of sorts. Whose many purposes can only be speculated at
In addition to being a Guiding Light to many great civilizations, Organized Western Religion has historically proven to have a dark and destructive side to it.
And early in the beginning of Christianity, there were provisions made for the preservatiuon of the Faith. One has only to look at the Crusades to the Holy Lands, to see the Power of the Cross. A symbol of Christian Faith, that inspired men to Fight and Die.
Written into the inceptive rules of the Religion is the Right to preserve the religion by whatever means necessary. this usually meant exterminating any threat. That the Jews of Europe were always considered a threat, is characterized by the following:
"In the end I come back again to the baptized Jew Ott. He probably still came to honours, because he was baptized, just as before as Lienhard Sollinger swears , no disbelievers did he want to teach, so were the fencing pupils also often very strictly against the Jews. The Prague Federfechter had in their charters, confirmed by Emperor Rudolf II, sub: 9 this sentence:
"Because it is found that in the City of Prague and also elsewhere the Jews of the Marxbruder, only for the disdainful profit do they act in a scholarly and informed manner. Thus that they sometimes in the schools publicly fenced and themselves were mentioned as Marxbruder, Who is unadorned and a Christian reproved, for this reason, will those of the Feather be forbidden from teaching Jews and/or the Unbaptized, neither around nor for any money are they to be taught the art of fencing nor are they permitted to know it's secret techniques and parts; but if one Jew there for himself steps forward, is he abolished and none is permitted to wave the sword against him. The masters of the Feather however, may apply commoner tests, but such an overstepping of bounds would unite the Jews through their informed masses by being taught, so only after they are recognized by the first Hauptleut either with enrollment in the school, trained for one year long, or should in other ways by a Monetary fine be subjected to . (Dr R. Naumann Serapeum 1844)
It is unclear whether the Marxbruder allowed the Jews to be members, it would seem apparent that some were Baptized and therefore considered acceptable to the Christians. It almost appears that this was an attempt by the Federfechter to cast insult at the Marxbruder. The later is highly doubtful, as this was an official portion of the Charters for the Newly Privileged Fencing Guild of the Feather. Remembering that Kaiser Rudolf II had also, re-granted the Marxbruder their longstanding privileges. it is highly unlikely that the Kaiser would be pitting one group against another. Perhaps the Marxbruder were not so discriminating as to who they would accept money from to teach. Clearly, the Federfechter were!
And yet this may be a sign that the Marxbruder had fallen slightly in favor with the Kaiser.
For there to be another Guild given privilege by the Emporer, is a telling sign of Politics at work. And given this particular Hapsburg Emporer's peculiarities and penchants, it is believeable. Rudolph II became known as the "Mad Emperor" largely due to his love of collecting things. And also his knowledge of historical Hapsburg genealogy ensured the continuation of several important aspects there. Most significantly, the ancient right of the Hapsburg rulers' Privelegium Maius, this was asserted by Rudolph IV, in the 14th century, and was nothing short of assuming the right to total Power, more than just approval of the Papacy in Rome, because it was put forth that the Hapsburg Lineage was traceable back to the Caesars of Early Rome. Not all Hapsburgs Rulers used this Privelege, but those involved with the Fencing Arts surely did. Frederick III, Maximillian I, Rudolph II, all invoked the right to Ordain and establish Knightly Orders through this. It was Frederich III who established the Knightly Order of St George, in the 1460s. Also the Marxbruder in 1480's and the Landesknecht also in the 1460's. Yet the Brotherhood of St George had already existed for centuries.
The religous implications here are obvious as well. The year 1608 was only too close to the thirty years war that decimated Germany, based on religious differences. There is no indication from known Marxbruder works that this inclussion of the Jews was encouraged. And does seem antithetical to the whole Christian Religous overtones of a Guild like the Marxbruder. Which have always been associated with Not only the Holiest Mother the Virgin Mary, but the Celestial and Virulent Apostle Saint Mark.
Revealingly, the above works are indicative of the early anti-semitism, practiced throughout Europe. One has only to look at a cross section of the Jewish Histories of Medievel to rennaisance Europe to see the persecution, that these people were subjected to. Series of bad weather, that hampered crop growth, could be blamed on the Jews. Losses on the battlefield could conveniently be blamed on them as well. The emergence of many extremist forms of Christianity owe their inception to anti-semitism. That the Jews were housed in a segregated section of a city is well known, Through the histories of German cities are portions telling of how the Townspeople, coming together, marching to the Jewish Quarter, and burning it down, killed many of the inhabitants. Many early 19th century German writers include accounts of this in their Histories of Early Germany. One has only to read the works of Abrahm a Sancta Clara, the Court preacher of Leopold I, whose seething hatred of all non Chistians was unfortunately, regarded as Gospel.
There are many examples of Christianity throughout the Fechtschulen Poems written by both Marxbruder and Federfechter.
Examples of this can be found in simple poems.
The 1589 works of Schwerdt Meister Christoph Roesner are repleat with prayers,hymns, praises and Glories. And even the lyrics to a Song, sung to the tune of a popular Church Hymn. These lyrics also tell a concise tale of the Kunst des Fechtens then practiced by the Marxbruder. From begininng to end, he does all things in the name of God. And give thanks and praise to God, with all of his endeavours.
Here is an excerpt from the dedication page of Roesner's Poem:
To Honor The worthy and Nobleborn Sir Mr.
Wentzelao from Schmirsitzksi
Squire from Nacht and Quartz
Your most Gracious Sir
God's grace and Blessings through Christ our Savior Amen
And later in the poem:
Sir May God award us Grace and favor
Its right to use the Knightly Arts
that you yourself would like to learn
With it you'll earn great Gentlemans Honor
And here he even speaks of Maximillian the First:
Roman Emperor Majesty
Maximilian the First
Through Chistian Love he led
The following short Poem is from an avowed Marxbruder and Master of the Sword by the name of Hansen from Ulm, writing about a Fechtschulen in Dusseldorf in 1585; *3
I swing in the Name of Jesus Christ
And fear no Fencer no matter how wild he is
Is an Obstinate Brother at Hand
When encountered, you must yield with shame
Therefore Drummer, drum on
I've something in store for his Head
Religion is by far, the most grossly overlooked Historical aspect in modern reconstructions of the Original Fencing Arts. The very motivations of the Original Fencers were often influenced by Faith. And yet, today, where do we see mention of this? Why, you ask is it important to understand this phenomenon? Because it was an integral part of these Arts. If we wish to fully understand the whole of these Arts, then I believe it is imperative we understand the Motivations behind the Courage needed to fence without fear. While it won't teach us any particular techniques, it will show us the confidence these Original fencers were endowed with. That confidence, combined with diligent practice and training, allows for a greater physical understanding.
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