Codex 3227a of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg (also known as Hs. 3227a, GNM 3227a, Nürnberger Handschrift GNM 3227a) is a manuscript of 169 folia, dating from the late 14th century. The composition of the manuscript is sometimes dated to 1389 on the basis of the calendar on fol. which covers the years 1390—1495.
The manuscript is a pragmatic notebook apparently compiled for the scribe's personal use. It contains notes on a variety of topics, including alchemy, magical formulas, chemical recipes for fireworks, paints, medicine, ironworking, etc.
A substantial portion of the manuscript is a combat manual, making it of particular notability for the study of Historical European Martial Arts. It is the earliest record of the German school of fencing in the tradition of Johannes Liechtenauer. Liechtenauer is herefor the first time mentioned by name, and his teachings quoted. His tradition of martial arts, especially the fencing with the longsword would remain influential in Germany throughout the 15th and for much of the 16th century.
On fol. 43r, the name Hanko Döbringer is written on the page margin. In early surveys of the ms. content[according to whom?], this was taken as a possible mark of the scribe, and because of this the ms. has sometimes been called "Codex Döbringer" or similar. After the manuscript has been transribed, it became clear that the name Döbringer is merely inserted in the margin because it was accidentally omitted from the list of fencing masters given on that page. The page in question introduces some additional fencing techniques of "other masters", summarily identified as Hanko Döbringer, Andres Juden , Jost von der Neißen and Nidas Preußen. These four masters would therefore be contemporaries of Liechtenauer whose teachings are only preserved in this brief addendum to Liechtenauer's blozfechten czu fusse (unarmoured foot combat).
Contents:
- 1r - 5v treatise on fireworks (Marcus Graecus: Liber Ignium)
- 5v magic formulas in Latin ang German
- 6r recipes for powders used for painting
- 6v - 10v Latin recipes (paint, alchemy, medicine)
- 11r - 12r German instructions for the strengthening of iron (Von dem herten. Nu spricht meister Alkaym...)
- 12v - 13r alchemical recipes in Latin
- 13v - 17v treatise on sword fencing, on foot, on horseback, unarmoured or armoured (kunst des fechtens mit deme swerte czu fusse vnd czu rosse blos vnd yn harnuesche)
- 18r - 40r teachings of Johannes Liechtenauer on unarmoured foot combat. (Liechtenauers blozfechten czu fusse)
- 43r - 45v teachings of other masters, in verse (Hanko Döbringer, Andres Juden, Jost von der Neißen, Nidas Preußen).
- 47r - 48v glosses on technical terms of the preceding section
- 52v on sportive (non-serious) fencing (Schulfechten)
- 53r - 60v teachings of Liechtenauer on combat on horseback and armoured combat with spear and sword.
- 62r fragment on wrestling
- 64r - 65r recapitulation of the teachings of Liechtenauer
- 66v - 73v astrological texts, magical and medicinal recipes, onomatomancy
- 74r fragment on combat with sword and shield
- 74v - 77v recipes for paint, tumors, metal and ivory treatment
- 78r fragment on combat with the long-staff
- 79r - 81v miscellaneous Latin recipes, treatment of gems, preparation of a miraculous potion
- 82 on combat with the long knife (Messer)
- 83v Latin calendar, 1390-1495
- 84r - 85r on combat with the dagger
- 85 magical recipes
- 86r - 89r Liechtenauer on wrestling, interspersed with additional recipes
- 90v - 165v recipes for dental hygiene, various alchemical recipes, food recipes, nonsense recipes, in various hands
- 166r - 169v index to the recipes in the manuscript, partly illegible
External links
- [1] A side-by-side translation of Liechtenauer's Blossfechten from Codex MS 3227a courtesy of David Lindholm and the Association for Renaissance Martial Arts.