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Pieces of Ringeck
The Definitive Edition of the Gloss of Sigmund Ainring

by Sigmund Ainring, Michael Chidester, and Dierk Hagedorn (foreword by Tea Kew)

Sigmund Ainring is one of the most important fencing masters of the Liechtenauer tradition. The only member of the fellowship of Liechtenauer to offer an explanation of his long sword teachings, Ainring’s treatise is part of the bedrock of HEMA today. Where previous books have focused on only one or two copies of his work, this new edition by Michael Chidester and Dierk Hagedorn incorporates all nine known manuscripts and allows us to fully appreciate the breadth of Ainring’s teachings.

Included is a new translation of Ainring’s gloss on the unarmored sword and the spear and sword in armor, on horse and on foot, streamlined for easier reading and based on 20 years of advancement in our understanding of Liechtenauer’s art; the translation of the long sword also includes illustrations from the Cluny Fechtbuch, the Glasgow Fechtbuch, and other sources for the first time. In addition, each copy of Ainring’s text is transcribed and translated separately, arranged side-by-side so they can be easily compared. To round this off, it features introductory material about Johannes Liechtenauer, Sigmund Ainring, Hans Medel, and Albrecht of Bavaria, as well as a discussion of the gloss tradition and the structure of Liechtenauer’s teachings and a codicological study of all nine manuscripts included in this book.

This is the first major work on Ainring in almost 20 years and the only one you’ll ever need.

Version: 1st edition (December 2024)
Length: 496 pages

Hardcover

Price: $59.99
ISBN: 978-1-953683-41-0
Dimensions: 7 ⅖ × 9 ⁷⁄₁₀ × 1 ¼ in.; 3 lbs.

Contents

Foreword by Tea Kew …  i

Preface …  ⅲ
Michael Chidester

Introduction: Why I used to despise the Sigmund Ringeck manuscript …  1
Dierk Hagedorn

1. The fame of the manuscript–rightfully deserved, or not so much? 1 ― 2. Master Sigmund, what was your name again? 4 ― 3. Patron, master, and apprentice 4 ― 4. Sigmund and the others 6 ― 5. I would like to see some pictures, please 8 ― 6. Get a nib–that could be a tad tidier 10 ― 7. To lose one name may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose many looks like carelessness 10 ― 8. Is it any good, though? 12 ― 9. Conclusion 15

1. Historical context …  17
Michael Chidester

1.1. Johannes Liechtenauer, the grand master 17 ― 1.2. Sigmund Ainring, the teacher 22 ― 1.3. Hans Medel, the reviser 23 ― 1.4. Albrecht, the student 24 – 1.4.1. The many Wittelsbach Albrechts 24 – 1.4.2. Albrecht Ⅲ ‘the Pious’ 27 – 1.4.3. Connections to Liechtenauer 30

2. Structure of the gloss …  33
Michael Chidester

2.1. Text and gloss 33 – 2.1.1. Hans Liechtenauer 34 – 2.1.2. Hans Lecküchner 40 – 2.1.3. Joachim Meyer 41 ― 2.2. The structure of Liechtenauer’s Record 41 – 2.2.1. The foreword 42 – 2.2.2. Fencing with the ‘long’ sword 42 – 2.2.3. Armored dueling on horse and on foot 47

3. Combined translation …  51
Michael Chidester

3.1. Long sword 53 ― 3.2. Mounted fencing 126 ― 3.3. Armored fencing 139

4. Manuscript discussion …  153
Michael Chidester

4.1. GF-Glasgow fight book 157 ― 4.2. JMR-Joachim Meyer-Rostock 166 ― 4.3. SR-Sigmund ain Ringeck fight book 173 ― 4.4. Other manuscripts 181 – 4.4.1. AD-Albrecht Dürer 181 – 4.4.2. AR-Anton Rast 185 – 4.4.3. HM-Hans Medel 187 – 4.4.4. HS-Hans von Speyer 189 – 4.4.5. P-Paris fight book 191 – 4.4.6. WP-Willibald Pirckheimer 193 ― 4.5. Comparison and analysis 194 – 4.5.1. Long sword 196 – 4.5.2. Armored fencing 200 – 4.5.3. Mounted fencing 201 – 4.5.4. Conclusion 201

5. Reading apparatus …  205
Michael Chidester & Dierk Hagedorn

5.1. Transcription notes 205 ― 5.2. Translation notes 206 ― 5.3. Layout notes 207 ― 5.4. Long sword 209 ― 5.5. Armored fencing 363 ― 5.6. Mounted fencing 416

Appendix 1: Hans Medel overflow …  443

Appendix 2: Concordance …  445

Glossary …  451

Bibliography …  459

About the authors …  483