Frankfurt’s Masters of the Sword and Their Lost Emblem 🛡️ Part III

The Marxbrüder 1670 armorial augmentation was never lost. It was simply waiting for someone to look in the right place. After a year of searching across Frankfurt, Basel, and Vienna – and after confidently assuming the charter had perished – I finally found it in the last place I expected: a velvet-bound booklet in a special box, surviving the centuries despite forced openings, fire, relocations, and archival reshuffling. And it had been here in Frankfurt all along.

This article presents the first full analysis of this remarkable heraldic achievement.

Although I do not claim to be the first to have rediscovered it¹ – nor the first to have overlooked it (it is rather well-hidden) – I hope the following contributions help to compensate for this oversight:²

• The first extensive analysis of the piece, including a full transcription
• Assistance in preserving and making it publicly available: Similar to the Basel charter of 1541, I requested a high-resolution reproduction which should be openly accessible in the following weeks³
• An updated, high-fidelity vector representation, freely usable by anyone
• A reconstruction of the charter’s and the entire holding’s archival history

For those interested in the history of the charter (and how it managed to elude me), more on that appears toward the end of this article. For now, let’s turn to the document itself.

The Resurfaced 1670 Armorial Augmentation of the Marxbrüder

The long arc of this inquiry finally bent home. In the quiet, expectant days of the winter holidays, I found out that the armorial augmentation by Leopold I was, in fact, not lost; it had been resting here in Frankfurt all along, tucked away in a special box under signature ISG FFM H.18.03 Nr. 32.⁴

Naturally, my curiosity about this original charter – and the precise rendering of the coat of arms within – demanded a closer look. As soon as the archive reopened for the new year, I requested access, eager to see how the physical document compared to its reputation.⁵

First Encounter with the Charter

Ordering manuscripts is always a bit like playing archival roulette — you never quite know what will slide across the counter. This time, instead of the plain A3 envelope typical of many Marxbrüder charters, I was handed a large, flat grey box. It was the sort that immediately tells you you’re in for a surprise.

Opening it with due caution, I found a booklet, roughly A4 in size, bound in regal crimson velvet and fitted with yellow ribbons. While they were unfastened when receiving the piece, I successfully managed to resist the intrusive thought of neatly tying them into bows for the photograph below. Until the high-resolution images arrive, we must make do with my own hasty pictures.

Most striking of all, attached to a gleaming golden thread running down its spine was a curious, UFO-shaped wooden object with delicately smoothed edges and flaking red-gold paint – something like an oversized Baroque yo-yo.

Only after taking in its staggering diameter of roughly 25 centimeters did I realize that this circular wooden box was the skippet protecting Leopold I’s grand Imperial seal (which truly lives up to its name) from melting or cracking.

The Grand Imperial Seal: Iconography and Structure

Opening the lid indeed revealed an ornate red wax seal within a more austere yellow socket. The skippet had not entirely succeeded in protecting it: the seal shows a visible crack toward the lower right and a melted spot at three o’ clock, perhaps incurred by careless handling.

Upon it, two griffons proudly present a U-shaped Iberian shield set within a decorative cartouche – a style particularly fashionable during the Baroque and Rococo (c. 1600–1750), and squarely the period to which this charter belongs.

On the shield appears the haloed double eagle of the Holy Roman Empire with excitedly protruding tongues and on sharp lookout to the left and right. Its chest is adorned with a small heart-shield bearing the arms of Austria and Castile. Presiding over the entire ensemble is the Imperial crown of Leopold I, whose inserted mitre uncannily resembles a well-risen loaf of bread topped with a pious cross.

The shield is embraced by the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Eleven smaller shields representing the kingdoms (e.g., Germany at the center, Bohemia, Hungary) and hereditary lands (e.g., Styria, Carinthia) are neatly arranged around the outer ring. Surrounding them runs a circular inscription with Leopold’s Latin intitulatio:⁶

Leopoldus · Dei · Gratia · Electus · Romanorum · Imperator · Imper · Augustus · Germaniæ · Hunagariæ · Bohemiæ · Coratiæ · Schlavoniæ · zc · Rex · Archidux · Austriæ · Dux · Burgundiæ · Stiriæ · Carinthiæ · Carniolæ · et · Wirtembergiæ · zc · Comtes · Tyrolis · zc ·

Inside the Velvet Volume: Script, Layout, and Contents

Still captivated by the seal’s grandeur, I turned to the velvet-bound volume itself. Inside, ten parchment folios formed the gatherings that contained the Marxbrüder armorial augmentation granted by Leopold. Apparently, the privilege incurred water damage during storage as all pages toward the binding exhibit a pronounced, irregular water stain with dark brown discoloration and marginal foxing.

Set in ornate chancery script, the opening lines “Wir Leopold von Gottes gnaden Erwöhlter […]”⁷ were already familiar to me from the Viennese concept of the Aulic Council,⁸ which I had studied closely for my earlier heraldic reconstruction.

The remaining text is executed in a fluent chancery Bastarda, with the exception of folios 2v to 5v. These contain a copy of Charles V’s 1541 armorial grant – previously discussed in my first article⁹ – penned in a somewhat hurried Kurrent script.

As was customary for imperial privileges of this era, the charter is authenticated by the faded, double-underlined signature of Emperor Leopold I himself, accompanied by the more orderly signature of Imperial Vice-Chancellor Leopold Wilhelm Graf von Königsegg.¹⁰

Recorded within the text is the specific petition of the “Masters of the Long Sword and Experienced Practitioners of Military Exercises of St. Marco and Löwenberg” to renew their old privilege, while also requesting that the Emperor increase their standing.¹¹ In response to this “reasonable request,” Leopold granted the augmentation by citing their “honor, honesty, manliness, good morals, virtue, and reason in fighting, battling, and jousting” (normal stuff).¹²

This decree ensured that the Marxbrüder arms were not merely confirmed but – in the legal phrasing of the Aulic Council – officially vermehrt, geziert und verbessert (“augmented, adorned, and improved”).¹³ This improvement set the stage for the more elaborate heraldic display that followed.

Battle Swords and Marble Pillars: The Blazon of the 1670 Arms

Immediately preceding and surrounding the illuminated arms, the charter provides their formal heraldic description. This blazon, found on fol. 6r to 7v, serves as the legally binding definition to which any reproduction must adhere. In terms of content, the text offered no major surprises, matching the Viennese concept word for word.¹⁴ Nevertheless, encountering this authoritative version in such an artfully rendered form lent the description a weight and permanence that no working copy could replicate.

I provide my translation of the blazon below – and if you are eager to look at the painted arms already, please feel free to skip ahead to the next section. For everyone else: take a deep breath. As befits a Baroque armorial augmentation granted by the Holy Roman Emperor, the description is generous in its heraldic detail, spanning two folios or four pages. It may have been for the best that the Marxbrüder received only one such augmentation.

A quartered shield, whose first and fourth field¹⁵ is black with three golden mountains at the base. On these appears, facing forward, a golden¹⁶ winged lion, with his tongue out, wings spread, and a double tail. A cross is marked on his forehead, a green laurel wreath crowns his head, and above his head appears a golden halo. He stands with his hind paws upon the two rear mountains, holding in his left forepaw a white-striped marble pillar resting on the third mountain. In his right forepaw he raises a saber with a gilded crossguard and pommel, behind himself and upward as if ready for battle.

The second and third field¹⁷ is sky-blue mixed with ruby.¹⁸ Therein appear six jousting lances arranged crosswise with their points upward, three to the right and three to the left. At their center stands an upright pike¹⁹ bearing a tapered blood-red pennon marked with a golden cross. All are held together in the middle with a red band whose ends fly downward.

At the center of the shield appear two men’s arms clad in red with white cuffs reaching toward each other, emerging from clouds on both sides. They hold together a battle sword with a red grip, gilded crossguard and pommel, its point rising toward the open tournament helmet. Instead of the Schilt, the sword bears golden eagle wings with outward turned bases.

Above the shield rests an open noble tournament helmet, to the left with red and white, to the right with golden and black mantling,²⁰ and above adorned with a golden royal crown.

Upon it appears the entirely golden winged lion with his tongue out, wings spread, a double tail, and a golden cross on his forehead, crowned with a green laurel wreath, and a golden halo above his head. He stands with his hind paws on the crown, holding in his left forepaw a white-striped marble column resting on the crown, and in his right forepaw a bare battle sword²¹ with gilded crossguard and pommel and a blood-red grip, raised behind himself for battle.

As exhaustive as this description is, the written word can only capture so much of an armorial grant. While the Aulic Council was still polishing the final phrasing, an armorial painter was at work translating those instructions into a piece of art.

The question remains: how faithfully did the brush follow the pen? To find out, let us take a close look at the physical painting and its iconography – contextualizing it with the later copies, the Viennese concept, and my own humble attempt at reconstruction.

The Painted Arms: Artistic Choices and Heraldic Details

The centerpiece of the privilege – the full-color depiction of the augmented coat of arms – is set within an ornate golden frame on folio 7 recto. Upon first viewing, it becomes clear that the armorial painter took certain liberties with the 1670 blazon. In doing so, he pays direct homage to the composition of Charles V’s original grant of 1541.

Architectural Frame and Allegorical Figures

The arms themselves are set against a picturesque landscape (perhaps Austrian or otherwise Alpine) featuring lush bushes, a calm lake, and distant mountains, all viewed through a Roman-style, pillared doorway. The structure is surmounted by a golden emblem bearing the Imperial double eagle, topped with the mitre crown that we already encountered on the seal.

Flanking the doorway stand two classical figures in golden armor and with plumed helmets: On the left appears Mars, god of violent war, armed with an impractically small saber – hardly suited to this vocation – and a more respectable blue shield, handsomely embellished. On the right stands Minerva, goddess of strategic war, holding a spear tipped with a black pennon.

The Heart of the Achievement: The Shield

With this theatrical frame established, the eye is drawn to the quartered Iberian-style shield standing on an ornately carved stone pedestal at the center:

Quarters 1 and 4: Display the golden lion of St. Mark on a black field. The artist appears to have taken the minor liberty of arming him with a sidesword rather than the prescribed saber, somewhat mirroring the 1541 grant and establishing a dichotomy with the two-handed “battle swords” at center and crest.

Quarters 2 and 3: These originally showed a bundle of golden jousting lances with a red pennon on a blue ground, but have unfortunately suffered significant water damage. Given the blazon and my previous reconstructive work, however, we know with some certainty what they looked like – I provide a high-fidelity depiction in the following section.

Center: From clouds to either side emerge two arms in red sleeves with white cuffs, lifting a golden-winged long sword with a red grip and gilded pommel and cross.

Crest: The winged lion of St. Mark reappears above the noble helmet and its relatively austere crest coronet. Although both this lion and the ones on the shield ought to be depicted with “wings spread,” this one has his to the right thereby mirroring the 1541 grant. He looks slightly upward to the left with a strained grimace – as though he had struck his hindpaw against the massive marble pillar he is obliged to carry. I was admittedly surprised to see the lion still wearing a green laurel wreath.²² I had assumed a head already adorned with both a golden cross and a golden halo would have been deemed sufficient by the Aulic Council’s final reviewer²³ – but I stand corrected.

Symbolism of the Pillar: All three lions bear a white marble pillar under their left forepaw. I interpret this as an homage to Emperor Charles V,²⁴ Leopold’s “cousin and ancestor resting in God”²⁵ and patron of the 1541 armorial grant that is hereby augmented. Charles’ personal emblem consisted of the Pillars of Hercules with the motto PLVS VLTRA (“further beyond”), symbolizing the expansion of his realm beyond the Strait of Gibraltar into the New World.²⁶

Together with the Roman-style framing, the marble pillar also evokes the Translatio Imperii – the transfer of the Imperial mandate from ancient Rome to the Holy Roman Emperor – underscoring the brotherhood’s position as an imperially privileged body and situating it within the ideological lineage of Roma Aeterna. Beyond these associations, the pillar remains a classic emblem of constantia (steadfastness).

Mantling: Flowing from the helmet is an opulent acanthus-leaf mantling: black and gold to the left; red and silver to the right.

I also note that the original colored depiction closely mirrors the later monochrome copy we already encountered in prior articles (which is featured on Wikipedia). Therefore, it is likely that the copyist had access to this original armorial charter. Except for the lack of tincture and resolution, differences appear minor.

Updated Vector Representation of These Marxbrüder Arms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Below is my updated colored vector representation of these arms, now fully aligned with this 1670 source. The few artistic deviations carry no heraldic significance – for instance, the shield shape follows the Viennese concept more closely, and the mantling adopts a slightly different stylistic flourish.

Notably, the lions in fields 1 and 4 continue to wield sabers with a slight curvature. Although the 1670 armorial painter appears to have chosen straight single-handed arms (perhaps sideswords) for his illumination, this is compliant with the legally binding blazon. This choice also ensures greater visual continuity with the later Kaehl print.

While I do not possess Imperial authority, I can at least grant you free usage of these arms under a CC-BY SA 4.0 license. Sources for all vector assets can be found in the Appendix.

A Charter Lost and Found: Tracing the Archival Journey

Before I conclude, it’s worth appreciating the eventful history of this piece – because the story of how it resurfaced is almost as fascinating as the charter itself.

Why the Charter Seemed Lost

The Marxbrüder holdings are not yet digitally catalogued. The archive information system only reveals that there is a total of 64 documents (or 1 m of shelf space), spread among two archival collections with no openly accessible table of contents or internal structure. Earlier scholarship began digitally cataloguing (and transcribing) the first collection (H.18.12) with the charters and records of Frankfurt’s city council.²⁸

The better-researched first half of documents contains every Imperial privilege except the 1541 armorial grant and the 1670 augmentation. This absence initially fueled my suspicion that they had been lost – perhaps in the fires of World War II²⁹ or by other means. When I consulted a colleague about their whereabouts, they confirmed this: to the best of their knowledge, Frankfurt no longer held those specific letters.³⁰

I only arrived at the truth much later, when I examined in detail how the second collection (H.18.03) entered the archive’s holdings. These 32 documents (formerly 55) had been kept separately by the Marxbrüder in their iron guild chest, alongside the brotherhood’s treasury, formerly liturgical objects,³¹ and fencing weapons.

A council protocol from 3 April 1703 reveals that councilman Johann Lorenz Hangmantel had obtained these holdings from the Marxbruder and baker Johann Conrad Hartmann,³² whom the brotherhood’s records identify as a master in 1686.³³

Unsealing the Past: The Baker and the Iron Chest

After vanishing from the records for several decades, the holdings resurface on 10 January 1788 in the possession of Johann Georg Motz, a master baker and councilman.³⁴

As the chest’s key had been lost over the years, Motz tasked master locksmith Laubinger to forcefully open it. This happened under the watchful eye of notary Kappes, along with two of Motz’ colleagues (Lieder and Eiszeller) acting as witnesses. The notary’s detailed records – which include both a narrative account of the forced opening and a comprehensive inventory of the contents – are preserved in the archive as H.18.02, Nr. 27, which I provide a full transcription of in the Appendix.

While the documents were transferred to the archives in 1790,³⁵ the physical objects (including iron chest, seal stamp, fencing weapons, and funds) went to the city arsenal. Driven by the hope that this inventory might hold traces of the missing armorial charter – or the swords – I closely examined the list. Among the items were:

• A brass seal stamp used to secure the guild chest (potentially belonging to the seal discussed earlier).³⁶
• A pair of fencing swords,³⁷ two pairs of lined leather fencing gloves, and a pair of wooden dussacks.
• “A tin box with two locks” containing the renovated 1670 armorial grant by Emperor Leopold I, complete with red velvet covers, yellow-black ribbons, and the great Imperial seal in a red-gilded capsule.

This confirmed that the 1670 charter was still present when the archive first received the Marxbrüder materials. Whether it survived the subsequent centuries – and the devastating wartime fire that claimed half of the collection – remained the next mystery to solve.

History Repeats Itself: The 1863 Reopening and Inventory

The trail led me to the Repertorium of H.18.03 (“Charters and Records of the Societies”),³⁸ an internal index compiled on 9 June 1863. It seems that in the seventy-five years since locksmith Laubinger had forced the lock, little effort had been made to keep better track of the replacement; the chest had sat dormant in the hall of the city scales,³⁹ its key lost once again. Consequently, archivist Georg Ludwig Kriegk and his colleague Theodor Creizenach developed the not entirely novel idea to break open the chest and inventory its contents.⁴⁰

The resulting 21 pages bear witness to the collection’s turbulent history. They include annotations from 1959 identifying which of the original 55 documents were lost during World War II, as well as a third layer of notes from 1989 documenting a subsequent reordering and repackaging of the 32 survivors. The overlapping hands (partially in German Kurrent) and the shifting archival structures made for slow, meticulous work.

A Revelation in the Repertorium

On page 13, under entry Nr. 32, I stopped short. The description matched the ominous tin box containing the 1670 augmentation exactly. A later pencil annotation reemphasized: “original charter in tin box.”⁴¹ Yet, the column that should have indicated whether the document survived the wartime fire remained conspicuously blank.

I turned back to the 1989 revision summary, which explained that the holdings had been renumbered 1–32 and were now kept in two standing boxes and one specially designed lying box. In line with updated preservation standards, the tin container had been replaced by a grey archival carton – reserved for number 32. In principle, the original augmentation should therefore still have been in the depth magazine.

The Charter Resurfaces: From Obscurity into the Records

Despite the holiday lull between Christmas and New Year, I wrote at once to the wonderfully proactive Reading Room team at ISG Frankfurt. They replied just as quickly: the piece had already been set aside for me to examine in early January 2026.

And with that, my earlier research came full circle. A document long hidden was once again accessible. I hope that bringing it back into view will ease future work on the Marxbrüder – and perhaps inspire new questions.

Conclusion: Both Marxbrüder Armorial Grants Recovered

With the resurfacing of the original armorial augmentation, both Marxbrüder armorial grants – 1541 and 1670 – are now securely documented. The charter’s transcription and heraldic analysis clarify the form, meaning, and context of this augmentation, while its reconstructed archival history sheds light on the turbulent path this significant piece has taken.

Its renewed availability – and this article – will, I hope, encourage further research on the Marxbrüder and the broader martial culture of the Holy Roman Empire.

If you enjoyed this article, please consider a donation to help fund my continued research on the Marxbrüder.

Acknowledgements

I am deeply indebted to the Institut für Stadtgeschichte (ISG) Frankfurt for their exemplary support. My sincere gratitude goes to Michael Matthäus, Head of the Old Department (Alte Abteilung), as well as the entire teams of the Reading Room and the Old Department. In particular, I wish to thank Lukas Mayeres for swiftly facilitating access to the archival material and clarifying image rights, and Pia Kühltrunk for kindly coordinating next steps in digitizing this piece for public availability.

This research has also been greatly inspired by my cordial exchange with Sabine Kindel (Archival Pedgagogy) and her excellent talk on the brotherhood’s history at the ISG on 26 May 2025. Similarly, I owe a special thanks to Eric Burkart of Trier University for his patient and inspiring counsel; I am grateful that the has consistently tolerated – and even encouraged – my frequent “archival revelations,” regardless of whether they arrived as formal inquiries or in meme format.

I am also grateful to the Polytechnic Society Foundation for the District Historian (Stadtteil-Historiker) program, within which I wrote this article. In particular, I thank Oliver Ramonat and Katharina Uhsadel for their guidance and encouragement.

My appreciation extends go to Kevin Maurer and Christopher van Slambrouk, whose podcast episode on the Marxbrüder coat of arms (featured in The Fencing Grounds) sparked my initial curiosity to investigate these heraldic achievements in such depth.

Finally, I would like to thank Cathrin Rieger for her unwavering support and encouragement throughout this project.

Appendix and Transcriptions

My transcription of the Marxbrüder Armorial Augmentation (ISG FFM H.18.13. Nr. 32)

[2r]

WIR Leopold von Gottes gnaden Erwöhlter Römischer Käÿßer zu allen Zeitten Mehrer des Reichs in Germanien, zu Hungarn, Böheimb, Dal⸗matien, Croatien und Sclavonien etc. König, Ertz⸗hertzog zu Osterreich, Hertzog zu Burgund, zu Bra⸗bant, zu Steÿr, zu Karnten, zu Cräin, zu Lützenburg, zu Württemberg, Ober und Nieder Schlesien, Fürst zu Schwaben, Marggraff des heÿligen Römischen Reichs zu Burgaw, zu Mähren, Ober⸗ und Nieder Laußnitz, gefürster Graff zu Habspurg, zu Tÿrol, zu Pfirdt, zu Kÿburg und zu Görz, Landtgraff im Elsaß, Herr auf der Windischen Marck, zu Portenaw und zu Salins etc.

Bekhennen für Uns und unsere Nachkommen am heÿl. Reich öffentlich mit diesem Brieff, und thuen kund allermänniglich, daß Uns Unsere den 20. Martÿ 1670. und des Reichs liebe getreẅe N: Meistere des langen Schwerdts und der Militarischen Exercitÿ Kunst erfahrne von S^t: Marco und Löwenbergen in underthänigkheit zu vernehmmen gegeben, was gestalten Ihnen ein adelicher Wappenbrieff von

[2v]

weÿland Unßerem herrn Vetter und Vorfahren Kaÿ⸗ser Carl dem fünfften, glohrwürdigsten andenkhens underm dato Regenspurg den dreÿzehenden Maÿ des fünffzehenhundert ein und vierzigsten Jahrs ertheilet worden, allermasßen Uns Sie solchen in beglaubter formb und abschrifft vorbringen lasßen, und von worth zu worth geschrieben stehet und also lautet.

WIR Carolus der Fünffte von Gottes gnaden Römischer Kaÿser, zu allen Zeiten Mehrer des Reichs, König in Germanien, zu Castilien, zu Arragon, zu Legion, beeder Sicilien, zu Hierusalem, zu Hun⸗garn, zu Dalmatien, zu Croatien, Navarra, zu Gra⸗naten, zu Tolleten, zu Valentz, zu Gallicien, Majori⸗carum, Hispalis, Sardiniæ, Cordubæ, Corsicæ, Murtziæ Giennis Algarbien, Algeciræ zu Gibraltaris, und der Insulen Canariæ, auch der Insulen Indiarum und Terræ firmæ, des Meers Oceani etc. Ertzhert⸗zog zu Österreich, Hertzog zu Burgund, Lotterich, zu Braband, zu Steÿr, zu Kärndten, zu Cräin, Limpurg,

[3r]

Lützemburg, Geldern Wirtenberg, Calabrien, Athenarum Neopatriæ, Graf zu Habspurg, zu Flandern, zu Tÿ⸗rol, zu Görtz, Parsiloni, zu Arthois, zu Burgund, Pfalzgraffzu Hanigau, zu Holland, zu Seeland, zu Pfierdt, zu Lÿburg, zu Namur, zu Rosßilion, zu Ceritan und zu Zutphen, Landgraff in Elsaß, Marggraff zu Lurgaw, zu Oristein, zu Gotiani, und des heÿligen Römischen Reichs Fürst zu Schwa⸗ben, zu Catalonia, Asturia, Herr in Frieß⸗landt auf der Wendisch Marck, zu Portenaw, zu Biscaia, zu Molin, zu Salins, zu Tripoli, und zu Mecheln etc. Bekennen öffentlich mit diesem brieff und thun kundt allermännig⸗lich, daß Wir gütlich angesehen, und betrachtet, Unsere und des Reichs getreẅe N. Meister des langen Schwerdts, und der Brüderschafft Sanct: Marco, solcher Ehrbarkeit, Redtlichkeit, Mannheit, guetter Sitten, Tugendt und vernunfft, im Kempffen und Stechen, sich bey dem heÿligen Reich bißher erzeigt und bewiesen, auch vor Unserer Kaÿl: Maÿl: berühmt worden, und

[3v]

sonderlich die getreẅen willigen dienste, darzu Sie gegen dem heÿligen Reich bißher gethan, und hin⸗führo in künfftige Zeit wohl thun mögen und sollen, und haben darumb mit wohlbedachtem muth, guetem rath und rechtem wissen den Meis⸗tern des langen Schwerdts und ihren Nachkom⸗men dieses nachgeschriebene Wappen und Cleÿ⸗nod, mit nahmen einen schwartzen Schildt, unden mit dreÿen gelben bergen, mitten des Schildts ein gelber Löw mit flüegeln, oben des Kopffs ein Schein, stehend mit den hindern zweÿen füssen auf den bergen, und haltend in der linkhen Vordern hintersich aufwerts ein Schwerdt, und auff dem Schildt ein offener Helmn, auff dem Helm ein goldfarben Cron, auff der Kron ein halber Löw mit flüegeln, oben des Kopffs ein Schein, und haltend in der linkhen Vordern hinder sich auffwerths ein Schwerdt, alß dan dieses Wappen und Cleÿnod in mitte des gegenwertigen Unsers Kaÿserlichen brieffs gemahlt, und mit farben

[4r]

eigentlich ausgestrichen, von neẅem genediglich verliehen und gegeben, Ihnen das also von neẅen auß Römischer Kaÿserlicher Macht⸗Vollkom⸗menheit wissentlich in Krafft dieses brieffs, setzen und wollen, daß nun hinführo die genante Meister des Schwerdts und deren Nachkommen für und für ewiglich, dis iezt bestimbte Wap⸗pen und Cleÿnod haben und führen, der in allen und jeglichen ehrlichen und redtlichen Sachen unnd geschäfften zu schimpf und ernst, mit streitten, kempffen, stechen, fechten, Pannieren, gezehlten auffschlagen, Insiegeln, Pettschafften, Cleÿnoden, be⸗gräbnüssen, und sonsten nach Ihren nottürfften willen und wohlgefallen, auch alle und ieder ehr, würde, gnadt, freÿheiten, Urthel und recht und gerechtigkeit haben, gebrauchen und geniessen sollen und mögen, mint Ämptern und Lehen zu tragen, zu haben, Lehen gericht und Recht zu besizen, Urtheil zu schöpffen, und recht zusprechen, und darzu taüglich schicklich und guet zu sein, in allen gäistlichen

[4v]

und weldtlichen Ständen und Sachen, alß andere Unser und des Reichs Lehens und Wappens genoß Leuth, so solches alles haben, und sich des, auch ihrer Wappen uns Cleÿnod gebrauchen und geniessen von recht oder gewohnheit von Aller⸗männiglichen ungehindert.

Vnd gebithen darauff allen und ieglichen Unseren und des Reichs Churfürsten, Gäistlichen und Weltlichen, Prælaten, Graffen, Freÿherrn, Rit⸗teren, Knechten, Haubtleüth, Burgeren, Landtvögten, Vitzthumben, Vogten, Pflegern, Verwesern, Ambt⸗leüthen, Schultheissen, Burgermeistern, Richtern, Räthen, Kündiger der Wappen, Ehrholden, Presenaten, Burgeren und Gemeinen, und sonst allen anderen Unsern und des Reichs Unterthanen und Getreẅen in was würden Standts oder wesens die seindt, ernstlich und festiglich von Römischer Käÿserlicher Macht mit diesem brieff, und wollen daß Sie die genandten Meister des Schwerdts und ihre Nachkommen, für und für ewiglich an den obberürten Wappen, Cleÿnod und freÿ⸗

[5r]

heiten, damit Wir Sie begabet haben, nicht hindern, sondern Sie deren vorgeschriebener massen, und gänzlich darbeÿ bleiben lassen, verbleiben und darwieder nicht thun, noch jemand andern zu thun gestatten, in keinerleÿ weiße, alß lieb einem ieden sey Unser und des Reichs schwere ungnadt, darzu einer Pön, nemblich zehen Marck löttiges goldts zu vermeiden, die Ein ieder, so offt er freventlich darwider thäte, Uns halb in unser und des Reichs Cammer, und den andern halben theil den offtgemelten Meistern des Schwerdts und ihren Nachkommen unnachläßlich zu bezahlen verfallen sein solle, doch anderen die vielleicht den obgeschriebenen Wappen und Cleÿnoden gleichführten, ahn Ihren Wappen und Rechten unvergrifflich und unschädlich.

Mit Uhrkundt dieses Brieffs versiegelt mit Unserem Kaÿserlichen anhangenden Innsiegel. Gegeben in unser und des heÿligen Reichs Statt Regenspurg

[5v]

am dreÿzehenden tag des Monaths Maÿ, nach Christi Unsers Lieben Herrn und Seeligmachers geburt, im fünffzehenhundert ein und vierzigsten, Unsers Käÿserthumbs im Ein und zwantzigsten und Unseres Reichs im Sechs und zwantzigsten. Ad Mandatum Domini Imperatoris.

Und Unß darauff obernante N: Meistere des langen Schwerdts, und der militarischen Exercitÿ kunst erfahrne von S^t: Marco, und Löwenbergen, die⸗wüetiglich angerueffen und gebetten, daß wir alß ietz Regierender Römischer Käÿser, Ihnen obinserirten Brieff, gnad und freÿheiten in allen seinen inhalt mäinung und begreiffungen zu erneẅern, zu confirmiren und zu bestättigen, wie auch zu vermehren, genediglich geruheten, daß Wir angesehen solche ihre dieswürtiger zim⸗liche bitt, und insonderheit derselben ehrbahrkeit, redtlich⸗keit, mannheit, guete sitten, tugendt und vernunfft in kempfen, streitten und stechen, auch die getreẅe willige dienste so Sie bißhero gegen Uns und dem heÿligen Reich

[6r]

gethan und hinführo noch ferners zu thuen, des underthänigsten erbiethens seint, auch wohl thuen können, mögen und sollen, und darumb mit wohlbedachtem mueth, guetem rath und rechtem wissen, mehrerwehnten Vnsers in Gott ruhenden Herrn Veters Käÿser Carls deß fünfften, ihnen ertheilten Adelichen Wappenbrief, gnad und Freÿheiten, alles seines innhalts, nicht allein genediglich erneẅert, confirmiret und bestättiget, sondern solch ihr adeliches Wap⸗pen und Cleÿnod auch nachfolgender masßen vermehrt, geziert und verbessert, und ihnen und ihren Nachkommen solches hinführo eẅiglich also zu führen und zu gebrauchen, genediglich er⸗laubt und gegönnet; Alß mit nahmen ist ein quartierter Schildt, desßen hinder under, und vordere obertheil oder feldt schwartz, unden mit dreÿen gel⸗ben bergen, darin erscheinet fürwerths ein gelb oder goldtfarber fluegender Löw mit außschlagender Zungen, außgebreiteten flüegelen, doppeltem schwanz, an der stirn mit einem Creütz bezeig⸗net, bekrönet mit einem grüenen Lorber Crantz, und

[6v]

oben des Kopffs einen gülden Schein herumb, stehend mit den zweÿen hinderen füesßen auf den hindern Zweÿen bergen, und haltend in der linkhen vordern under sich eine auff dem dritten berg ruhende weiß gestraiffte marmelsteinere saüle, in der rechten vordern auffwerths mit der spitzen hinder sich zum streit ein bloser Seebel mit vergüldtem Creütz und Knopff; vor⸗der under und hindere ober veldung himmelblaw mit rubinfarben vermischt, darinnen sechs Creützweiß geschräncktte Turniers Lantzen mit ihren spitzen über sich, dreÿ derselben zur rechten, und dreÿ zur linckhen seithen, in deren mitte steckhet auffrechts an einer langen stangen ein rother zurgespitzter blueth fahn, mit einem gülden Creütz bezeichnet, alle in der mitten mit einem rothen bandt, maschenweiß, zusammen gebunden, deren enden abwerths fliegen, in der mitte des quartierten Schilds erscheinen von beeden seithen gegen einander auß einer wolkhen zweÿ roth angethane manns armben, mit weisßen überstulpen, die halten in der mite des Schilds, mit zweÿ zusammen geschlossenen händen ein bloeses

[7r]

schlachtschwerd auffwerths mit der spitzen biß ahn den

[colored armorial depiction]

offenen Adelichen Turniers helmb, mit einem rothen

[7v]

schafft, guldenen Creütz und Knopff, ahnstatt deß schildts an dem schwerd an beeden seithen mit dop⸗pelten gelben Adlers flüegelen, deren schosßen auß⸗werths, auff dem Schild ein freÿer offener adelicher Turnirshelmb zur linckhen mit roth⸗ und weisßer, rechten seithen gelb⸗ und schwarzer helmbdeckhen, und darob mit einer gelben oder goldtfarben Königlichen Cron gezieret, darauff erscheinet der unden im schild beschriebene gantz gelb oder goldtfarber flüegender Löw mit außgeschlagener Zungen, außgebräiteten flüegelen, doppeltem Schwantz, ahn der stirn mit ei⸗nem gulden Creütz bezeichnet, gekrönet mit einem grüenen Lorber krantz, und oben umb den Kopff einen gulden schein, stehend mit den hindern zweÿen füesßen auff der Cron und haltend in der linkhen vordern eine under sich auf der Cron ruhende weiß⸗gesträiffte marmelsteinere saüle, in der rechten vordern Clawen aber, auffwerths hinder sich zum streitt ein blosßes schlachtschwerd mit vergüldtem Creütz und Knopff und blueth rothem schafft; Als dan solch ver⸗merth, gezierdt und verbesßertes adeliches Wappen

[8r]

und Cleÿnod in diesem unseren, libellsweiß geschrie⸗benen, Käÿserlichen Brieff auff dem sechsten blath, ers⸗ter seithen gemahlet und mit farben äigentlicher auß⸗gestrichen ist. Thuen das von neẅem erneẅern, con⸗firmiren, verbesßern und vermehren auß Römischer Käÿserlichen macht volkommenheit, wisßentlich in Krafft dieses brieffs und mäinen, setzen und wollen, daß nun hinführo mehrerwente N: Meistere des langen Schwerdts und deren Nachkommen für und für eẅig⸗lich vorbeschriebenes confirmirt, verbesser⸗ und vermehrtes adeliches Wappen und Cleinod in allen und ieglichen ehrlichen und redlichen sachen und geschäfften zu schimpff und ernst in streitten, stürmen, kempffen, Thurnieren, gestechen, gefechten, veldzügen, Panniren, gezehlten auffschlagen, Insiegelen, pett⸗schafften, Cleÿnoden, begräbnüssen, gemälden und sonsten allen örthen nach ihren notturffetn, willen und wohlgefallen, auch alle und iede ehr, würde, und gnadt, freÿheitten, vortheil, recht und gerechtigkeit haben, gebrauchen und geniesßen sollen und mögen, mit ämbtern und Lehen zu tragen, zu haben, Lehen

[8v]

gericht und Recht zu besitzen, urtheil zu schöpffen und recht zu sprechen und darzu tauglich, schickhlich und guet zu sein, in allen gäist⸗ und weldlichen ständen und sachen, alß andere unsere und des heÿligen Reichs auch unserer Erbkönigreich, Fürstenthumb und Landen Lehens und Wap⸗pens genoß Leüthe, so solches alles haben und sich desßen, auch ihres adelichen wappen, Cleÿnoden und freÿheit⸗en gebrauchen und geniesßen, von recht oder gewonheit von allermänniglich ungehindert, doch Uns, dem Reich, und sonst männiglichen ahn seinen rechten und gerech⸗tigkeiten unvergrieffen und unschädlich.

Vnd gebiethen darauff allen und ieden Churfürsten, Fürsten, gäist⸗ und weldlichen, Prälaten, Grafen, Freÿen, Herzn, Ritteren, Knechten, Haubtleu⸗then, Vitzdomben, Vögten, Pflegeren, Verweeseren, Ambtleüthen, Schultheisßen, Burghermeisteren, Rich⸗teren, Räthen, Kündigeren der Wappen, Erholden, Persevanten, Burgeren und Geminden und sonst al⸗len anderen Unseren und des heÿl: Reichs auch unserer Erbkönigreich, Fürstenthumb und Landen Under⸗

[9r]

thanen und getreẅen waß würden, standts oder weßens sie seindt ernst⸗ und vestiglich mit dießem brieff und wollen, daß Sie vielervänte Meister des langen Schwerds und ihre Nachkommen, ahn obberührtem adelichen wap⸗pen, Cleÿnod und allen freÿheitten, damit Wir Sie be⸗gabet haben, nicht hindern, sondern Sie deren, vorge⸗schriebener masßen, ohne alle irrung, gerühiglich ge⸗niesßen und darbeÿ gentzlich bleiben lasßen, hierwider nicht thuen, noch das iemanden anders zu thuen gestatten in keine weiß noch weeg alß lieb einem Ieden seÿe Unßer und des Reichs schwere ungnad und straaff, darzu eine Pöen nemblich zwäinzig markh löttiges goldts, zu vermeiden, die ein ieder so offt er freventlich darwieder thäte Uns halb in unser und des Reichs Cammer, und den andern halben theil den offtgedachten N: Meisteren des Schwerds von S^t. Marco und Löwenbergen, und ihren nachkom⸗men unnachläßlich zu bezahlen verfallen sein solle. Mit uhrkhund dieß Brieffs besiegelt mit unserm Käÿ⸗serlichen anhangenden Innsiegel, der geben ist in Unser Statt Wienn den zwäinzigsten tag Monaths Martÿ nach Christi unßers Lieben Herrn unnd 

[9v]                                                                                     

Seeligmachers gnadenreichen gebuhrt im sechzehen⸗hundert und siebenzigsten, unserer Reiche deß Römisch⸗en im zwölfften deß Hungarischen im fünffzehen und deß Böheimbischen im vierzehenden Jahren./.

Leopold [m.p.]

V^t. Le[o]pold Wilhelm Graff zu Königsegg. R[eichs]V[ize]K[anzler] [m.p.]

Ad mandatum Sac[rӕ] Cӕs[arӕ] Majestatis proprium

Sources for Vector Assets

Asset	Author	License
Lion’s body	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Lion’s head (crest)	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Lion’s right paw	User: Milenioscuro	CC BY-SA 3.0
Lion’s forked tail	User: MaxxL	CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
Laurel wreath	User: Sodacan	CC BY-SA 4.0
Saber (field 1 & 4)	User: Madboy74	CC0 1.0
Lance (field 2 & 3)	User: Zigeuner	CC BY-SA 3.0
Band (field 2 & 3)	User: Celtus	CC BY-SA 3.0
Cross	Ariane Schmidt	Public domain
Clouds	Olga Salova	PD-RU exempt
Hands & cuffs	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Sleeves	User: MostEpic	CC BY-SA 4.0
Sword at center	User: Madboy74	CC BY-SA 4.0
Wings of sword	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Helmet	User: LowlyLiaison	CC BY 4.0
Mantling	User: Bastianow	CC BY-SA 3.0
Crown	User: Wereszcyński	CC BY-SA 4.0

My transcription of the Marxbrüder Holdings’ 1788 Inventory (ISG FFM H.18.12. Nr. 27)

[3r]

Verzeichniß

desjenigen, was sich in der beÿ Herrn Motz des Raths befindlichen der Löbl. Brü⸗derschaft von St Marco und Löwenberg zugehörigen eisern Kiste, welche, da kein Schlüßel dazu vorfunden gewesen, im Baÿseÿn der Herren Lieders, Eiszeller, Motz, sämtlich des Rats dritter Banck allhier, und in meiner, des Endes unterschrie⸗benen Notarii Gegenwart, durch den Schloßermeister Laubinger, geöffnet worden, vorgefunden, als:

1) ein geschrieben Buch mit braunen ledernen Deckeln, auf der dritten Seiten zu lesen Navitatis Mariae 1491.

2) ein ditto in Schweinleder gebunden de Anno 1575.

3) ein ditto in Pergament de Anno 1609.

4) ein ditto gleichfalls in Pergament de Anno 1609.

5) Ein Rechnungsbuch über die Brüderschaft de Anno 1609.

[3v]

6) ein Register und Meisterbuch de Anno 1629.

sämtlich in 4^fo.

7) ein blechern Schachtel mit zweÿ anhangen⸗den Schlößern, in welcher enthalten, der Brüderschaft von S^t Marco und Löwen⸗berg von weÿland sH Römisch Kaiser⸗lichen Majestät Leopoldo im Jahr 1670. renovirte Wappenbrief auß Pergamt mit rothen sammeten Deckeln und gelb und schwar⸗zen Banden, oben, unten und vorne gebund⸗den, woran an einer goldnen Litzen eine roth verguldete Kapsul, in welcher das groß Kaÿserliche Siegel in roth Wachs gedrückt, hänget.

8) ein Geldstock von Eisenblech mit einem Schloß, in welchem sich befindet:

{curly brackets a)–c): “das Geld ist bei L. Zeughaus[?]-Amt abgegeben worden.”}

a) das Ladensiegel in Meßing gestochen.

b) 13 fl. 50 xr. in einem inwendig beschrie⸗benen Papier eingewickelt, bestehend: in dreÿ Ducaten und alten Münzen.

c) 14 fl. in einer Duᵒtten ebenfalls in alter Münze.

[4r]

9) Verschiedene alte theils auf Pergament theils auf Papier gedruckte Artickeln.

10) Ein länglich hölzernes Futteral, darin⸗nen die Privilegia confirmatoria der Löbl. Brüderschaft von weÿl. Ihro Römisch-Kayserl. Majestät Friedrich an bis auf Leopoldum, zweÿmal, zusammen gebunden, woran ein Capsul mit der Stadt Frankfurt Insiegel hän⸗get, sich befinden.

11) verschiedene Meister Briefe.

12) verschiedene auf Pergament geschrie⸗bene Privilegien.

13) verschiedene Avis Briefe, so die Bruderschaft sich einander zuge⸗schrieben.

Auser obig. specificirten und in der Kisten befindlichen Stücken, gehörn noch dazu und sind noch vorrätig:

[4v]

{curly bracket 14)–16): “sind auf Lobl. Kriegs⸗Zeug Amt gekommen.”}

14) Ein paar Fecht Schwerder.

15) zweÿ paar lederne gefütterte Fecht⸗handschu in einem Sack.

16) ein paar hölzerne Triseeken.

Daß obige Stücke von mir Endes unter⸗schriebenen richtig aufgezeichnet und nach⸗gesehen worden; ein solches attestire hiermit pflichtmäsig.

geschehen Franckfurt am Maÿn den 10. January 1788.

Johann Friedrich Kappes,

Kaiserlich geschworner und dahier immatriculirter Notarius.

---

1. For example, when I informed Eric Burkart of Trier University about the find, he remarked that he had already come across the piece – which, in hindsight, should not have surprised me – though without the opportunity to study it further yet. ↩︎
2. My main takeaway is that the most effective way to discover whether an archival source might exist somewhere is simply to ask. Not all holdings are fully catalogued, and every archivist I had the pleasure of working with (including in Frankfurt) was unfailingly kind, knowledgeable, and extraordinarily helpful. ↩︎
3. I am indebted to the exemplary support of ISG Frankfurt, in particular the Old Department – especially Pia Kühltrunk for taking the time to discuss the matter in depth, and the head of the department, Michael Matthäus. It may still take a couple of weeks until the reproduction is freely available. ↩︎
4. The trail was longer than anticipated. For the detective story of how this charter remained hidden in plain sight, see the “Archival Journey” section toward the end of this article. ↩︎
5. I am grateful to the Reading Room team – Georgina Lienhard, Lukas Mayeres, and Kevin Stumpf – for promptly retrieving this and other items from the depth magazine, providing swift access to the material, and patiently answering a series of very specific questions. ↩︎
6. “Leopold, by the grace of God elected Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor Augustus, King of Germany, Hungary, Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, / Slavonia etc. Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, and Württemberg, etc., Count of Tyrol, etc.” ↩︎
7. “We, Leopold, by the grace of God elected […]” ↩︎
8. AT-OEsTA/HHStA RHR Grat Feud Conf. priv. dt. Exp. 48-3-1, p. 225 ff. After I commissioned digitization of this item in October 2025 and requested full digitization in November 2025, the House, Court and State Archive made the entire convolute accessible, including the Federfechter material under 48-4-1. This constitutes a significant resource for future research on the two fencing societies. The Marxbrüder convolute (436 pages, 1558–1675) remains the most substantial collection outside the Frankfurt holdings and is essential for contextualizing the Imperial privileges. It also includes an ornate and remarkably well-preserved 1580 transumpt of Charles V’s 1541 armorial grant. ↩︎
9. The charter I had found in Basel (PA 111 1) appears to be an original, though the missing seals and signature leave some uncertainty. ↩︎
10. H.18.03 Nr. 32., fol. 9v. ↩︎
11. H.18.03 Nr. 32., fol. 5v. ↩︎
12. H.18.03 Nr. 32., fol. 5v. ↩︎
13. H.18.03 Nr. 32., fol. 6r. In the Holy Roman Empire, these three words were the “magic formula” for an armorial augmentation (“Wappenbesserung”). ↩︎
14. AT-OEsTA/HHStA RHR Grat Feud Conf. priv. dt. Exp. 48-3-1, p. 227 ff. (fol. 2r ff. of the concept). See my second article for an in-depth discussion. ↩︎
15. Literally: “hind lower and fore upper part or field.” ↩︎
16. Literally: “yellow or golden” ↩︎
17. Literally: “fore lower and hind upper quarter.” ↩︎
18. Original: “himmelblaw mit rubinfarben vermischt.” I have not yet encountered this unusual paraphrase for “blue” (Azure). ↩︎
19. Original: “lange Stange” Although the blazon repeatedly mentions this polearm rather than a lance for the center, it appears indistinguishable from the other lances in the colored depiction, the later monochrome copy, and the concept. I therefore conclude that a “lange Stange” with a pennon is simply a banner lance and not depicted differently from the surrounding jousting lances. ↩︎
20. Heraldic directions follow the perspective of the shield-bearer, so left and right appear reversed to the viewer. ↩︎
21. Original: “Schlachtschwert” ↩︎
22. See my analysis of the Viennese concept RHR Grat Feud Conf. priv. dt. Exp. 48-3-1 (p. 227 or fol. 2v ff. for the blazon, and p. 241 or fol. 5r for the armorial illumination). ↩︎
23. Probably Vice Chancellor Königsegg, who is also the second signatory. ↩︎
24. I developed this idea when visiting the excellent special exhibition on printer signs at Gutenberg Museum Mainz. It remains on view until 22 February 2026, and I warmly recommend a visit. ↩︎
25. H.18.03 Nr. 32, fol. 6r. ↩︎
26. In Antiquity, the Strait of Gibraltar was identified with the Pillars of Hercules, marking the finnis terrae or boundary of the known world. ↩︎
27. Adapted from Ruscelli (1584): “Le Imprese Illustri del Leronimo Ruscelli”, p. 103, “Carlo Quinto Imperatore.” ↩︎
28. A team around Jens P. Kleinau had done this, including Dorothee Klein, Daniel Burger and others. Wener Ueberschär was among the initiators. If I find the time, I may supplement this with a similar inventory of ISG FFM H.18.03, the second Marxbrüder archival collection. ↩︎
29. Hils, Hans-Peter (1985): “Meister Johann Liechtenauers Kunst des langen Schwertes,” p. 175. ↩︎
30. In retrospect, this made perfect sense: the charters had been separated from the other privileges and stored elsewhere, effectively invisible to anyone relying on the usual references. ↩︎
31. For protocols on those assets (mostly dating from the 16^th century), see the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations in the Medel Fechtbuch (Cod.I.6.2º.5). ↩︎
32. H.18.02, Nr. 25. ↩︎
33. H.18.02, Nr. 13, fol. 33r. ↩︎
34. ISG Frankfurt contains more sources on him, e.g., his election as sworn guild master of the baker’s trade (H.02.14, 1785-IV). ↩︎
35. cf. H.18.03 “Bestandsgeschichte”. ↩︎
36. Alternatively, it could be the second seal appearing on several letters in the Marxbrüder holdings (e.g., H.18.03. Nr. 7), which shows their 1541 arms – or an entirely different, yet unknown one. ↩︎
37. What is referred to by the HEMAism “Feder(schwert)” today. The period-accurate term is indeed Fechtschwert. ↩︎
38. The taxonomy of the ISG FFM lists the two Marxbrüder archival collections under “Fencing Societies of the Marxbrüder and Federfechter,” although almost all documents pertain to the Frankfurt-based Marxbrüder. ↩︎
39. cf.“Bestandsgeschichte“ of H.18.02. ↩︎
40. ISG FFM Repertorium 168, p. 1. ↩︎
41. Ibid., p. 13. ↩︎

This article is also available in German.

Marxbrüder in Frankfurt: Sites of Memory 🗺️ Part I

The Brotherhood of Our Dear Lady, the Pure Virgin Mary, and the Holy and Mighty Prince of Heaven, Saint Mark – as it is called with a certain verbosity in the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations – was affiliated with the town’s Dominican Monastery at least from the middle of the 15th century to about 1525.¹

We’ll explore this affiliation in the first half of this article. In the second part, we’ll move to Peter’s Churchyard to the north-west of this monastery. It is this place that gave rise to events which would not only end this affiliation, but also leave a lasting imprint on Frankfurt’s municipal history.

Below, you see a map of the old town of Frankfurt as it would have looked back then, marked with these two locations.

Frankfurt on the Verge of Modernity

From the late Middle Ages to early modern times, Frankfurt was home to around 10,000 inhabitants,² making it a medium-sized German city. However, its significance dwarfed its size by far: It served as the electoral city for Holy Roman Emperors and the established coronation site from the mid-1500s onward.

Located at the heart of German-speaking lands, Frankfurt also was a central trade hub with the Low Countries, France, and Italy. This reflected in the biannual trade fairs, one around Easter and another in September, attracting vast streams of merchants and craftsmen from nigh and far. These fairs were massive public events that could double the city population³ for the three weeks they lasted. In that time, people made deals, attended church service, ate, drank, celebrated – and fenced. It is during those fairs that the Marxbrüder – a decentralized fencing guild of craftsmen – met.

Guild Origins in the Dominican Monastery

The earliest known organizational form of the Marxbrüder was a religious confraternity, affiliated with the Dominican monastery in Frankfurt. The Frankfurt Fencing Regulations in manuscript Cod.I.6.2º.5 – better known by the more easily spoken name “Hans Medel Fechtbuch”⁴ – provide a detailed account what this affiliation looked like. They also contain rules for becoming a master of the sword, electing a captain, and the involved fees and penalties in case of transgression.⁵

Confraternity Structure and Religious Services

This monastery was an old and eminent institution to the north-east of the town center, divided by the old fortifications from the Jewish quarter.⁶ In exchange for payment to the Dominican order, the brotherhood was entitled to “magnificent and splendid” chanted Masses in honor of their patron Saints Mary and Mark. These took place in the choir of the Dominican church – which was dedicated to the virgin Mary⁷ – on and around her Nativity in the first half of September. This also was precisely the time of the main meeting of the brothers at the trade fair.⁸ Apart from spoken masses each quarter and at All Souls’ Day, a requiem Mass in honor of the deceased brothers took place the day after Nativity. The monastery also housed a grave of the brotherhood (either in the church or the cloister)⁹ which the sacristan maintained and adorned with candles.

This establishes that the fates of the Marxbrüder and the Frankfurt Dominican monastery were interwoven. Confraternities such as this one were quite common among craft guilds or other civilian organizations: The monastery could generate steady revenue for operations and investments, such as new buildings or the acquisition of books and art.

On the other hand, the civilians could consolidate their finances to cover honorable funerals, prayers for the deceased, and regular masses – for salvation and public reputation. Beyond these spiritual services, confraternities also helped insure health or legal costs of their members. To set things in relation, let’s have a closer look at the cost for these religious services: the three festive masses around St. Mary’s Nativity cost 8 Shillings – paid by the brotherhood’s captain to the Dominicans – and the more modest five spoken masses cost half of that.¹⁰ Therefore, a sung mass would have cost a craftsman several days to weeks of wage.¹¹ These expenses illustrate the collective burden that confraternities shouldered to make such services accessible to ordinary craftsmen. In contrast to this, the more affluent Frankfurt patrician families such as the Hellers and Holzhausens could pay for these benefits on their own – and did so ostentatiously.

New Archival Traces – Why the Guild is Older Than Assumed

Thanks to the restless work of the Dominican Jacquin around three centuries later, we find backtraces to the Marxbrüder in the monastery’s records. The preacherman who “wrote much […] and was never idle”¹² had catalogued the monastery’s entire, formidable library,¹³ and wrote a chronicle on the order’s history in Frankfurt. Within this Succinctum Chronicon Praedicatorum, there is a copy of a Liber Animarum with a list of civilian confraternities and donors of the monastery.¹⁴ Among these also appear the fencers.

I had the chance to examine this original source at the Institut für Stadtgeschichte (ISG) Frankfurt myself and can confirm earlier findings: St. Mark’s brotherhood appears at the end of a 1458 enumeration of donating confraternities to be commemorated during the Dominican’s prayers of intercession.¹⁵ Apart from a laconic “[commemorate] the fencing masters, who are in St. Mark’s Brotherhood”,¹⁶ an entry dated to 1476 also confirms the cadence of masses provided in the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations, notes fluctuations in the guild’s financial contributions, and that – for economic reasons – masses could be transferred from the choir to the nave, or that chanted masses could be toned down to spoken form.

The text also refers to old agreements predating the reform of the Dominican convent in 1474, reinforcing that the brotherhood is older than the oft-cited first certain attestation in that same year,¹⁷ and perhaps even older than the earlier mention of 1458. More material could be found in this source, which I so far could only study in samples – the “succinct” chronicle spans five massive codices, each densely written in ecclesiastical Latin with the occasional German fragment.

👉 If someone wanted to continue this endeavor, I would recommend focusing on the first book (ISG H.13.14, Nr. 16), and looking out for the key words “schirmmeister” (“fencing masters”) or “dimicatores” (“fighters”), which is how the guild is referred to in the source text.

With Sword and Pretzel: Peter Weißkirch – Guild Captain and Baker

It was around this time that the commoner Peter from Weißenkirchen makes his first appearance in Frankfurt’s records: A fencer and baker, he borrowed the funds necessary to become a naturalized citizen of Frankfurt from his guild masters – thus leaving behind his humble beginnings in 1475. This step laid the foundation for his rise as captain of the Marxbrüder and a respected military leader.

In 1487, the Marxbrüder received their first imperial privilege from Frederick III.²⁰ The following year, Peter Weißkirch commanded Frankfurt soldiers under the same Emperor to rescue his son Maximilian from Flemish rebels in Bruges.²¹ Weißkirch’s coat of arms – upward-crossed swords beneath a pretzel and flanked by stars – appears on his military letters of employment,²² symbolizing his dual life as a master baker and sword master, bound to defend his city and Emperor.

Weißkirch appears as one of the signatories of the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations in 1491, and even became captain of the Marxbrüder from 1494 to 1496.²³ Although the guild convened in the Imperial city, its decentralized nature made local captains the exception, rather than the rule. In the closing year of the century, the captain again took the field during the Swabian War against the Swiss Confederacy.²⁴

From commoner to citizen – navigating multifaceted roles as a baker, fencer, and captain – Weißkirch’s trajectory illustrates how Frankfurt’s guilds provided crucial pathways for advancement to ambitious newcomers.

The Marxbrüder Amid Patronage and Power

While Weißkirch exemplifies the opportunities afforded by Frankfurt’s guilds like the Marxbrüder, these organizations operated within a broader urban and religious landscape. The Dominicans, whose monastery was home to the fencers’ confraternity, turned these affiliations into lasting economic and cultural influence.

Beyond common taxes and rents, the patronage of confraternities and patricians secured steady revenues for the order. As a result, the monastery accumulated great wealth: In the late 15^th century, the church’s choir – where the brotherhood celebrated its masses – was rebuilt in late Gothic style, including delicate tracery windows and elaborate net vaulting.²⁵ Throughout the church, the rib vaults were painted in vivid colours, carried by golden column capitals on the wall.²⁶ By the early 16^th century, the monastic library was the biggest in town,²⁷ and the church decorated with splendid works by renowned artists.

The high altar dedicated to Mary was enriched with paintings from Hans Holbein the Elder’s workshop, transforming it into a magnificent winged piece. More modestly, an altar dedicated to St. Anne – which may have been financed from pooled contributions by the confraternities, including the Marxbrüder – entered the nave.²⁸

Their contributions, though less ostentatious than patrician donations, may nonetheless have left heraldic traces in the church. The coats of arms of the order’s patrons were placed as keystones at the intersections of the rib-vaulted ceiling. While I could not find arms unambiguously referencing the Brotherhood of St. Mark, one example shows notable structural parallels. Although the sketch is highly schematic – explaining the lack of tincture, and perhaps also the absence of other attributes such as mane, wings, and sword – the underlying composition is still legible. It aligns with the St. Mark lion as Marxbruder and master builder Hans Keesebrod displayed it in his personal coat of arms: A half lion upon a trimount.²⁹

The Holbein Altar functioned not only as an outstanding work of art, but also as a vehicle of propaganda. On the outer panels, the Dominican Reginald of Orléans receives his habit directly from the Virgin Mary, a striking image reinforcing the order’s claim for spiritual authority.³⁰ Meanwhile, the inner panels of Christ’s Passion cast the Jewish community as principal aggressors, implicitly targeting the residents of the adjacent ghetto and expressing anti-Judaic sentiment³¹ that was wide-spread among the Dominicans and the wider population.

In 1506, the church received its most well-known artistic treasure: a winged altarpiece from the workshops of none other than Albrecht Dürer – who even appears on the central panel – and Matthias Grünewald.³² The patrician Jakob Heller donated this piece, hence known as Heller Altar, commissioning portraits of himself and his wife in prayer at its base, flanked by their families’ coats of arms. They were later buried in the prominent position besides this altar.

I emphasize this décor not only to reconstruct how the brotherhood’s focal venue appeared, but also because it foreshadows the developments that soon severed its monastic ties – developments in which the Marxbrüder played an active role.

This patronage and art expose structural tensions in early modern Frankfurt: Patricians and wealthy clerics, including the Dominicans, concentrated immense economic and political capital. For common craftsmen (let alone lower strata of society), opportunities to be heard or to advance were small. That monasteries were largely exempt from taxation did not sit well with the narrow base of taxable citizens, among them both modest craftsmen and wealthier guild masters.

Two thirds of Frankfurt’s city council, its highest governing body, were controlled by the patrician elite, including families such as the Hellers.³³ The few remaining seats went to guild artisans, themselves only a fraction of the city’s craftsmen, since just a handful of possessions were deemed eligible for council.³⁴ This backdrop of inequality – combined with the spread of reformist beliefs – created tensions soon to erupt into open conflict between the craft guilds, the clerical establishment, and the council.

Intermezzo Digressivo: Hans Talhoffer – Another Early Marxbruder?

Before turning to the ensuing developments, it is worth pausing for a digression³⁵ on Hans Talhoffer. For readers unfamiliar with him, Talhoffer was a prominent fencing master of the 15^th century, whose illustrated fight books remain key sources on martial culture. Through shared symbolism, his persona and a newly discovered early Marxbrüder seal illuminate the guild’s formative identity. Readers eager to continue with the main arc or less interested in Talhoffer and Marxbrüder iconography may skip directly to the next section.

We have seen that the Marxbrüder were affiliated with the Dominicans already in the 1450s, and maybe even before. The surviving Frankfurt Fencing Regulations, however, contain a documentary gap before 1491, because the extant text is only a later copy of a more complete original destroyed in a fire during World War II.³⁶ That said, we can still glimpse these lost early records through a 1877 article by Karl Wassmansdorff.³⁷ He notes that Hans Talhoffer owed the brotherhood money for holding Fechtschulen in 1482, which suggests he was a guild member. I note this here because the question of whether Talhoffer was “possibly” or “probably” a Marxbruder prompted debate after my first article; this evidence points to the latter.

Furthermore, there are iconographic traces: Talhoffer’s coat of arms and chain show a lion of St. Mark. Earlier research by Eric Burkart (2014) and Paul Becker (2017) has already pointed to a Marxbrüder connection.³⁸ Yet, the degree of similarity between Talhoffer’s emblem and a newly found Marxbrüder seal resembling it invites closer examination.

To begin with the established: The black shield shows a golden crown enclosing two downward-crossed swords. Above it rests a civilian frogmouth helmet with black-golden mantling – a common motif, though notably aligned with Marxbrüder colors.

The crest features Talhoffer’s house mark, resembling a whip upon a St. Andrew’s Cross. I note that this design closely parallels the Marxbrüder house mark, which shares the same cross base and vertical, though the horizontal elements diverge in detail.

Most notably, the shield is flanked by two creatures of the Tetramorph: To the left appears an Eagle of St. John, which earlier work connected to Talhoffer’s first name,³⁹ and which holds his personal motto: “bedenck dich Recht” (“take due thought”).

To the right, we see a Lion of St. Mark in a rather peculiar pose: Haloed and winged, it seems to stand on all fours, yet not quite grounded: its right forepaw is bent backward, grasping a longsword near the tip. The blade and pommel rise diagonally to the right, like an oversized quill with awkward balance. This posture echoes the iconography of the Lamb of God, often depicted bearing a cross or banner in similar fashion. To my knowledge, this unusual rendering of St. Mark’s lion is unique to Talhoffer – and the Marxbrüder guild.⁴⁰

The remaining Marxbrüder holdings in Frankfurt contain an old seal of the brotherhood, seemingly dating back to the 15^th century.⁴¹ Upon closer inspection, I noted the link to Talhoffer⁴² and took several pictures allowing to obtain a textured 3D model via photogrammetry – as shown here.

My 3D scan of a Marxbrüder seal (ISG FFM 18.03, Nr. 7), preceding their 1541 armorial grant and possibly from the late 15^th century.⁴³ Navigate with touch or mouse.

The seal is rendered in red wax within a wooden casing of about 5 cm diameter. An encircling inscription in Gothic minuscule reads: “unser broderschaft sant mar” (“our brotherhood saint mark”). At its center, the seal depicts the St. Mark lion in the same pose as on Talhoffer’s coat of arms and chain – on all fours, wings spread, right forepaw bent, grasping a diagonally upward longsword close to the tip.

Together with the fact that Talhoffer appeared as a debtor in the Marxbrüder records,⁴⁴ this iconographic overlap is too precise to dismiss. His likely membership shows that the Marxbrüder attracted (and produced) public figures – a continuity that set the stage for their later political dealings we will turn to now.

Years of Mystery: What Happened Between 1524 and 1530?

Curiously, the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations, which otherwise record all Marxbrüder captains and masters from 1490 to 1566 in orderly succession, contain a conspicuous gap: after the election of captain Heinrich Persickh of Heidelberg in 1524,⁴⁵ no further entry appears until the election of the Frankfurt burgher Laux Braun in 1530. What happened during those years to disrupt the brotherhood’s operations so profoundly?

Peter’s Churchyard and the 1525 Revolution

When Adam drew and when Eve span, where was then the nobleman?⁴⁶

It was April 17 – Easter Monday – of the year 1525: The spring fair had just ended, and most of the visiting craftsmen and merchants had already left Frankfurt to rejoin their families during the feast.

The Easter Monday Riot

For the burghers of Frankfurt, however, events took a different turn:⁴⁷ On Peter’s Churchyard, a cemetery toward the northern city walls, an enraged crowd had gathered. Among them likely stood Laux Braun, a young fencer and furrier.⁴⁸ Their demands were sweeping: fundamental economic and religious reforms, including greater representation in the council, and the adoption of reformatory positions.

The riot did not erupt out of nowhere. In its lead-up, burghers and the clerical establishment had clashed repeatedly and with increasing intensity:⁵⁰

• Spring Fair 1522: Reformist Hartmann Ibach delivered a fervent sermon in St. Catherine’s church, condemning the veneration of saints – especially of Mary, patron of the Marxbrüder – and portraying confraternities as mere clerical crutches. He urged that the wealth flowing to monasteries should be redirected to the poorest instead, which was met with “murmurs of approval.” When the council bowed to pressure from the Archbishop of Mainz and expelled Ibach, popular discontent was inflamed.⁵¹
• All Soul’s Day 1524: A circle of “Evangelical Brethren,” consisting mostly of craftsmen around theologist Gerhard Westerburg makes the first public appearance by openly challenging the Dominican lector on the doctrine of the purgatory – signaling the spread of reformist voices among citizens.
• November 1524: Another reformist preacher, Dietrich Sartorius, was exiled by decree of the Archbishop of Mainz with the backing of Emperor Charles V – later patron of the Marxbrüder’s coat of arms – intensifying reform-minded burghers’ sense of persecution.
• March 1525: The unrest boiled over into violence: the Catholic priest of the Imperial cathedral was evicted by a furious mob, a stark sign that the confrontation had moved beyond words.

But this Easter Monday of 1525 would mark the preliminary highpoint of these escalations: On Peter’s yard, the rioters took up arms and set out to storm the Dominican monastery, still the wealthiest in town. Anticipating such an assault, the friars had hidden their treasures and books.⁵² Instead, the crowd ransacked the ample stores of food and wine,⁵³ while the craft guilds dispatched civil militia to seize control of city gates,⁵⁴ towers, and the bridge to Sachsenhausen.

On April 19, two days after Easter Monday, violence spread further: A mob tried to ransack the Jewish quarter – an assault barely repelled by the gate guards.⁵⁵ Much like the Dominican art that framed the Jewish community as responsible for Christ’s suffering, anti-Judaic beliefs were widespread in society. Conspiracy theories and propaganda reinforced the false notion that the small ghetto housed profiteers of the dire economic conditions. That same day, Our Lady’s Monastery and several cathedral prelates’ houses were looted.⁵⁶

With public order collapsing, the council sought to channel the unrest into negotiation. It persuaded the rioters to formalize their demands and elect a representative body – the “61er,” dominated by guild craftsmen. Among them was again Laux Braun,⁵⁷ the fencing furrier.

Laux Braun – Marxbruder and Radical Revolutionist

Lucas Braun, more commonly referred to by his nickname “Laux,” was a young burgher of privileged background. Born into citizenship, he became part of the furrier guild – guild artisans of high status in Frankfurt. As they were among the few crafts with a permanent seat in the council,⁵⁸ the furriers had relatively high political sway. Yet, it still paled in comparison to the about 30 seats held by the patrician elite.⁵⁹

Besides his profession, Braun also was a Marxbruder: He makes repeated appearances as a master and captain in the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations during the aftermath of the guild uprising.⁶¹ Although the records pause during the rebellion, we can deduce that he most probably already had been a member in those years: Only masters of the sword were eligible for captaincy, and becoming a master took years – with several preceding ranks.⁶²

In the lead-up to the uprising, Braun aligned with the Evangelical Brethren around Westerburg and the inner circle of the revolutionaries. As a member of the elected representatives of the Frankfurt revolt – the 61er – he helped pass forty-six articles of demands to the council. Shaped by Westerburg’s reformist influence,⁶³ the pamphlet took “Twelve Articles” spread earlier by Swabian rebels as a blueprint and eclectically expanded them. Among its additions were civic and religious reforms such as abolishing clerical tax privileges, subjecting clergy to secular courts, and the dissolution of monasteries.

In harness, armed with handguns, pikes and halberds, the revolutionists marched repeatedly through the old town, ultimately forcing the council to accept these articles on the Saturday after Easter, the 22^nd of April.⁶⁴ Publicly proclaiming these articles in full, and promising to fulfil them, the council requested the protesters to renew their civilian oath – public order seemed restored, at least for the moment.

Yet the concessions did not reach far enough for many: Out of the 61 representatives, ten “of the most radical of the radicals” emerged on the 25^th of April. Once again, Marxbruder and furrier Laux Braun was part of those, along with the shoemaker Hans von Siegen and the tailor Niclas Wild, known as “the Warrior.” Acting as a vice squad, they raided clerics’ homes and forced them to dismiss their concubines. Driven by a fundamentalist zeal for stricter religious morality, they also threatened divorced couples with exile unless they resumed their marriages. Day after day, the radicals added new demands or sharpened existing ones among the forty-six articles.

Frankfurt at the Heart of Revolution

It would be misleading to view this revolution as a straightforward protest against “the” church or “the” council, or as a simple clash of underdogs against elites. In reality, the uprising belonged to the wider “German Peasants’ War” – which as this story shows, was neither confined to peasants nor truly a single war.⁶⁵ Instead, it was a revolutionary movement that swept across southern and central German-speaking lands, the largest European upheaval before the French Revolution, leaving hundreds of thousands dead. Many of its participants – including figures like Laux Braun in Frankfurt – were in fact relatively privileged. Their demands were manifold and overlapping, combining political, economic, and religious motives. At the epicentre of this turmoil, Frankfurt emerged as one of the most important urban hubs of rebellion.⁶⁶

By early May, rumors spread that the White Company – a peasant rebel force nearly equal in size to Frankfurt’s population – was planning to march on the city to pillage the Teutonic Order’s House and massacre the Jewish community.⁶⁷ While parts of citizenry were willing to side with the rebels, the council strongly cautioned the guilds of grave consequences: Beyond the threat of bloodshed, the city would incur the wrath of the Imperial princes – and the Emperor himself. The punishment would likely be nothing short of losing the privileges as an Imperial city (including the annual trade fairs), and thereby suffering economic decay. Although the rebel force was crushed by imperial troops before reaching the city, the specter of its approach proved decisive in rallying Frankfurt’s guilds back to allegiance.

Settling Dust: End and Aftermath of the Uprising

While the council’s careful maneuvering gradually pacified the unrest, Laux Braun together with Niclas Wild and Hans von Siegen continued to stir up resistance. On 15 May, they gathered armed supporters at von Siegen’s house and nearly clashed with the council’s leaders and militia.⁶⁸ Apparently, the confrontation was defused through the diplomatic skill of a councilman.

Yet, this resurgence was short-lived. By the end of the May, the council had ultimately reasserted its authority: it dissolved the revolutionary representative bodies – the 61er and the radical Ten – expelled the spiritual leader Westerburg from the city, and revoked the 46 reform articles.⁶⁹

Nonetheless, the movement’s impact endured in two respects: A newly introduced public alms fund channeled former monastic assets (e.g., obtained from confraternities) toward the poor, and continues to operate until today. Meanwhile, the introduction of two reformed priests – Johannes Bernhard and Dionysius Melander⁷⁰ – marked the transition of Frankfurt toward Protestantism.

The revolutionary leaders, including Laux Braun, remained unpunished⁷¹ – too strong was their backing in the populace. In the aftermath of the revolution, Braun became Marxbrüder captain in 1530 and held the office for three consecutive terms,⁷² an exceptional run that reflected his standing. During his captaincy, the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations were updated twice, and he oversaw the inventory of the confraternity’s properties at the Dominican monastery.⁷³ The belongings – including ornate liturgical vestments, probably chalices, and perhaps figures of St. Mark – were withdrawn from the monastery in 1534, and either split among the brothers⁷⁴ or transferred to the alms fund .⁷⁵

This marked the end of the Marxbrüder’s confraternity with the Dominican order and coincided with a broader waning of civic donations to monasteries. Guild records from the years after the revolution also do no longer mention the Virgin Mary, suggesting that her name vanished from the brotherhood⁷⁶ once their services at the Dominican monastery ceased. In 1536, Laux’ successor Blasius Velten noted that he received the guild chest with not a single coin remaining and just “a few swords.”⁷⁷ Whether the money had been dispersed among brothers, absorbed into the alms fund, or lost by other means remains an unresolved mystery.

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Appendix

My partial translation of Cod. I.6.2° 5, fol. 7r f.

The text is written in cursive, using an early modern Franconian or Bavarian dialect, with headlines in Textura script.⁷⁸ I began with the transcription by Oliver Dupuis,⁷⁹ but soon turned to the facsimile of the original preserved at Augsburg University Library.⁸⁰

“Firstly, we mandate as is ancient custom:⁸¹ that henceforth on all Fridays of the Ember fasts⁸² and on All Souls’ Day, a conventual brother appointed by the Prior shall celebrate a vigil Mass⁸³ in the choir of the Dominican monastery⁸⁴in Frankfurt. Likewise, on the day after the Nativity of Mary, a requiem Mass⁸⁵ shall be read for the souls of our deceased brothers and of all the faithful.

For this, the acting captain of the brotherhood shall annually give 4 Shillings in Frankfurt currency for each Mass read, to encourage devotion, so that these services may be celebrated more laudably, reverently, and at the due time.

According to annual convent and monastic custom, the convent shall also celebrate a Mass in the choir in commemoration of Mary⁸⁶ on the Feast of her Nativity.⁸⁷ On the Sunday before or after, a splendid and solemn Mass shall be sung in memory of St. Mark and of Mary. To ensure that it may be all the more honorable, praiseworthy, and magnificent with all that befits a great feast, the captain shall provide 8 Shillings for each such sung Mass.

Likewise, as mentioned at the outset, the captain shall pay the sacristan 4 English⁸⁸ annual wage for lighting the candles, preparing the brotherhood’s grave, and further tasks not otherwise entrusted to him.”

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1. See later in this article for a detailed deduction of this timeframe. ↩︎
2. Bücher (1886): “Die Bevölkerung in Frankfurt am Main im XIV. und XV. Jahrhundert, social-statistische Studien.” ↩︎
3. Monnet (1999): “German Historical Institute London Bulletin, vol. 21, nr. 2,” p. 53. ↩︎
4. The cryptic name derives from the archival signature which in turn is based on the shelf number it is stored at. ↩︎
5. For people less familiar with (Early Modern) German, Martin Fabian recently provided an accessible English translation in his book “Hans Medel’s Fencing.” ↩︎
6. Apparently, this close neighborhood angered the monks: They demanded the windows of the Jewish houses toward the monastery to be bricked up. I found out about this exploring the (excellent) Museum Judengasse Frankfurt, where it was written on a plaque next to a window facing the monastery. If you have the chance, I warmly recommend a visit. ↩︎
7. Weizsäcker (1923), p. 10. ↩︎
8. My partial translation of these regulations can be found in the appendix. ↩︎
9. While the grave is mentioned in the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations, it apparently vanished by the early 17th century, as it doesn’t appear in an inventory of the monastery’s graves anymore. However, we can infer its location based on the graves of similar brotherhoods – the locksmiths and bakers had theirs in the cloister, while the marksmen of St. Sebastian had theirs in the church. See Weizsäcker (1923), p. 106, 133. ↩︎
10. Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 7v. ↩︎
11. In this period, 1 Shilling corresponds to 9 Hellers in Frankfurt (Schneider, 2010), meaning a sung mass cost 72 Hellers. A carpenter was entitled to around 4 Hellers daily wage in 1450 according to Spies (2008): “Löhne und Preise von 1300 bis 2000.” This leaves us with a sum of 18 daily wages for a common craftsman. We can assume quadruple or quintuple wage for artisans like furriers or smiths, still leaving us with 4 to 5 daily wages. ↩︎
12. Fischer (2022) : “Jacquin, Franciscus” In: Frankfurter Personenlexikon. ↩︎
13. Powitz (1968): “Die Handschriften des Dominikanerklosters,” p. XXVII. ↩︎
14. Koch (1892): “Das Dominikanerkloster,” p. 63 f. ↩︎
15. Jacquin (c. 1740): “Succinctum Chronicon Conventus Francofurtani Ordinis Praedicatorum,” p. 168 ff. in ISG FFM, H13.14, Nr. 16. ↩︎
16. “vor die schirmeyster, die in Sant Marcus bruderschaft sÿnt” (Jacquin, p. 172). ↩︎
17. E.g., on Wiktenauer. The date given there probably refers to the complete original of the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations Wassmansdorff introduces in 1877 – and which has since been lost to time. ↩︎
18. I am grateful to Michael Matthäus of ISG Frankfurt for kindly confirming the image rights of both entries in the citizens’ register and seals featured in this article. ↩︎
19. Original: “peter von wissenkirchen gemeiner leut son ist bureg wored unt hat sich mit den Beckenmeistern vertragen umb die vii bb viii ß zubezalen arrod[atum] in die sti Joh decollatoni anno xiv lxxv” It was hard to find this entry as the register referred to fol. 121 b. However, fol. 116–139 have been moved after fol. 188. I therefore cite the more orderly printed page numbering. ↩︎
20. See the transcription on Jens-Peter Kleinau’s blog “Vatternstreich,” created anonymously and edited by Daniel Burger. Werner Ueberschär, also listed as an author, kindly clarified that he initiated the transcription, but did not take part in it. ↩︎
21. Kleinau (2011): “1488 Peter Weißkirch Captain of the Marxbrüder.” ↩︎
22. I found his seal attached to a convolute of letters of employment from the late 15^th century. (ISG FFM H.02.26, Nr. 1408). The same seal, but in worse condition, is attached to a 1490 oath of truce (H.06.09, 1821). Further letters of employment can be found under H.02.26, 1409 and H.02.26, 1410. ↩︎
23. Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 9v f. ↩︎
24. Kleinau (2011): “1488 Peter Weißkirch Captain of the Marxbrüder.” ↩︎
25. Schulz (2015), p. 1. Although the church was destroyed almost entirely in World War II, this choir remains largely intact and can still be visited. ↩︎
26. Reiffenstein (1871): “Reiffenstein-Manuskript,” Dominikanerkirche, Band 7, Seite 80, 8. Juni 1871. Edited by Historisches Museum Frankfurt. ↩︎
27. Powitz (1968): “Die Handschriften des Dominikanerklosters und des Leonhardstifts in Frankfurt am Main,” p. XVI. ↩︎
28. Weizsäcker (1923): “Die Kunstschätze des ehemaligen Dominikanerklosters in Frankfurt a. M.,” p. 132. ↩︎
29. Given the incompleteness of the sketch, it is hard to say with certainty, but this could also be a bear. ↩︎
30. Städel Museum: “Hans Holbein the Elder. Exterior Wings of the Frankfurt Dominican Altarpiece, 1501.” ↩︎
31. Städel Museum ↩︎
32. A reconstruction of the inner view by Dürer can be seen in the Historic Museum Frankfurt, and the outer view with Grünewald’s contributions is in the Städel. ↩︎
33. To not misrepresent the Hellers: they were in fact among the few newcomers admitted into the patrician elite through trade, a case of upward mobility mostly limited to higher-ranking merchants and artisans. However, their departure from patrician society after 1502 only reinforces the point above. ↩︎
34. Bücher (1886), p. 87. ↩︎
35. I am grateful to Elisa Gianni for her valuable advice on word choice in the section heading. ↩︎
36. Hils, Hans-Peter (1985): “Meister Johann Liechtenauers Kunst des langen Schwertes,” p. 175. ↩︎
37. The reference to the lost Frankfurt regulations and to Wassmansdorff reached me via an article on Sprechfenster Blog (drawing on a suggestion from Eric Burkart to its author), which in turn led me via Jaquet (2010) to Hils (1985) and Wassmansdorff (1877), p. 139. I am grateful to Eric Burkart, who kindly confirmed both the fire and the Wassmansdorff source in conversation. ↩︎
38. For more on Talhoffer’s life and his older coats of arms, I recommend this 2020 article by Paul Becker. ↩︎
39. Burkart (2014): “Die Aufzeichnung des Nicht-Sagbaren. Annäherung an die kommunikative Funktion der Bilder in den Fechtbüchern des Hans Talhofer“. ↩︎
40. Marxbruder Peter Falkner (captain 1502–1506) shows a similar St. Mark lion in his 1495 fencing treatise, MS KK5012, fol. 57v. ↩︎
41. I am indebted to Sabine Kindel for directing me to the Marxbrüder seals, and for sharing her observations on the remaining Frankfurt holdings (ISG FFM, H.18.02 and H.18.03). The subsequent interpretation of the seal’s connection to the early brotherhood and Talhoffer is my own. ↩︎
42. Upon sharing a draft of this article with him, Eric Burkart confirmed that the had made the same finding independently, and wrote about it in his recently submitted habilitation thesis. I am grateful to him for the exchange and his passion for the topic. ↩︎
43. This conclusion rests on two points: (1) the late medieval typography, and (2) the presence of a second seal on the letter bearing the arms granted in 1541, which must therefore postdate the one discussed here. ↩︎
44. Wassmansdorff (1877), p. 139. ↩︎
45. The parchment is cut at the top of fol. 12v, immediately noting Persickh’s election but without a year. Based on Anthony Resch’s captaincy in 1522 and the usual biennial cadence, Persickh’s election can be inferred for 1524. This fits the reconstructed sequence of events presented below. ↩︎
46. Proverb from the “German Peasants’ War” (1524–25) in my translation. I want to thank Tobias Prüwer who pointed me to this in January 2025 via his inspiring lecture and book on the topic: “1525: Thomas Müntzer und die Revolution des gemeinen Mannes”. ↩︎
47. I am grateful to Michael Matthäus of the ISG Frankfurt for his insightful talk on the Frankfurt uprising, delivered during the 500-year jubilee in April 2025. His perspectives helped shape parts of this reconstruction. ↩︎
48. No name registers of the participants in the Easter Monday agitation seem to survive. Laux Braun’s later prominence among the radical wing of the Frankfurt guild uprising makes his presence at the Peter’s Churchyard gathering likely, though not certain. ↩︎
49. I would warmly like to thank Beate Dannhorn, registrar at the Historisches Museum Frankfurt, for kindly clarifying the image rights and licensing of this piece. ↩︎
50. Except otherwise noted, the below account up to Easter Monday follows Hock (2001): “Reformation in der Reichsstadt. Wie Frankfurt am Main evangelisch wurde,” p. 3 f. ↩︎
51. Schmidt (2022): “Vor 500 Jahren: die erste evangelische Predigt in Frankfurt,” p. 8 ff. ↩︎
52. Weizsäcker (1923), p. 30. ↩︎
53. Weizsäcker (1923), p. 30. ↩︎
54. Kracauer (1875): “Geschichte der Juden in Frankfurt a. M. (1150 –1824),” p. 287. ↩︎
55. Steitz (1875): “Das Aufruhrbuch der ehemaligen Reichsstadt Frankfurt Main vom Jahre 1525,” p. 1. ↩︎
56. Frankfurter Verein für Geschichte und Landeskunde (1839): “Archiv für Frankfurts Geschichte und Kunst“ v. 12–13, p. 72. ↩︎
57. Jung (1888): “Frankfurter Chroniken und annalistische Aufzeichnungen der Reformationszeit,” p. 177. ↩︎
58. Bücher (1886), p. 87. ↩︎
59. Schmidt-Funke (2012), p. 2. ↩︎
60. Original: “Lucas Bryn Kursener eins Burgers sons Iuravit den Burger eidt feria quinta post oculi anno xv c xviii” It took me a while to decipher the date, which literally translates to “Thursday after Oculi,” i.e., the Thursday after the 3^rd Sunday of lent. I recognized this liturgic day in context with surrounding entries marked “die mathy” and “misericordia.” ↩︎
61. Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 12r f. ↩︎
62. Talaga (2025): “Who Were the Freifechter? Let’s clarify the number and hierarchy of swordfighting confraternities in late-medieval Germany.” ↩︎
63. Jung (1888): “Frankfurter Chroniken und annalistische Aufzeichnungen der Reformationszeit. Nebst einer Darst. der Frankfurter Belagerung von 1552,” p. 183. ↩︎
64. The following up to “Frankfurt at the Heart of Revolution“ follows the account in Frankfurter Verein für Geschichte und Landeskunde (1839): “Archiv für Frankfurts Geschichte und Kunst v. 12–13,” p. 85 f. ↩︎
65. It also is slightly misleading to call it “German,” as it wasn’t contained to today’s Germany. Instead, it also spanned Alsace, Switzerland, and Austria. Therefore, more recent scholarship often uses the term “Revolution of Common Men” – which in turn could be rephrased to “Revolution of Commoners.” ↩︎
66. Blickle (1981): “The Revolution of 1525: the German Peasants’ War from a new perspective”, p. xx. ↩︎
67. Frankfurter Verein für Geschichte und Landeskunde (1839): p. 86 f. ↩︎
68. Kriegk (1862): “Frankfurter Bürgerzwiste und Zustände im Mittelalter“, p. 177 f. ↩︎
69. Kriegk (1862), p. 178. ↩︎
70. Hock (2001), p. 4. ↩︎
71. Zade: “Die Frankfurter Zunftunruhen von 1525.” ↩︎
72. Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 12r–12v. ↩︎
73. Book (2007), “Die Chronik Eisenberger”, p. 356. Michael Matthäus was instrumental in discovering and transcribing the underlying source, available under ISG FFM, H.02.01, Nr. 96, fol. 62 r. ↩︎
74. The inventory list does not seem to survive, and the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations only note “liturgical vestments and all that goes with them” (fol. 12v). Likely contents can be inferred from other confraternities with existing records, e.g., St. Sebastian’s Brotherhood (Weizsäcker 1923, p. 107). Earlier entries in the Regulations mention a black garment adorned with gold and silver in 1504 , as well as a shield and a silver chain in 1498 (fol. 10v) which may still have been among the properties. ↩︎
75. Weizsäcker (1923), p. 21, footnote 9. ↩︎
76. Afterwards, the guild is just called “Brotherhood of St. Mark” or “Masters of the Sword” (e.g., in the 1541 armorial grant), or later in their 1670 armorial augmentation “Masters of the Long Sword and Skilled Practitioners in Military Exercises of St. Mark and Löwenberg” (RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-3-1). ↩︎
77. Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 13r. ↩︎
78. https://kdih.badw.de/datenbank/handschrift/38/1/1 ↩︎
79. http://www.pragmatische-schriftlichkeit.de/Cod.I.6.20.5.html ↩︎
80. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-uba002007-6 ↩︎
81. Original: “alter herkomen,” a late medieval legal term translating roughly to “customary law” and implying that these customs are several decades old. ↩︎
82. Quarterly fast days after St. Lucy, Ash Wednesday, Pentecost, and the Exaltation of the Cross. ↩︎
83. Nighttime prayer on the eve of a church fest. With psalms, readings, and subsequent Eucharistic celebration. ↩︎
84. Original: “Kloster der Prediger“ (“Monastery of Preachers”). Prior to World War II, the adjoining street was likewise called “Predigerstraße” (“Preacher Street”). ↩︎
85. A reduced form of Mass without music. ↩︎
86. Original: “ein meß im Cor von vnser lieben Frawen“ which could also mean “a mass in the choir of Mary,” as she was the patron of the high altar and church. ↩︎
87. 8 September – around the time of the trade fair, for which the craftsmen came to Frankfurt. ↩︎
88. Special currency, worth a bit less than Shillings. 1 Shilling = 9 Hellers, 1 English = 7 Hellers. Bothe (1906) “Die Entwickelung der direkten Besteuerung in der Reichsstadt Frankfurt bis zur Revolution 1612–1614,“ pp. 3–11.; cited according to Schneider (2010): “Turnosen, Englische und Heller.“ ↩︎

This article is also available in German.

Update 13 January 2026: I have since identified the original 1670 charter. Read more about it here.

Frankfurt’s Masters of the Sword and Their Lost Emblem 🛡️ Part II

In 1541, Emperor Charles V granted the Frankfurt fencing guild of the Marxbrüder a coat of arms – their badge of Imperial recognition. If you haven’t read it yet, I warmly invite you to start with my last article on its rediscovery, as it sets the stage for the below.

The story of the Marxbrüder coat of arms does not end here: More than a century later, in 1670, Emperor Leopold I bestowed an augmentation of honor – a visual enhancement of the arms reflecting both heightened imperial favor and the heraldic style of the Baroque. Today, we encounter the Marxbrüder arms exclusively in the form of monochrome copies of this 1670 augmentation (for example, on Wikipedia). Yet, these reproductions leave much to be desired: The overall fidelity is low, individual elements blur, and – most importantly – the tinctures (i.e., the colors) are entirely missing.

To address this, I present a colored reconstruction of these augmented arms with unprecedented fidelity. It is based on a rediscovered concept of the augmentation charter – preserving both a detailed blazon and a colored depiction – and corroborating evidence. The resulting vector graphic is freely available under CC BY-SA 4.0, ensuring anyone may reuse or adapt it with proper credit.

Decoding the Augmentation: Heraldic Methodology

Before turning to the reconstruction, let’s clarify what an augmentation of arms is. When a bearer of arms distinguished themselves and rose further in imperial favor, the Emperor could grant an augmentation of honor – enhancing the arms by partitioning the shield, adding charges, or enriching the crest.

As we shall see, this 1670 augmentation by Leopold I went remarkably far: the comparatively simple arms of 1541 were transformed into an opulent composition, reflecting both the high favor the Marxbrüder must have enjoyed and the heraldic fashion of the Baroque.

Although the charter proclaiming this augmentation remains lost,¹ a rediscovered concept and multiple independent sources provide a robust basis for reconstructing the augmented Marxbrüder arms in full tincture. The below diagram illustrates the process:

The two monochrome copies of the 1670 augmentation (A) serve as the starting point. These contain heraldic hatchings – established line and dot patterns that encode most of the tincture. The rest can be inferred from the earlier 1541 arms I had found in Basel (B), and the personal arms of a Marxbruder (C). I validate the reconstruction thus obtained (D) by comparing it with an Aulic Council concept of the 1670 augmented arms I received from the Haus-, Hof, und Staatsarchiv (HHStA) Vienna. This concept preserves not only a detailed blazon but also a colored depiction of the arms.

Why not simply take this colored depiction from the concept as the final result?
Because that would be less reliable. The concept represents a relatively final suggestion prepared before the official issuance of the augmentation, whereas the monochrome copies were most likely produced afterward and based on the original. By considering both together, we can interpolate with high confidence what the augmented arms must have looked like. For example, if both the concept and the monochrome copies agree on a tincture, it is highly unlikely that the arms diverged from both.

In other words, the concept with its colored depiction cannot stand alone as the final word. Only by weighing it against the monochrome copies, the 1541 charter, and comparative evidence can we move from a single preliminary trace to a historically robust reconstruction – yielding a reliable image of how the augmented Marxbrüder arms of 1670 most likely appeared.

From Hatchings to Hue: Reconstructing Tinctures

Before the actual image analysis, it’s worth taking a look at the origin of the monochrome copies: Copy 2 remains enigmatic, but copy 1 can now be clearly identified. It appears in a print of Marxbruder Martin Kaehl, first pointed out to me by Werner Ueberschär of Schwertbund Nürnberg – and later recalled by Kevin Maurer.

Martin Kaehl, a “Kuechen- und Loss-Beckh” (baker and confectioner) came from “Zilch aus der Marck” – most likely the former Züllichau in the Mark Brandenburg, today Sulechów in western Poland. As chief captain of the Marxbrüder, he not only held the guild’s highest office, but also had the authority to appoint sworn masters who passed their examination as masters of the sword. Of particular importance for us: Beneath his solemn portrait, he proudly displays the augmented Marxbrüder arms of 1670.

This suggests that the copy – despite its low fidelity and missing color – can serve as a dependable source for reconstructing the 1670 augmentation. Let’s take a closer look at what we see here:

Now, placing this beside the second known copy of the augmentation, which we briefly encountered in the introduction, we find that – stylistic choices aside – they match in nearly every respect. We’ll turn to the minor differences in a bit.

Although the low fidelity may obscure some details, you can still likely recognize the hatchings across the quartered shield, the mantling in copy 1, and the arms in copy 2. These line patterns encode tincture; the relevant ones for us are:

So, field 1 and 4 are Sable, and field 2 and 3 are Azure. Also, one color of the mantling is Sable (copy 1), and the sleeves of the arms in the center are Gules (copy 2).

The fact that the second copy so closely mirrors the first one – while even adding further detail later confirmed as accurate – suggests that it either derives from the original arms as well, or from a high-quality intermediate copy unknown to us. In either case, it appears to be a legitimate source for reconstructing the 1670 augmentation.

To reconstruct the missing tinctures, we can apply the heraldic rule of tincture. It commands: 👉 Do not place a metal on a metal, or a color on a color.

Metals refer to the lighter tinctures – Or (gold/yellow) and Argent (silver/white) – while colors denote the darker ones, such as Sable (black), Azure (blue), and Gules (red). Though not an absolute law, this rule serves as a strong guideline to ensure visual clarity, offering a high degree of confidence when inferring uncertain tinctures.

Based on this, we can reasonably deduce that both the lion in field 1 and 4 and the lances in field 2 and 3 are either Or (gold) or Argent (silver). In fact, the original arms of 1541 (Staatsarchiv BS PA 101 1) confirm that the lion of St. Mark, appearing both on the shield and the crest, is Or (see last article). Similarly, the mantling, assuming it remained unchanged during augmentation, should be Sable doubled Or, aligning with the hatching that indicates partial Sable.

Taken together, this already gives us a nearly complete picture of the tincture. Below, I overlay the tincture as currently established, supplemented by further plausible assumptions that I will elaborate on next.

To summarize what we see:

• Quarterly; above the fess (horizontal) line, issuing from clouds on either side two arms vested Gules, clasping hands in handshake, together holding upright a winged sword.
• 1st and 4th quarters: Sable, upon a trimount Or, a Lion of St. Mark rampant (rearing upright) Or, fork-tailed, guardant (facing us), holding in his dexter paw a saber in copy 1 or a long sword in copy 2, and resting his sinister paw upon a scroll or pillar.
• 2nd and 3rd quarters: Azure, a sheaf of seven lances Or held together by a band, the central lance bearing a pennon. The callout states this tincture is inferred, and I’ll explain more on how.
• Upon the shield an open helmet, adorned with a crown Or. At this point, we assume the mantling to be Sable doubled Or.
• Crest: a Lion of St. Mark rampant Or, fork-tailed, guardant (facing us) in copy 1, holding in his dexter paw a long sword, uplifted in copy 1 and shouldered in copy 2, and resting his sinister paw upon a scroll or pillar.

We infer the tincture of the remaining details based on default conventions:

• The hands are depicted in Carnation (light skin color), and the winged sword held by them should have a hilt Or and a blade Argent. For the sword’s wings, I went with an angelic Argent, although Or is also plausible.
• The clouds from which the arms emerge should be Argent, resembling their natural color.
• The scroll or pillar on which the St. Mark Lions rest their left paw should also be Argent, resembling parchment or light stone.

Inferring Lance Tincture from an Imperial Bodyguard’s Arms

Why are the lances dominantly Or?
Based on the rule of tincture, there are two options: Argent and Or. The personal arms of Imperial bodyguard Onoferus Sokh reveal that it should be the latter.

A bit of context: Masters of the Longsword had the right to bear the Marxbrüder arms, usually in slightly derived form: The shield would be partitioned per fess (i.e., divided horizontally), with the upper part and crest showing the Lion of St. Mark and the lower part the personal arms of a Marxbruder.

I may write more on the several surviving examples in the future, but will now focus on the best preserved one, including known tincture: Onoferus Sokh’s arms as displayed at the wedding of Archduke Charles II. of Austria 1571. I was made aware of this by the excellent prior work of Jens-Peter Kleinau.

While the upper part with St. Mark’s lion is in the known tincture (Sable, a lion Or), the lower half features Or, a bar Azure. Upon this appears a wedge Azure, with an acorn Or.

Therefore, next to Sable and Or, Azure and Or were dominant Marxbrüder tinctures. This corresponds to the hatchings of the monochrome copies, in which fields 2 and 3 appear in Azure with initially unknown metal. Taken together, this strongly indicates that the prevailing metal for the lances in the Azure fields is Or. Following my naturalistic approach, I depicted the lanceheads in Argent. I likewise chose Argent for the band and pennon to better distinguish them.

A Colored Trace in the Archival Maze: Independent Validation via a Rediscovered 1670 Concept

Just as I had completed this reconstructive work, I received exciting news from Haus-, Hof, und Staatsarchiv (HHStA) Vienna.

I had sent an inquiry if any traces of the 1670 armorial augmentation by Leopold I remained. My hopes were low, as this time, I couldn’t even find a signature in the archive information system. However, my work on the Imperial privileges had deepened my understanding of the bureaucratic machinery of the court: Every privilege had to pass through the Aulic Council, one of the two supreme courts of the Holy Roman Empire, dealing with gratialia, or acts of grace. While the original grant charter was sent to the recipient – in this case, the Marxbrüder in Frankfurt – the Aulic Council would at least retain a regest: an abstract of the document’s contents, used for administrative recordkeeping and archival indexing.

In this case, I was extremely fortunate: a generous archivist at the HHStA confirmed that the Aulic Council had even preserved a concept of the charter – complete with both a blazon and colored depiction of the augmentation granted by Leopold I on 20 March 1670. Remarkably, this record has been stored in Vienna for over 350 years, where it still resides in a strikingly good condition. Although I had no signature to guide me, the archivist’s insight and responsiveness led me directly to the arms, nestled within a rich convolute of newly uncovered Marxbrüder records.

This discovery provides decisive evidence, enabling me to verify my reconstruction and to resolve uncertainties regarding tincture. The document can be found in a convolute of Marxbrüder charters located in the HHStA Vienna under signature RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-3-1.

👉 To my knowledge, this convolute is the most comprehensive collection of Marxbrüder documents outside the Frankfurt holdings (ISG FFM, H.18.02 and ISG FFM, H.18.03).

The HHStA also houses a similar convolute for the rival Federfechter guild in Prague (RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-4-1), and a third one for an enigmatic “Faber” fencing society (RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48), dating back to 1365. If this was indeed a separate guild with comparable privileges, it would predate even the Marxbrüder.

A thorough study – and ideally, a full digitization – of these convolutes would be of great value to future research. Any nearby colleague willing to aid in the preservation and broader accessibility of this material would be warmly welcomed.

Refinements of the Reconstruction and Source Critique

Below, I show the colored armorial depiction that was digitized at my request and expense. This is the first time it is made publicly accessible – with kind permission of the HHStA. The appendix offers a partial transcription of the text, including the full blazon for the heraldically inclined.

I was pleased to find my initial draft largely correct. However, the newly found source allowed me to refine the reconstruction and assess which features of the concept were ultimately adopted in the augmentation:

• Mantling
  Instead of only Sable doubled Or, the mantling is composed of both Sable doubled Or and Gules doubled Argent. What seemed to be cross-hatching for Sable in copy #1 was in fact just shading.
• Prominence of Gules
  Gules also plays a more prominent role on the shield: the pennon and band in fields 2 and 3 are of that color, too. Moreover, all sword grips are Gules. Taken together with sleeves and mantling, this adds visual cohesion.
• Central Sword
  The central sword is winged Or, rather than Argent. Sidenote for sword enthusiasts: The blazon refers to it – and the sword of the lion in the crest – as “Schlachtschwert” (great sword), although in depiction it more closely resembles a long sword. That said, those are no disjunct categories and the terminology has varied over centuries and geographies. It also is of minor heraldic significance, as there is a certain latitude in how swords are represented.
• Pennons, Lances, and Cross Motif
  In the concept, all lances appear with pennons: the central one with a large pennon, the others with smaller ones. As the copies show only a single central pennon, I follow this reduced and thus clearer variant.
  The central polearm is designated as “lange Stange” (a kind of pike) in the concept blazon and is likewise rendered in copy #1. In both the colored depiction and copy #2, however, it is indistinguishable from the other lances. I have therefore once again chosen this simpler and more readily legible form.
  Furthermore, the pennon Gules is charged with a cross Or. The same motif recurs upon the lion’s forehead and, looking closely, is even visible in monochrome copy #2 – I hence added it to the reconstruction.
• Lions
  Somewhat redundantly, the lions are shown not only with halos, but also with laurel wreaths. This feature is absent from the copies, making it likely to be omitted in the final arms. I therefore also exclude it.
  Curiously, the object beneath the lions’ left paw proves not to be a scroll, but a marble pillar. A close look at copy #2 reveals the characteristic veiny texture of the stone. While a scroll or book symbolizing the Gospel of Mark would accord with the usual iconography, both blazon and concept painting unmistakably depict the pillar.

My Reconstruction of the 1670 Augmented Marxbrüder Arms

Stylistic choices aside, I can state with high confidence that the augmented Marxbrüder arms appeared as follows.

This reconstruction rests on a solid foundation, most notably the colored concept preserved in the HHStA. Nonetheless, final confirmation must await the rediscovery of the original charter. It should be noted that the concept for an armorial charter could differ slightly from the final version. Such differences might arise between the concipist (the clerk responsible for the draft) and the heraldic painter commissioned for the final arms. Moreover, senior officials – such as the President of the Aulic Council – could order last-minute changes.

I created the reconstruction as a vector graphic, preserving every detail of the design with perfect clarity at any scale. Unlike raster images, vector graphics can be resized infinitely without loss of quality, ensuring crisp lines and vibrant colors whether displayed on a screen, printed on a banner or T-Shirt, or engraved on small items. The format also allows for easy editing, color adjustments, and reuse of individual heraldic elements in future projects or derivative works.

Should new evidence emerge – such as the rediscovery of the original charter or clarification of a specific tincture – the file’s modular structure allows for swift and precise updates. In this sense, the reconstruction is both a scholarly hypothesis and a practical tool: grounded in current evidence, open to refinement, and designed for clarity, adaptability, and reuse across digital and physical formats.

Description and Analysis of the Augmented Arms

Below follows my attempt at a full blazon of the augmentation, rendered in the traditional language of heraldry – which should by now be at least vaguely familiar to you:

• Quarterly; above the fess line, issuing from clouds on either side two arms vested Gules with cuffs Argent, clasping hands in handshake, and together holding upright a long sword with grip Gules; the sword above the guard with wings Or, turned outward.
• 1st and 4th quarters: Sable, upon a trimount Or, a Lion of St. Mark rampant Or, fork-tailed, guardant, with a cross upon his forehead, in his dexter paw an uplifted saber with grip Gules, and resting his sinister paw upon a marble pillar Argent.
• 2nd and 3rd quarters: Azure, seven crossed lances Or with heads Argent pointing upwards, the central one surmounted by a pennon Gules charged with a cross Or; all bound together in the middle with a band Gules, its ends flying downward.
• Upon the shield an open helmet crowned Or, mantled Sable doubled Or and Gules doubled Argent.
• Crest: a Lion of St. Mark rampant Or, fork-tailed, with a cross upon his forehead, in his dexter paw an uplifted long sword with grip Gules, and resting his sinister paw upon a marble pillar Argent.

This augmented coat of arms radiates Baroque bombast: the triple appearance of St. Mark’s lion – two smaller on the shield and a towering counterpart as the crest – pays homage to the guild’s patron. Beneath his left paw, the marble pillar symbolizes fortitude and constancy.

In proud display, the bundle of seven lances, crowned with a central pennon, proclaims the guild’s cohesion amid multitude, and strength through unity. The number seven is not meant in a merely numerical sense, but as an ancient symbol of harmony and completeness.

At the heart, the handshake emerging from clouds embodies fraternity, complemented by a winged sword evoking both divine sanction and referencing the guild’s principal weapon – the long sword.

Through scale, repetition, and layered symbolism, this augmentation transforms the Marxbrüder arms into a heightened proclamation of imperial favor – amplified by the aesthetic sensibilities of an age captivated by abundance as its guiding ideal.

Asset Sources and License of This Work

This coat of arms combines original elements with assets from Wikimedia Commons. The work as a whole is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. The attribution for components not created by me is listed in the table below.

You are free to use, modify, and share this coat of arms for any purpose, including commercially, provided that you give appropriate credit to the original authors – including me. If you distribute this design or any derivative work, you must do so under a license compatible with CC BY-SA 4.0.

Asset	Author	License
Lion’s body	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Lion’s head (crest)	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Lion’s right paw	User: Milenioscuro	CC BY-SA 3.0
Lion’s forked tail	User: MaxxL	CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
Saber (field 1 & 4)	User: Madboy74	CC0 1.0
Lance (field 2 & 3)	User: Zigeuner	CC BY-SA 3.0
Band (field 2 & 3)	User: Celtus	CC BY-SA 3.0
Cross	Ariane Schmidt	Public domain
Clouds	Olga Salova	PD-RU exempt
Hands & cuffs	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Sleeves	User: MostEpic	CC BY-SA 4.0
Sword at center	User: Madboy74	CC BY-SA 4.0
Wings of sword	User: SajoR	CC BY-SA 2.5
Helmet	User: LowlyLiaison	CC BY 4.0
Mantling	User: Bastianow	CC BY-SA 3.0
Crown	User: Wereszcyński	CC BY-SA 4.0

Conclusion and Outlook

This reconstruction completes a long arc of inquiry: both the 1541 grant and the 1670 augmentation are now documented in full tincture and made publicly accessible. What began with a rediscovered charter culminates here in a validated, high-resolution rendering grounded in archival evidence.

For now, my work on the Marxbrüder arms pauses at this milestone – but I hope it serves as a foundation for future research, public engagement, and continued exploration of the Marxbrüder legacy. In my upcoming articles, we will change the setting from parchment to places – leaving the study chamber and stepping into early modern Frankfurt. We will explore where the Marxbrüder met and what traces they left in the city’s history.

If you enjoyed this article, please consider a donation to help fund my continued research on the Marxbrüder.

Special Thanks

I would like to thank the following people who provided useful feedback on earlier iterations of this reconstruction:

• Johannes Schmidt
• Lukas Riedel
• Markus Theil
• The users of the Heraldry Discord channel – in particular Fleig, RTF, and fritzorino

Furthermore, I would like to thank Cathrin Rieger, whose suggestions enriched both the reconstruction and the article.

I am grateful to the HHStA Vienna, where a dedicated archivist guided me to the concept containing the colored arms in a convolute of Marxbrüder documents. They patiently addressed my questions, swiftly digitized the 1670 concept at my request, and granted permission for its display here.

I thank the Polytechnic Society Foundation for admitting me to the District Historian (Stadtteil-Historiker) 2025 cohort, and Oliver Ramonat for his mentoring on topic choice.

Citation Recommendation

If you’d like to reference this aricle, you might cite it as:

Theil, Kilian (2025): Baroque Bombast and Imperial Grace – Reconstructing the Marxbrüder Augmentation of 1670. Published 5 November 2025, https://kiliantheil.com/marxbruder/2025/11/05/reconstructing-marxbruder-augmentation

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Appendix A: My translation of the 1670 concept for the Marxbrüder armorial augmentation (AT-OeSTA/HHStA RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-3-1)

Created with support by GPT-5. The rest of the translation is in progress.

[…]

graciously renewed, confirmed and ratified, but such their noble coat of arms and crest also in the following manner augmented, adorned and improved, and to them and their descendants, male and female, [?] graciously permitted and granted henceforth to bear and to use forever in this way.

Namely, it is a quartered shield, whose hind lower and fore upper part or field is black, below with three yellow mountains, wherein appears forward a yellow or gold‑colored flying lion, with protruding tongue, outspread wings, double tail, on the forehead marked with a cross, crowned with a green laurel wreath, and above the head a golden halo, standing with the two hind feet upon the two rear mountains, and holding in the left forepaw beneath himself upon the third mountain a white‑striped marble pillar, in the right forepaw upwards with the point, behind himself for battle, a bare saber with gilded cross and pommel.

The fore lower and hind upper quarter is sky-blue mixed with ruby color, therein crosswise six jousting lances with their points upward, three of them to the right and three to the left side, in their middle upright upon a pike [original: “lange Stange”] a tapered blood-red banner, marked with a golden cross, all bound together in the middle with a red band whose ends fly downward.

In the middle of the quartered shield appear from both sides opposite one another out of a cloud two red‑clad men’s arms with white cuffs, which hold in the middle of the shield with two joined hands a bare greatsword [original: “Schlachtschwert”] upwards with the point up to the open noble tournament helmet, with a red grip, golden cross and pommel, instead of the shield [original “Schild” a.k.a. Schilt] upon the sword on both sides with double yellow eagle’s wings, with their roots facing outward,

upon the shield a free open noble tournament helmet to the left with red and white, to the right side yellow and black mantling, and above adorned with a yellow or gold‑colored royal crown,

upon which appears the below‑described entirely yellow or gold‑colored flying lion with protruding tongue, outspread wings, double tail, on the forehead marked with a golden cross, crowned with a green laurel wreath and above the head a golden halo, standing with the hind two feet upon the crown and holding in the left forepaw beneath himself and resting on the crown a white‑striped marble pillar, in the right foreclaw upwards behind himself for battle a bare greatsword [original: “Schlachtschwert”] with gilded cross and pommel and blood‑red grip.

Thus, such augmented, adorned and improved noble coat of arms and crest in this our Imperial letter, written in booklet form, is painted on the front of the sixth leaf and duly colored.

[…]

Appendix B: My transcription of the 1670 concept for the Marxbrüder armorial augmentation (AT-OeSTA/HHStA RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-3-1)

Created with support by Transkribus. The rest of the transcription is in progress.

[…]

genediglich eneuẅert, confirmiret und bestettiget, sondern solch ihr adeliches wappen und Cleinod auch nachfolgender massen vermehrt, geziert und verbessert, und ihnen und ihren nachkommen mann- und weiblichen geschlechts, solches hinführo eẅiglich also zu führen und zugebrauchen, genediglich erlaubt und gegönnet;

Dass mit nahmen ist ein quartierter Schildt, desßen hinder under, und vordere ober theil oder feldt schwartz, unden mit dreÿen gelben bergen, darin erscheinet fürwerths ein gelb: oder Goldtfarber fliegender Löw, mit außgeschlagener Zungen, außgebreiteten flüegeln, doppeltem schwanz, ahn der stirn mit einem Creütz bezeichnet, bekrönet mit einem grünen lorber Cranz, und oben des Kopfes einen gülden Schein herumb, stehend mit den zweÿen hindern füesßen auf den hindern Zweÿ bergen, und haltend in der linkh vordern under sich eine auff dem dritten berg stehende weiß gestreifte Marmelsteinere saüle, in der rechten vorderen auffwerths mit der spitzen, hinder sich zum streit, ein blosser Seebel mit vergüldtem Creüz und Knopff,

Vorder under und hindere ober Veldung himmelblau mit rubin farben vermischt, darinnen sechs Creüzweiß geschränckte Turnirs Lantzen mit ihren spitzen über sich, dreÿ derselben zur rechten und dreÿ zur linckhen seithen, in deren mitte steckhet auffrechts an einer langen stangen ein rother zurgespitzter bluetfahn, mit einem gülden Creütz bezeichnet, alle in der mitte mit einem rothen bandt, maschen weiß, zusammen gebunden, dessen enden abwerts fliegen,

in der mitte des quartierten Schildts erscheinen von beeden Seithen gegen einander auß einer Wolkhen zweÿ roth angethane manns Armben, mit weisßen überstulpen, die halten in der mite des Schildts, mit zweÿ zusammen geschlosßenen händen ein bloses schlachtschwerd auffwerths mit der spitzen biß ahn den offenen Adelichen Turnirs helmb, mit einem rothen schafft, guldenen Creütz und Knopff, an statt statt des Schildts an dem schwerdt an beeden seithen, mit doppelten gelben Aadlers flüegelen, deren schosßen außwerths,

auff dem Schild ein freÿer offener Adelicher Turnirshelmb zur linckh mit roth und weisser, rechter seithen gelb und schwarzer helmbdecken, und darob mit einer gelben oder goldtfarben königlich Cron geziert,

darauff erscheinet der unden im schild beschriebene ganz gelb: oder goldtfarber flüegender Löw mit außgeschlagener Zungen, außgebräiteten flüegeln, dobbeltem Schwanz, ahn der stirn mit einem gulden Creütz bezeichnet, gekrönet mit einem grüenen Lorber Crantz und oben umb den Kopff einen gelden schein, stehend mit den hindern zweÿ füsßen auff der Cron und haltend in der linkh Vordern eine under sich auf der Cron ruhende weiß gestreifte marmelsteinere Saüle, in der rechten vordern Clawen aber, auffwerts hinder sich zum streit ein blosßes schlachtschwerdt mit vergoldtem Creüz und Knopff und blueth rothem schafft;

Alß dan solch vermehrt, gezirht und verbesßertes Adeliches Wappen und Cleinod in diesem unseren, libelsweiß geschriebenen, Käÿs: Brieff dies dem sechsten blath erster seithen gemahlet und mit farben eigentlicher außgestrichen ist.

[…]

1. Update 13/01/2026: Meanwhile, I have also located the original 1670 charter. Read more about it here. ↩︎

This article is also available in German.

Frankfurt’s Masters of the Sword and Their Lost Emblem 🛡️ Part I

Half a millennium ago, the Imperial City of Frankfurt hosted a curious society known as Masters of the Long Sword, or Marxbrüder. This was the first imperially privileged fencing guild. Its members followed a somewhat formalized curriculum in fencing with various weapons – most notably the long sword – and could earn the title Master of the (Long) Sword, allowing them to teach students for a fee and gain a highly respected qualification in martial arts.

This article assumes a basic familiarity with the Marxbrüder and will not revisit their general history in detail. Instead, it focuses on a particularly niche yet fascinating aspect of their story: their coat of arms, granted by the Emperor. Future articles will delve into their broader history and sites in Frankfurt that preserve their legacy.

For those unfamiliar, here’s a mini “lore dump” explaining what made the Marxbrüder remarkable and why they remain shrouded in myth in the historical fencing community:

• They were the first imperially privileged fencing guild, founded sometime in the 15^th century.
• Granted by the Emperor, they held a de jure monopoly on teaching fencing in the Holy Roman Empire for around a century, until the rival Federfechter guild in Prague received a similar privilege, creating a duopoly.
• For several centuries, they ran a decentralized civilian organization with a semi-democratic structure,spanning from today’s Kaliningrad to Basel, and meeting in Frankfurt twice a year during trade fairs – which often required several weeks of travel.
• Members who completed the curriculum were awarded a master’s certificate of the sword, a recognized honour conferring martial recognition and social standing for civilians.
• Several Marxbrüder rose to prominence, including probably Hans Talhoffer,¹ renowned fencing master and author; Onoferus Sokh, Imperial bodyguard; and Hans Keesebrod, master builder and politician (whose name somewhat amusingly translates to “cheese sandwich”).

The guild received its privileges from the Holy Roman Emperors, beginning with Frederick III. on 20 August 1487. These privileges were subsequently renewed and expanded by each emperor up to Leopold I in 1670. A full list of the eleven Imperial privileges can be found in Schaer (1901), p. 68 f.

A Coat of Arms Gone Missing

To this day, all privileges lie beneath the city of Frankfurt in the depth magazine of the city archive – except for two: Strangely enough, the centerpiece of the convolute is missing: the 1541 issuance of a coat of arms by Charles V in Regensburg, along with its 1670 augmentation by Leopold I in Vienna.² These two documents are especially significant because they grant a civilian organization the right to bear a coat of arms. Moreover, they contain the long-lost Marxbrüder coat of arms, whose appearance remains uncertain to this day.

Hold on, but I saw it on Wikipedia? True, two versions of the arms circulate through the internet. However, there’s problems with them:

1. They are of unknown provenance, which is a convoluted way to say we don’t know their source or veracity.
2. More pressingly, they aren’t the Marxbrüder coat of arms. At least neither the original version issued by Charles V in 1541, nor the version augmented 1670 by Leopold I in correct tincture (color). They merely are monochrome copies of what appear to be the augmented arms, created by unknown artists. Version 2 features a monogram AC or AE, but we don’t know what name that stands for. And, most critically, the actual coats of arms along with their letters of privilege continue to be lost.

The Hunt Begins: Searching for the 1541 Imperial Privilege

An unsatisfying interim conclusion, to say the least. I have little patience for loose ends, so I set out on a treasure hunt, beginning with the original coat of arms issued by Charles V.

In the age of digital archives, how hard could it be? All I had to do was comb through the databases of Frankfurt, Regensburg, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Vienna, Breslau, Prague, … You get the idea. The decentralized nature of the Marxbrüder guild coupled with the fragmented nature of the Holy Roman Empire itself (further complicated by several major wars) made it entirely plausible that the charter could have ended up in any number of cities across what is now Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, or Poland.

Countless (and late) hours, I spammed central European archive information systems and conventional search machines with keywords I hoped would lead me to the letters (e.g., “Marxbrüder” and “Charles V” and “1541” etc.). I’m acquainted to falling into research rabbit holes, but this time, I found myself nursing a quiet grudge against the early modern culprit who dared to remove the privileges from their rightful place. They could’ve at least returned them after they were done showing off.
Ironically, the guild’s statutes from the late 15^th century are crystal clear: anyone borrowing a copy of the privileges was bound by oath to return it. Evidently, our anonymous eternal lender was unmoved by such formalities.

A Glimmer in Gießen

After yet another exhaustive search, I came across a curious document in the charter collection of the University of Gießen: a 1541 letter of privilege issued by Emperor Charles V in Regensburg to certain “Masters of the Sword”. Could this be the elusive privilege that first granted the Marxbrüder their coat of arms?

My heart leapt – this had to be it. Opening with a solemn intitulatio, rendered in the ornate chancery script typical for imperial charters, the letter certainly looked the part:

We, Charles the Fifth, by grace of God Roman Emperor, ever the augmenter of the Empire, and King in Germany, of Castile, Aragon, León, both Sicilies, Jerusalem, Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, Navarre, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, Gaul, Ma[llorca] …

Although switching to a more prophane cursive, the scribe took the due time to enumerate five further lines of titles, culminating in:

Lord in Friesland, in the Windic March, at Pordenone, Biscaya, at Molin, at Salins, at Tripoli and Mechelen, etc.

Upong examining the facsimile more closely, however, my excitement slowly gave way to disbelief: The central space that should have contained the arms – was blank. Empty. Had certain Marxbrüder not only relocated the privilege from Frankfurt without returning it, but also dared to steal the coat of arms itself? If so, where had it gone? Into some private collection?

Having accepted the reality that the original arms may be lost forever, I turned to transcription. Perhaps, somewhere in the text, a blazon remained – a formal description of the heraldic figures and tinctures that once adorned the page.

For brevity, I’ll omit the full transcription here (though the Appendix contains more) and will instead highlight the relevant passage beginning at line 13:

[We grant the Masters] of the Sword and their descendants this coat of arms and crest: a black shield with three yellow mountains at the bottom; at the center of the shield a yellow lion with wings, above the head a halo, standing with his hindpaws on the mountains, and holding in his left forepaw a sword behind himself and upward. And upon the shield an open helmet with a golden crown; upon the crown a half lion with wings, above the head a halo, and holding in his left a sword behind himself and upward.

So, while the augmented arms as we know them seemed to feature a quartered shield depicting a similar lion in fields 1 and 4 and on their crest, the original arms focused on just the lion. We now also know the tincture: The shield was black and the lion was golden.

Amidst deciphering the scribe’s scrawl – made even more challenging by deep fold marks in the parchment and brownish spots from ink oxidation – I developed an egregious idea: What if this wasn’t the original letter of privilege at all, but merely a copy, sans the coat of arms? After all, several such copies are known to exist, including in Frankfurt.

The hypothesis that this document may be a verbatim duplicate of the original letter gave me fresh ammunition: a wealth of new keywords for further archival research. Most importantly, I realized that in the letter, the guild was usually not called “Marxbrüder” (Brotherhood of St. Mark) or similar, but simply “Meister des Schwerts”, or “Masters of the Sword”.

A Breakthrough in Basel?

Armed with this insight, I was able to pinpoint what I believed to be another copy of the privilege – this time in Basel. Unlike the Gießen letter, this one lacked even a digital facsimile. I had to rely on the metadata (“Charles V”, “1541”, and “Masters of the Sword”) to deduce that his might be the document I had been chasing for months.

I contacted the Basel City Archive and requested a high-resolution digital facsimile. Their reply was prompt and gracious: it could be provided for a small fee, though the 500-year-old letter would first need restoration, which might take some time.

Mindful of their time and effort, I asked if, by any chance, this letter contained a small depiction of a coat of arms in the center. If not, there would be no need to proceed further.

The archivist confirmed that this was the case. Delighted, I paid the fee and exercised patience for another couple of days (which, in the grander scheme of things, didn’t matter anymore).
And then, I received it: The original Marxbrüder coat of arms, issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V on 13 May 1541 in Regensburg. Below, I attach the high-resolution reproduction I received.

A Close Inspection of the 1541 Privilege

Different to the Gießen copy, which is penned mostly in a hasty cursive, this original privilege is rendered entirely in chancery script, lavishly illuminated with gold that has since weathered into verdigris. At its heart shines a candy-colored coat of arms, once again adorned with opulent golden diapering. Beyond the details provided in the blazon, we now discern that the mantling is black and gold (heraldically called Sable and Or), and that the shield is flanked by two supporters: golden lions with forked tails, standing upon a patch of naturalistic grass.

For the heraldically inclined, I’m attaching my attempt of a blazon. A blazon is the written specification of a coat of arms in heraldic terminology, enabling its reconstruction without ever seeing it. The syntax is somewhat unusual, while colors and directions are traditionally given in French.

• Shield: Sable, upon a trimount Or, a lion of St. Mark rampant Or, holding in his sinister paw a longsword resting on his shoulder.
• Helmet: Open and crowned Or.
• Mantling: Sable doubled Or.
• Crest: A lion of St. Mark rampant Or, holding in his sinister paw a longsword resting on his shoulder.
• Supporters: Two lions with forked tails Or, upon a compartment of grass.

The text emphasizes the guild’s longstanding service, loyalty, and virtue in martial matters and its role within the Empire. Charles V elevated the guild’s civic status and allowed its members and descendants to enjoy legal and social privileges, including the right to bear and display the arms freely, exercise certain judicial rights, and participate in both martial and ceremonial functions with recognized honor. For further detail, a full transcript and translation of this privilege are provided in the Appendix.

The charter’s edges bear visible signs of age and repeated handling. Most conspicuous is the vacant space at the lower margin, where signature and seal once resided. A pronounced dark streak cuts across the center and through the arms, likely the result of water damage incurred during storage.

Yet despite these traces of centuries, the charter’s magnificence endures. Its artistry and heraldic detail continue to command attention, and the wear it carries does little to diminish its lasting grandeur.

Civic Identity and the Marxbrüder Legacy

This rediscovery offers more than aesthetic or archival value – it deepens our understanding of the civic identity of Frankfurt and the Holy Roman Empire.
The richly detailed coat of arms, now revealed in full tincture, sheds light on the Marxbrüder’s iconography while affirming their elevated status and Imperial recognition. For heraldry, it presents a notably complete guild armorial charter, rare in both its preservation and detail. And for Frankfurt’s cultural history, it evokes a moment when civic ambition, bolstered by martial skill and political sway, began appropriating the symbols and status once reserved for nobility. Such charters were not merely administrative, but performative declarations of prestige and belonging.

Looking Ahead: The Augmented Arms of 1670

I am thrilled to have rediscovered the lost Marxbrüder coat of arms from 1541 and will be sharing more in the coming weeks. The next article will focus on the 1670 augmented version by Leopold I. Stay tuned!

If you enjoyed this article, please consider a donation to help fund my continued research on the Marxbrüder.

Special Thanks

I would like to thank the following people for their support:

• Cathrin Rieger, for providing valuable feedback on an earlier version of this article
• Johannes Theil, for pointing out refinements in my transcription and the rest of the article
• Eric Burkart, Jens-Peter Kleinau, and Werner Ueberschär for sharing this article within their networks

I am grateful to the Polytechnic Society Foundation for admitting me to the District Historian (Stadtteil-Historiker) 2025 cohort, as part of which I wrote this article. My special thanks go to Oliver Ramonat for his mentoring on topic selection.

This charter also came to light thanks to the exemplary support of the State Archive of the Canton of Basel-Stadt. From my initial inquiry to the delivery of the reproduction – including restoration and high‑resolution digitization – remarkably little time passed. The staff were not only exceptionally helpful, they also uploaded the high-resolution digital reproduction I had commissioned to their digital reading room, where it now is accessible for free to anyone: Wappenbrief Karl V. für die Meister des Schwerts

I warmly recommend viewing the document there, ideally on a large, high-resolution display.

Citation Recommendation

If you’d like to reference this aricle, you might cite it as:

Theil, Kilian (2025): Finding the Lost Marxbrüder Arms of 1541. Published 2 November 2025, https://kiliantheil.com/marxbruder/2025/10/02/rediscovering-marxbruder-arms

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Appendix A: My translation of the 1541 privilege by Charles V in Regensburg (State Archive BS: PA 111 1)

Created with support from GPT-5.

We, Charles the Fifth, by the Grace of God Roman Emperor, ever the augmenter of the Empire, King of Germany, of Castile, Aragon, Leon, both Sicilies, Jerusalem, Hungary, Dalmatia, Croatia, Navarre, Granada, Toledo, Valencia, Galicia, Majorca, Seville, Sardinia, Córdoba, Corsica, Gibraltar, the Canary and the Indies, and of the mainland of the Ottoman Sea, Archduke of Austria, of Burgundy, of Lorraine, of Brabant, of Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Limburg, Luxembourg, Guelders, Calabria, Athens, of Neopatras, and of Württemberg, Count of Habsburg, of Tyrol, of Flanders, Gorizia, Barcino, Artois, and of Brand, Count Palatine of the Rhine, of Holland, Zeeland, Friesland, Kyburg, Namur, Rassilien, of Cerdanya and Zutphen, Landgrave in Alsace, Margrave of Burgau, of Orist and of Gellany, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in Swabia, Catalonia, Asturias, Lord in Friesland, on the Windic March, of Pordenone, Biscay, Sahinz, Mollinn, Tripaley, and Mechelen etc:

We publicly acknowledge with this letter and make known to all people that we have kindly considered and examined our loyal and faithful Masters of the Long Sword and the Brotherhood of Saint Mark, for such nobility, honesty, courage, good customs, virtue, and wisdom in battles and conflicts as they have so far shown to the Holy Empire and have proven before our Imperial Majesty, and especially the faithful voluntary service they have performed for the Holy Empire, and will continue to perform in the future.

Therefore, with well-considered courage, good counsel, and rightful will, we grant to the Masters of the Sword and their descendants the following coat of arms and crest: a black shield with three yellow mountains at the bottom; at the center of the shield a yellow lion with wings, above the head a halo, standing with his hindpaws on the mountains, and holding in his left forepaw a sword behind himself and upward. And upon the shield an open helmet with a golden crown; upon the crown a half lion with wings, above the head a halo, and holding in his left a sword behind himself and upward.

This coat of arms and crest, depicted in the middle of this present Imperial letter and newly painted and colored, are graciously granted and given. Henceforth, the aforementioned Masters of the Sword and their descendants may bear this coat of arms and crest for all time, and in all honorable and rightful matters and affairs, both in play and in earnest – whether in contests, combats, jousts, fencing, tournaments, encampments, proclamations, seals, insignia, crests, funerals, and in all other occasions according to their needs and wishes.

They shall also possess, use, and enjoy all honors, privileges, freedoms, judgments, rights, and justice, and may hold and exercise offices and fiefs, possess feudal courts and jurisdiction, render judgments and pronounce law, and be deemed fit, seemly, and worthy to do so, in both spiritual and worldly estates and matters, just as other people who enjoy the fiefs and arms of our Empire do.

They may use and enjoy their coat of arms and crest by right or custom, without hindrance from anyone. We command all our and the Empire’s electors – both spiritual and secular – together with prelates, counts, barons, knights, squires, captains, burgraves, provincial and deputy governors, bailiffs, stewards, administrators, officials, sheriffs, mayors, judges, councilors, as well as kings of arms, heralds, pursuivants, citizens and communities, and all other subjects of the Empire, to recognize this earnestly and steadfastly by Imperial authority, and not to obstruct or hinder the Masters of the Sword and their descendants in the exercise of the aforementioned arms and crest.

Anyone who opposes this shall incur the severe displeasure of our Imperial authority and a fine of ten marks of Lüttich gold, to be paid half to our Imperial chamber and half to the aforementioned Masters of the Sword and their descendants, without prejudice to those who lawfully bear similar arms and crest.

This letter is sealed with our Imperial seal, given in our and the Holy Empire’s city of Regensburg on the thirteenth day of the month of May, in the year of Christ 1541, in the 21st year of our Emperorship, and the 26th of our Empire.

Appendix B: My transcription of the 1541 privilege by Charles V in Regensburg (State Archive BS: PA 111 1)

Created with support from Transkribus and Johannes Theil.

Wir Carolus der Fünfte von Gottes Gnade-

Römischer Kaÿßer zu allen Zeitten Mehrer des Reichs König in German

ien zu Castilien, Aragonien, Leon, Beeder Sicillien, Hierusalem, Hungern, Dalmatien, Croatien, Nauarra, Granaten, Taläten, Valentz, Gallia, Mayarica, Hispalis, Sardiñe,

Corduba, Corsicasiren, Gibrolten, Der Canarischen vnnd Indianischen Inßel, vnd der Terrae ferrna des Ottoanischen Meers, Ertzhertzog zu Österreich, zu Burgundi, zu Lotterich, zu Braband,

zu Steuer, Krärnten, Crayn, Lymburg, Lützenburg, Geldtern, Calabrien, Athen, zu Neopatrien vnnd zu Würtenberg, Graue zu Habspurg, zu Tyrol, Flandern, Görtz, Barcinen, Artheis

vnnd zu brandt, Pfaltzgrave zu Henigen, zu Hollandt, Seelandt, pfierdt, Kyburg, Namur, Raßilien, zu Ceritania vnd zu Zutphen, Landgrave In Elßas, Marggrave zu Burggaw, zu Orist

ung vnnd zu Gelianÿ, deß Heÿligen Römischen Reichs Fürst zu Schwaben, Catalonien, Asturia, Herr In Frießlandt, auff der Windischen Marck, zu Horttenaw, Bißcaria, Sahinz, Mollinn,

Tripaleÿ vnd Mecheln: Bekennen öffentlich mit dießem Brieff vnd Thun Kundt Allermanigliche das wir gütlich angesehen vnd betracht unßer vnnd des Reichs getrewen Maister deß Langen Schwerdts

vnd der Brüderschafft Sanct Marx solcher Erbarkeitt, Redlicheitt, Manheitt, gutten Sietten, Tugent vnnd vernunfft in Kampffen vnnd Streittenn

sich bey dem Heÿligen Reich bißherer zeigt vnd bewiessen auch vor vnßerer Kaÿserlichen Maÿestatt berümht worden vnnd sonderlich die getrewen

Willigen dienst darzu sich gegen dem Heÿligen Reiech bißher gethan unnd hinfüro in künftig zeitt wollthun mögen, unnd thun mögen unndt

sollen und haben darumb mit wolbedachtem Muth guttem Rath unndt rechtem wiellen den Meistern deß Schwerdts und ihren Nachkomen

dießes nachbeschriebene Wappen und Kleinnot mit Nahmmen einen schwartzen Schieldt unten mit dreyen gelben Bergen mitten des Schilts

ein gelber Löw mit Fliegeln oben des Kopffs ein Schein stehend mitt den hindern zweyen Füssen auff den Bergen, unnd haltendt in der linck

vorderen hinder sich auffwerts ein Schwerdt unnd auffm Schildt ein offener Helm, eine goltfarbe Cron, auff der Cron ein halber Löw mit Fliegelnn,

oben deß Kopffs ein Schein unnd haltendt in der Lincken hinder sich auffwerts ein Schwerdt als dann dießes Wappen unnd Kleinnot in mitten dies

gegenwertigen unßers Kayßerlichen brieffs gemahlet unnd mit farben eigentlich außgestrichen von Newem gnadiglichen verliehen und geben

Ihnen die auch also Newem auß Römischer Kaÿßerlicher machtvoll Kommenheit wiessentlich In Krafft dieß Brieffs vnnd setzen und wollen daß

nun hinfür die genandten Maeister des Schwerdts vnd deroselben Nachkommen für vnnd für ewiglich die jetzbestimbten Wappen vnd Kleinot haben

führen vnnd den in allen vnnd Iegelichen Ehrlichen vnnd Redlichen Sachen vnnd geschafften zu Schimpff vnnd Ernst, mit Streitten, Kampfen, Stechen,

Fechten, Vannieren, Gezelten, auffschlagen, Insiegelen, Petschafften, Kleinoten, Begräbnüßen vnnd sonst allen enden nach Ihrenn Nottürften, willen vnndt

wolgefallen, auch alle vnnd jede Ehrwürde, Gnad, Freyheitten, Vrthel, Recht vnnd Gerechtigkeit haben, gebrauchen vnnd geniessen sollen vnnd mögen mit Ämptern vnnd Lehn zu tragen zu habenn

Lehn gericht vnnd Recht zu besietzen, Vrthel zu schöpffen vnnd Recht zu sprechen vnnd darzu tauglich schicklich vnnd gut zu sein, in Geistlichen vnnd Weltlichen Ständten vnd sachen Als andern Unßer

vnnd deß Reichs Lehens vnnd Wappens genoß Leuthen so solches alles Haben vnnd sich deß auch Ihres Wappen und Cleinot gebrauchen vnnd geniessen von Recht oder gewohnheitt von aller maniglichen

unverhindert vnnd biettenn darauff allen vnnd Iegelichen vnßern vnnd des Reichs Churfürsten geistlichen vnnd weltlichen prelaten, Grauen, Freyherrn, Rittern, Knecht, Hauptleutten, Burggrauen, Landt

vögten, Vießthumben, Vögten, Pflegern, verweßern, Amptleuten, Schultheißen, Bürgermaistern, Richtern, Räthen, Königen der Wappen, Erholdten, Praesevaten, Bürgern vnnd Gemeinden, vnnd sonst

allen andern Unßern vnnd des Reichs unterthanen vnnd Getrewen In was würden, standts oder wesens die seindt Ernstlich, vnnd Vestigelich von Römischer Kayßerlicher Macht mit dießem brieff, vnnd wollen

das sie die genandten N. N. Meister deß Schwerdts vnnd Ihren nachKommen für vnnd für ewiglich an den obberurten Wappen vnnd Cleinot, unnd Freyheitten darmit wir sie begabet Haben nicht

Hindern noch Irren, sondern sie deren vorgeschriebener massen geruhigelich geniessen vnnd ganzlich darbeÿ lassen verbleiben vnnd dar wider nicht thun noch Iemandt andern zu thun gestattenn in keinerleÿ

weiße als Lieb einem Ieden seÿ vnßer vnnd des Reichs schwere ungnadt und darzu einer peen von lichen [?] zehen Marck Löttigs golts zu vermeiden die ein Ieder so offt er Freventlich darwider thete uns halb in

vnßer vnnd des Reichs Cammer unnd den andern Halben theill den Offt gemeldten Maistern des Schwerdts vnnd Irren nachkommen unnachlässig zu bezahlen verfallen sein soll doch vielleicht andern die den

obgeschriebenen Wappen und Cleinnoten Gleichführten an Ihren Wappen vnnd Rechten vnvergrifflich vnnd unschädlich. Mitt urkundt dießer Brieff versiegelt mit Vnßerm Kaÿßerlichen anhängendem Insiegel

Geben in Vnßer vnnd deß Heÿligen Reich Statt Regenspurg am Dreÿzehenden tag deß Monats Maÿ Nach Christi vnßers Lieben Herrn vnnd Seligmachers Geburt Fünffzehenhundert vnnd im ein vnndt

viertzigisten vnßers Kaÿßertumbs Im ein vnnd Zwensichsten vnnd Vnßers Reichs im sechs vnnd zwantzigsten.

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1. For more on Talhoffer’s membership, see this article. ↩︎
2. Update 13/01/2026: Meanwhile, I have also located the original 1670 charter. Read more about it here. ↩︎