Federfechter Ambition and the Contest for Imperial Privilege (1573–1688)

In March 1576, a fencer in Frankfurt announced a public fencing display the customary way: he hung a longsword outside with a note detailing the logistics. Another fencer promptly removed the sword and pawned it at a tavern for drinks.

The council heard about this. The offended fencer challenged his rival to a bout and petitioned for a replacement event the following Sunday. A few weeks later, the imperially privileged Masters of the Sword – the Marxbrüder – submitted their own account of the same incident to the council. They had removed the announcement, they explained, not out of malice, but as lawful evidence of an infringement on their monopoly.

Same sword. Two stories. A century-long conflict the Marxbrüder would eventually lose.

Frankfurt’s city records preserve what that conflict actually looked like on the ground: not a series of isolated grievances, but a sustained contest over status, jurisdiction, and political legitimacy between the Marxbrüder and their rivals, the Federfechter. From 1573 to 1688, the two guilds fought over who held the right to call themselves Masters of the Sword, a title backed by imperial privilege and essential for economic survival.

This article adds new primary evidence from the Frankfurt holdings to the existing scholarship¹ on this conflict. The closest predecessor, Wassmannsdorff’s 1870 analysis, partially transcribed four of the ten items in ISG FFM H.18.02, Nr. 19 – items 1, 2, 4, and 9.² This article fully transcribes all ten items (consisting of twelve documents), and contextualizes them against the matching council protocols from ISG FFM H.02.02. This context allows the petitions to be read not in isolation, but against the council’s own contemporaneous record of the same disputes.

The perspective is, by necessity, predominantly that of the Marxbrüder: eight of the ten items are their petitions, and the Frankfurt holdings reflect what the city council received and preserved. The Federfechter appear here largely as the Marxbrüder saw them – until 1613, when they speak for themselves for the first time.

Two findings deserve particular emphasis. First, the Frankfurt material corroborates what is known about the Federfechter’s origins: they split from the Marxbrüder for reasons the sources do not fully explain; the 1576 petition provides perhaps the clearest contemporary testimony to that break. Second, the 1607 imperial privilege was not granted to the Federfechter from above: their own regulations were already in place, and their petition to the Aulic Council included a draft of the coat of arms Rudolf II would confirm. The privilege was, in this sense, a ratification of a status the Federfechter had already constructed for themselves.

Part I: The Asymmetric Conflict (1573–1580)

1573 – A New Rival Emerges?

The first commonly cited context in which the Federfechter appear is the “Great Shooting of Zwickau,”³ a large-scale public event held in August 1573 that drew participants from across the Empire.⁴ The main contemporary account is a printed description by Hans Edlbeck, published in 1574. The guest list reads like a who’s who of German nobility: the Elector of Saxony, the Count Palatine of the Rhine, the Margrave of Brandenburg, the Landgrave of Hesse, the Bishop of Bremen, and other nobles alongside representatives from some forty German cities.⁵ Apart from the eponymous crossbow shooting competition, the event also included two Fechtschulen⁶ (public fencing competitions and show fights) with about forty participating Marxbrüder.

However, Wassmannsdorff’s claim that this is the first clean distinction between the Marxbrüder and the Federfechter⁷ is difficult to sustain. Edlbeck’s account does not mention the term “Federfechter” at all, and only uses “Freyfechter”⁸ twice – yet both times clearly as a rank within the Marxbrüder.⁹ The only passage that could implicitly refer to the Federfechter is a mock rhyme before one of the bouts:

Who holds one of the Feder in despite,
And arms himself against him for the fight –
I’ll face him down however wild he’ll be.
Swing, Feder, show me what you’ve got,
Write free with ink that looks like blood!¹⁰

The term “Feder” in the rhyme is ambiguous: It could refer to the feather as a heraldic or symbolic marker, to a specific group of fencers, or simply be a taunt with no organizational meaning. The rhyme alone cannot bear the weight Wassmannsdorff places on it.

This ambiguity notwithstanding, these Fechtschule accounts are remarkable documents: they record not only the rules (e.g., no charging in with pommel or point),¹¹ but also every participating fencer by name, and the outcomes of each fight.¹²

1575 – First Marxbrüder Petition Against Federfechter

On 6 September 1575, the Marxbrüder fire their first shot. They petition the Frankfurt Council to prohibit Freifechter from announcing or holding open Fechtschulen – a violation, they argue, of their old imperial monopoly, dating back to Frederick III’s privilege of 1487.¹³ It is the opening move of a conflict that would last more than a hundred years.

The protocol is terse, as council minutes tend to be, but the extant Marxbrüder petition fills in what it compresses.¹⁵ The jurisdictional issue at stake was pointed: the Cologne Marxbruder Wilhelm Schütz¹⁶ had petitioned against his fellow Cologne citizen, the Freifechter Mattheus Baum, reaching for Frankfurt’s council as leverage against a man he could not otherwise bind there. The question before the council was whether the Marxbrüder’s imperial privilege could bind a man on Frankfurt soil who was subject to Cologne’s own jurisdiction.

1576 – Liquidating a Longsword: Master Pawns Fechtschule Sword for Booze

At the following spring fair, in March 1576, a rather curious incident unfolds in Frankfurt: A fencer announces a Fechtschule – a public fencing display – in the customary manner. He hangs out a longsword together with a pinned note detailing the logistics. Another fencer removes the sword and, by the council’s account, drank it away at a tavern.

How substantial a tab one can run up against a fencing sword is left to the imagination. The protocol also does not name the parties, but the broader context makes their identity at least likely: the incident falls squarely into the ongoing dispute between the Marxbrüder and the Federfechter.

Several weeks later, a Marxbrüder petition dated 19 April 1576 sheds new light on the same events. The Marxbrüder complain that the Federfechter have been announcing and holding Fechtschulen without their knowledge or consent, and admit having recently removed one such announcement themselves – not out of malice, they are careful to stress, but as evidence:

Therefore, when something similar occurred a few days ago, we removed one of these announcement notices – not out of insolence or malice, but solely as truthful evidence.¹⁸

The March protocol and the April letter may thus describe the same removal from two opposing perspectives: what the council heard in March as theft and pawning, the Marxbrüder reframe in April as a lawful act of documentation.

The petition is signed by five Masters of the Sword of the Brotherhood of St. Mark: Friedrich Renner vom Hof, stonemason; Melchior Gaißmann, locksmith of Nuremberg; Lucas Ruprecht, furrier of Frankfurt;¹⁹ Gregor Sturmer of Braunsberg; and Jerg Reichel of Pering. Of these, Melchior Gaißmann is known from his epitaph, which still adorns St. Rochus Cemetery in Nuremberg.

Within their petition, the Marxbrüder make clear that the Federfechter split off from their organization:

However, a few years ago, some among us (we know not for what reasons) separated themselves, and called themselves the Frei- or Federfechter, as they are still known to this day.²²

The Marxbrüder here provide what is perhaps the clearest contemporary testimony to the Federfechter’s origins: not a rival guild that emerged independently, but a breakaway faction from within their own ranks.

Notably, we also have an account from the other side: a trade fair later (September 1576), the Cologne council sent a petition to Frankfurt, in which they request safe passage for Matheus Baum von Dillenberg, the Freifechter.²³ They argue that a Freifechter and Cologne citizen could not be judged by the Marxbrüder in Frankfurt.

1578–1580 – The Pressure Mounts

Three further petitions of the Marxbrüder against the Federfechter survive from 1578–1580, each falling around the Frankfurt trade fair.²⁴ It was the season when fencers from across the Empire convened in the city, and competition for the Fechtschule slots was most acute. The petitions are not identical: they escalate. The first (September 1578) reminds the council of a previous assurance that the abuse would be stopped, and notes that it has not been. The second (March 1579) introduces a new grievance: a candidate master had travelled a long distance to be examined, only to find that a Freifechter had already been granted the Sunday slot.²⁵ The third (March 1580) drops the specific incident entirely and reaches for something broader: the Marxbrüder are no longer complaining about a slot; they are complaining that they cannot enjoy their privileges in Frankfurt at all. The tone shifts from petition to reproach, culminating in:

Yet in these present times, we suffer ever more interference, from Freifechter and others, and especially in this city of the Holy Roman Empire, Frankfurt, where the common rabble at the fencing schools harass, shout down, slander, and disparage us in defiance of the Imperial privileges, such that without the oversight and protection of Your Honorable and Prudent Wisdom, we are unable to enjoy our privileges and liberties here at all.²⁶

Part II: The Levelling (1607–1688)

1607 – The Federfechter Become Imperially Privileged

On 7 March 1607, Rudolf II issued an imperial privilege in Prague,²⁷ confirming the Federfechter’s fencing regulations and granting them a coat of arms.²⁸ The original of this privilege (at least in its Czech version) still lies in Prague.²⁹

The privilege was not, however, a gift from above. The Federfechter’s own petition to the Aulic Council in Vienna reveals the process in reverse: they came to Rudolf with their regulations already drafted and their coat of arms already designed. The petition explicitly asks the emperor to confirm “the aforementioned coat of arms, as the illustration shows it in form and colors hereafter”, and to confirm “the attached particular points and articles, which we have found necessary and advisable to institute.”³⁰ Therefore, Rudolf’s seal merely ratified a status the Federfechter had already constructed for themselves.

The petition frames this request in terms of public benefit: fencing would keep young men from vice,³³ produce skilled soldiers against the Ottoman threat,³⁴ and pointedly would re-invigorate the Marxbrüder themselves.³⁵ It is a clever rhetorical move: the Federfechter present themselves as benefactors of their rivals³⁶ even as they outmaneuver them legally.

The 1607 privilege did not resolve the conflict but transformed it. For thirty years, the Marxbrüder had fought the Federfechter on asymmetric terms: a privileged guild against an unlicensed breakaway. That asymmetry was now substantially gone: both guilds were imperially privileged, bore a coat of arms, and had their own fencing regulations. Whatever the Marxbrüder presented to a city council, the Federfechter could now present something equivalent.

One decisive advantage remained, however: the Marxbrüder still held an Empire-wide monopoly on the master’s examination. Any fencer seeking to become a Master of the Long Sword, whether Marxbruder or Federfechter, still required a Marxbruder master to be present. The argument the Federfechter would deploy in 1613, that imperial privileges for Masters of the Sword applied to both guilds equally, was only credible precisely because Rudolf had put his seal on their claim in 1607. But the examination monopoly remained untouched, and it would take another eighty years to break it.

1608 – Federfechter Inaugurate Their Annual Fechtschule in Prague

A year after receiving their imperial privilege, the Federfechter issued a printed announcement,³⁷ inviting all practitioners of the fencing art to their inaugural session of what was now their central institutional event: their annual Fechtschule in Prague, stipulated by the privilege itself on the Sunday after St Vitus’ Day. This was not a one-off event but the founding act of a recurring Fechtschule – the Federfechter’s answer to the Marxbrüder’s own established presence in Frankfurt.

The Marxbrüder are addressed directly and by name, with a friendly reminder to appear willingly at the school and to help examine those seeking to become Masters of the Long Sword, as the Federfechter note they had themselves done at Frankfurt. The announcement closes with a reference to the sealed imperial privilege as legal foundation on which the entire institution rested.

1610 – Marxbrüder Seek to Reassert Their Imperial Privileges

Short and administratively dry – this is the council scribe at his most economical: The Marxbrüder request certified copies (transumpts) of their imperial privileges, bearing the city’s seal to give them legal standing elsewhere. Given that 1610 falls three years after the Federfechter received their own imperial privilege in 1607, the timing is deliberate. They are shoring up their legal arsenal precisely when they need it most.

1612 – The Marxbrüder Join Forces with English Players

In March 1612, the Marxbrüder and a troupe of English players are jointly asking for permission to perform: the fencers providing the martial spectacle, the players the dramatic entertainment. The council protocol records the request tersely, while an accompanying petition from the Marxbrüder fills in the detail.

The petition makes clear what these “customary instruments” were: stringed instruments such as lute and fiddle, drums, and fifes, whose usage had been banned as part of the official mourning period following Emperor Rudolf II’s death in late January. The Marxbrüder note pointedly that they could not run a proper Fechtschule without music, and that other cities were already lifting the ban – likely, they suggested, in anticipation of the coming imperial election.⁴⁰ It was a commercially attractive proposition for both the German fencers and the English players, and may well have taken place at the inn Krachbein, which is known to have hosted such liaisons in this period.

The episode is a reminder that the Marxbrüder in 1612 are not simply a guild defending a legal privilege in the abstract. They are working entertainers trying to practice their art in a city that controls performance licenses tightly. Their alliance with the English players is a pragmatic response to that constraint. It is the same logic that drives the broader conflict with the Federfechter: privilege, patronage, and the economics of performance.

From the Red Record Book, we know that they indeed utilized the election day of Emperor Matthias on 9 June for a spectacle: they dubbed two Trabanten master, a rare and prestigious occasion.⁴¹

1613 – The Federfechter’s Own Voice Appears⁴²

This petition from a year later is a revelation: For the first time, the Federfechter speak for themselves. They are quite articulate, deploying a shrewd piece of legal reasoning: the Imperial privileges would not specifically reference the Marxbrüder, but merely Masters of the Sword – a general title the Federfechter claim equally.

We, the fencing masters affiliated with and belonging to the Feder, have for some time now had to suffer considerable diminishment and obstruction of this praiseworthy art at our own hands, and in particular intolerable loss and harm to ourselves, at the hands of those who call themselves St. Mark’s (otherwise known as the Brothers of Mars) who, out of ignorance, have so treated us, notwithstanding that the privilege upon which they seek to rely for their supposed benefit is entirely general, and directed at all Masters of the Sword, and therefore encompasses and concerns us just as much as them; and notwithstanding that we specifically and anew have been recognized by the late most serene, most mighty, and unconquerable prince and lord, lord Rudolf the Second of that name, Roman Emperor of most praiseworthy memory, as true Masters of the Sword, and as such presented and set before the whole world, as it were, through the renewal and repetition of the aforementioned privileges and liberties; and yet the aforementioned Brothers of Mars, out of sheer impropriety, dare to presume, contrary to the clear and oft-cited wording and meaning of said privilege, and contrary in particular to our renewed liberties, to interpret said privilege as applying to themselves alone and to exclude us; and whereas by virtue thereof all Masters of the Sword, and especially ourselves on account of our new confirmation, are permitted throughout the entire world to set days, present themselves, and demonstrate their art before those who wish to practice fencing – here, in one of the most foremost cities of the Holy Roman Empire, they seek to restrict this to the utmost, to obstruct it, and to impede and prevent us from using the Sundays during the trade fairs for this purpose.⁴³

The Federfechter appear legally sophisticated, blending legalese seamlessly with chancery Latin:

Since all of this is directly and squarely contrary to all equity, the oft-cited old and new privileges, as well as the common law, by virtue of which such Concessiones Imperatoriæ in any case quam latissimè accipi d[ebe]nt, ut quam possunt plurimos comprehendant.⁴⁴

The Latin clause advances a recognizable jurisprudential argument: Imperial concessions are to be read as expansively as possible. The Federfechter are telling the Frankfurt council that the Marxbrüder’s narrow reading is not just wrong – it is contrary to the logic of imperial grants themselves.

1614 – Just a Scratch

On 20 September 1614, the Marxbrüder write to the council about an ongoing dispute:⁴⁵ They had planned to dub Hans Rambisch of Bamberg, a baker and brother of their guild, as Master of the Long Sword the previous Sunday – but he was not admitted because he had been wounded during the examination, as the Red Record Book confirms.⁴⁶

The Marxbrüder, downplaying the incident, insist he was merely “scratched or grazed a bit,”⁴⁷ as the mayor himself had confirmed on inspection. Rambisch was presented again that same day and successfully passed. To prevent such Federfechter vetoes in the future, the Marxbrüder ask the council to henceforth order two neutral civilians to ensure orderly conduct at the Fechtschulen.

1615 – Federfechter Push for Equal Fechtschule Rights

In 1615, the Federfechter make their final push by requesting to be permitted the same Sunday Fechtschulen as the Marxbrüder.

The council protocol records no outcome. But the petition itself is the point: where the Federfechter had once been the subject of the Marxbrüder’s complaints, they were now making demands. The guild that the Marxbrüder had dismissed in 1576 as a breakaway faction was petitioning Frankfurt’s council on equal terms – and doing so in the language of rights, not grievance.

With this, the letters and accompanying council notes come to a pause. The Federfechter had fought their way to equal standing on paper, but the Marxbrüder were not finished. In 1670, the Marxbrüder secured a significant advantage: Leopold I granted them an armorial augmentation – the arms were officially “augmented, adorned, and improved” – elevating their standing above anything the Federfechter could then claim.⁴⁹ For a time, this restored the asymmetry that Rudolf II’s 1607 privilege had dissolved. Yet, they could only maintain this advantage for less than two decades.

1688 – Federfechter Recognized as Equals to the Marxbrüder

On 2 December 1688, Leopold I granted the Federfechter – now stylized as Masters of the Long Sword of Greifenfels over the Society of the Free Fencers of the Feder – an armorial augmentation, further elevating their rank and heraldically enriching their coat of arms. The privilege granted them the right to appoint new masters on St. Vitus’ Day in Prague independently, should no Marxbrüder be present.⁵⁰ More consequentially, it broke the Marxbrüder’s century-old monopoly on the master’s examination: the Federfechter could henceforth examine their own candidates in Prague independently, without a Marxbruder present.⁵¹

Why Leopold acted at this particular moment remains unclear from the surviving sources. What is clear is the effect: the legal asymmetry the Marxbrüder had defended for over a century was formally dissolved. The Federfechter had begun as a breakaway faction without privilege or coat of arms; they ended the period as heraldically augmented imperial grantees, recognized on equal terms. The better privilege the Marxbrüder had secured in 1670 had bought them less than two decades.

Conclusion: Schism and Reconciliation

The conflict between the Marxbrüder and the Federfechter is easy to misread as a simple story of institutional decline: An old guild slowly overwhelmed by a newer rival. The Frankfurt material complicates that picture. What the council records show, from the pawned sword of 1576 to Leopold’s formal concession of 1688, is not a rout but a negotiation: two organizations competing for the same title, the same trade fair Sundays, and the same imperial recognition, each learning the other’s tactics as the decades passed.

The Marxbrüder’s mistake, if it can be called that, was assuming their privilege was self-enforcing. The 1575 petition, the 1578–1580 escalations, and the request for certified copies in 1610 each represents an attempt to reassert a monopoly that was already slipping. The Federfechter, meanwhile, proved adept at turning the Marxbrüder’s own legal framework against them, arguing not that the old privileges were invalid, but that they applied to both guilds equally. It was a shrewder position, and in the long run a winning one.

By 1688, the question was no longer whether the Federfechter had a right to hold Fechtschulen – it was settled that they did. What the conflict ultimately decided was something smaller and more human: who got to call themselves Masters of the Sword, and on whose terms. The answer, after more than a century, was both of them.

18^th century petitions to the Frankfurt council, submitted jointly under a single institutional heading combining Marxbrüder and Federfechter,⁵⁵ suggest the story had come full circle: the two guilds that had once been one, and spent a century and a half apart, were one again.

Appendix

My transcription of H.18.02. Nr. 19

Notes on the Convolute

• Per Repertorium 7 at ISG FFM, the convolute H.18.02., Nr. 19 contains ten items. Eight of them consist of one document, and two of them (2 and 10) consist of two documents.
• Documents 2.2 and 10.2 appear to be misplaced – see my corresponding footnotes.
• Binding: An exposed-spine structure with a blue cardstock signature, sewn at five stations (including two kettle stitches) onto three raised hemp cords.

Notes on the Transcription

• Each item is an independent document bound together into a single convolute; folio numbering therefore restarts with each item.
• Each item is preceded by a brief editorial descriptor in italics, summarizing its date, author, and content. These descriptors are my own editorial additions and do not form part of the original documents.
• The transcription was prepared with the assistance of Transkribus; all readings were manually verified.
• I further validated my transcription by comparing item 1 with Kevin Maurer’s transcription,⁵⁶ item 3 with Dorothee Klein’s transcription,⁵⁷ and items 1, 2 (document 2.1), 4, and 9 with Karl Wassmannsdorff’s partial transcriptions.⁵⁸
• The long s (ſ) has been normalized to round s throughout.
• For readability, I preserve only those line breaks that separate distinct textual units (such as salutation, body, and closing). Hyphens mark line breaks in the original.

Transcription

[cover]

marxbrüder

1575–1614

Uglb. A. 69 nᵒ 22. Nr. 19

marxbrüder

STADT-ARCHIV

[Item 1 – 6 September 1575 – First Marxbrüder petition to the Frankfurt Council, requesting that Freifechter be prohibited from announcing or holding open Fechtschulen in violation of their imperial monopoly.]

[1r]

Ehrnueste, Hochgelerte, Fursichtige Ersame vnd wolweise, groß günstig gebietende Herren

Nachdem nuhn ettliche Iar hero, auß mangel eines Meisters des Schwerts der Bruder oder Geselschafft Sanct Marx in diser Kaÿ: freien Reichs Stat Franckfurt, den Freÿfechtern vergönt vnnd zugelassen worden, offene Fechtschulen anzu⸗schlagen vnd zuhaltten, wie dan auch beschehen, Vnd aber E. E. vnd F. W. sich g: zuerinnern wissen, daß solches angezogener Bruderschafft etc. Freiheitt und begnadigung höchlich entgegen vnd zuwider, So ist unser ganz under⸗thenige bitt, E. E. und F. W. wöllen hinfür⸗ther keinem Freifechter eÿnich Schul anzuschlagen noch zuhaltten gestatten, Sonder vns bei vnsern lang und wolhergebrachten Freiheÿten schützen vnd handthaben, Damit wir nicht verursacht, an andern ortten vnnd enden, vns eines solchen mißbrauchs wegen zubeclagen, vnd die Peen in den Freiheiten bestimpt anzuzihen, das wir doch viel lieber umbgehen wölten, Thun hiermit

[1v]

E. E. vnd F. W. vns zu underthenigen gehorsamen vnd willigen dinsten em⸗phelen. Den 6. September Aᵒ đ [15]75.
E. E. und F. W.

Vnderthenige willige und gehorsame

Die Meister des Schwerdts der Hochgefreÿeten vnnd Begnadeten Bruderschafft Sanct Marx. Itzo alhie zu Franckfurt am Main, sampt vnd sonder.

[2r] [empty]

[2v]⁵⁹

Die Meister des Schwerts bitten keinen Freifechtern alhie schul zu⸗halten zu uergunnen

Lecte Dinstags den 6. Septemb: Anno đ [15]75.

N. 22.

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

1̅

Supplicatio
der Meister des Schwerdts der Bruderschafft S. Marx.

[Item 2]

[Document 2.1 – 19 April 1576 – Marxbrüder petition detailing the ongoing conflict with the Federfechter, including the admission that they removed a Federfechter announcement notice as evidence. Signed by five masters including captain Friedrich Renner vom Hof.]

[1r] [empty]

[1v] [empty]

[2r]

Ehrnueste, Würdige Hochgelerte, Auch Fursichtige, Ersame, vnd wolweise großgunstig gebietende herren, Aus hochtringender vnuermeidtlicher noturfft konnen wir vndenbenanten nit vmbgehn, E. E. W. vnd F. W.⁶⁰ Inn vnderthenigkeit supplicirendt fur vnd anzubring. Als vor vielen vnuerdencklichen Zeiten vnd Iaren hero von Rhö: Kaÿ: und Kön: Mt: die Meister des Schwerts, (⋅die Bruderschafft S. Marx genant⋅) allergnedigst Pri⸗uilegirt, und befreihet sein, vermög derselbigen Frei⸗heit, deren abgetruckten Copei E. E. W. vnd F. W. mit Irer Stadt Insigel besigelt einem Ieden so von gedachter Bruderschafft oder derselbign Obern, abprobirt vndt angenommen wirdt, mitzutheÿlen pflegen, darinnen bei einer Namhafften Peen verbotten, keinem, der von gedachten Meistern oder der genanten Bruderschafft, dar zu nicht bestettigt, ohne derselbigen vorwissen, willen oder erlaubnus einiche Schul anzuschlagen oder zuhaltten, zugestatten so welches der Rhö: Kaÿ: vnd Kön: Mt: bedencken ohne Zweiffel darumb beschehen, daß solche Ritterliche übung in rechter Brüderlicher eÿnigkeit im gebrauch möge erhalten, vnd die Brüder von S. Marx genennet werden, nicht allein nur von einem handtwerck, sondern stehet einem Iedenn freÿ darund

zukommen, freÿ gleich was standes er wölle, Außge⸗nommen die vom Adel vnd der Ritterschafft, welche dan zuuorderst bei vns den obgemelten Meistern od[er] der Bruderschafft von S. Marx in hohen ehren & auch in allen vnsern anschlag brieffen vnd schulen beuor

[2v]

gehalten werden, sonst aber mag sich menniglich zu vns begeben, wie dan niemals einicher redlicher Gesell od[er] Biderman von uns verworffen, sondern einem Ieden der Kunst begerendt, mitgetheÿlt worden ist.

Nachdem aber vor wenig Iaren, etliche von uns, (⋅wissen nicht aus was ursachen⋅) sich abgesondert, vnd die Freÿe oder Federfechter, wie man sie noch heut⸗tigs tags zu nennen pflegt, genant, welche die fur⸗nemsten von hohen vnd Nidern standts Personen an sich hengken, vnd vns der Bruder od[er] Gesellschafft von S. Marx widerwertig machen, Auch dieselben dahin verursachen vnd bewegen thun, viel [insertion: vnd] grosse draẅwort vff offenen Freien Fechtschulen (⋅wie am nechstuer⸗gangenen Palm Sontag gehört ist worden⋅) vnd sonst allent⸗halben [insertion: wider vns] außzustossen. Vnd sonderlich (⋅deß wir vns zum höchsten zubeclagen⋅) haben wir Iezundt ein Zeit hero sehen müssen, daß den Freÿfechtern erlaubt vnd ver⸗gündt worden ist, wider vnsern willen oder wissen, offene Schulen anzuschlagen vnd zuhalten, welches, angezogenen vnsern wolhergebrachten Privilegien höch⸗lich entgegen vnd zuwider, darumb wir auch vor etlich wenig tagen, als sich ein solches abermals begeben hat, einen derselbigen anschlag Zettel, nit auß frefel oder mutwillen, sonder allein zu einem warhafftigen ge⸗zeugnus, abgenommen haben.

Dieweil dan, großgunstig gebietende Herren, die beÿde Iezt

[3r]

Regirende- [insertion: Rhö:] Kaÿ: auch Kön: Mt: vnsere aller gnedigste herren, vff nechst gehaltenem Reichstage zu Regen⸗spurg, als ein Freÿfechter in seinem Anschlag brieff: die Meister des Schwerts oder gefreihete Bruderschafft von S. Marx verachtlicher weiß angetast, offentlich sich vernemen haben lassen, vber derselbigen gegebene Freÿheitten mit Ernst vns zuhandthaben, welches auch billich von deroselben vnderthanen vnd Getreuen auch beschehen solte. Dem allem nach so langt vnd ist an E. E. W. vnd F. W. vnser gantz vnderthenig hoch⸗fleissig und flehliche bitt, sÿ wöllen daran sein, daß solcher mißbrauch der Freÿ oder Federfechter, des vngeburlichen anschlags vnd schulhalttens halben, sonderlich dieweil Iez⸗undt ein Meister des Schwerts vnserer Gesellschafft in diser Stadt Franckfurt wohnlich gesessen, gnedig vnd gunstig abgeschafft werden, vnd hinfurther verneintenn bleiben mögt, vnd vns bei vnsern Lang vnd wolher⸗gebrachten Freiheitten schutzen vnd schirmen, damit wir vnsern Eÿdt, so wir fur alle vnd Iede burger des heilig Römischen Reichs, gethan vnd thun mussen, mit gutem gewissen volnziehen und leÿsten können.

Im Fall aber mehrangezogene vnsere Freÿheiten, Ihres Inhalts (⋅als wir doch nit verhoffen⋅) so weit sich nit erstrecken, sondern disputirlich, Oder aber an vns eÿnicher fehl oder mangel (⋅dardurch solche vnordnng vnd vndertruckung vnserer Freiheit herfliessendt⋅) sein solte, So bitten wir gleichsfals gantz vnder⸗thenig, vnbeschwert zusein, dasselbige In sperie vns

[3v]

gunstiglichen zuvermelden vnd anzuzeigen, damit solchen mängeln vnd gebrechen In Zeiten vorgebauet werden moge. Deren tröstlichen vngezweiffelten hoffnung vnd zuuersicht E. E. W. vnd F. W. werden vns bei solchen vnseren Priuilegiy, Freiheiten vnd begnadigungen handt⸗haben vnd bleiben, darwider nicht tringen oder beschweren lassen, Daran beschieht der Rhö: Kaÿ: vnd Kön: Mt: ernstlicher befehl will und meÿnung, Vnd wöllen wir auch dasselbig vmb E. E. W. vnd F. W. deren Burger, angehörigen oder verwanthen mit vnserm leib, gut, vnd blut, die Zeit vnsers lebens gehorsam vnd willig verdienen, derselbigen tröstlichen wilfarig Antwort bittendt.

E. E. W. vnd F. W.

Vnderthenige gehor⸗same und willige

Friderich Renner vom Hof, stein⸗ [insertion: metz] Iezundt erwehlter Hauptman,
Melchor Geÿßman Schlosser burg zu Nurmberg.
Lucas Rupprecht Kurßner burg hie zu Franckfurt.
Gregor Sturmer von Braunspurg
Jerg Reichel von Pering. Alle Meister des Schwerts der Brud⸗schafft von S. Marx.

[4r]

[empty]

[4v]

hauptmann vnnd Geselschafft d[er] Bruderschafft Sanct Marx Clagen ober die Federfechter vnnd bitten sie, bei Ihren habenden Priuilegien zu handthaben

Lecte Donnerstags den 19 Aprilis Anno d [15]76.

2̅

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Supplicatio.

Hauptman vnd Geselschafft der Bruderschafft S. Marx

[Document 2.2 – 15 September 1551 – Misplaced. Petition by fencing masters to the Frankfurt Council requesting that their letters of certification include explicit reference to the privileges and penalties. Predates the Marxbrüder-Federfechter conflict.]⁶¹

[1r]

Fursichtigen Ersamen vnd weysen E F W

gegen vnser ongesparte gantz willige dinst alles vlysses zuuor an v vnd w gunstigen lieben herren so vnd als noch altem loblichem her kommen E F W so vor Iungen meister machen, der selben vff unsere ansuchen mit eym glaubwurdigen schein pflegen zuversehen, dweyl aber Im solchen schein biß anhero bey solcher freyheit noch peen, was solche freyhrett vff Im treget, nit Inserirt vnd vorfast ist worden, beclagen sich de Iungen meister, dan man Inen wohin sie komen, keyn glauben geben woll vnd gleych vorechtlich angefaren werden, Ist dero halben an E f w vnser aller dinstlich vnd vleyssige Bitt Inen In solchen schein was der freyheit vff antreff vnd die peen hin langt Inserriren zulossenn damit sie wo hin sie komen gehanthapt mochten werden, das wollen wir vn⸗dertheniges vlyss zuuordnen erfunden werden, E F W. vmb eyne gunstige ant⸗wort bettenden.

E F W

gantz willigen und gehorsamen

Die fechtmeister

[1v]

Die Fechtmeister ge⸗mainlich

Lect[e] 15 Septemb[ris]
Anno đ [15]51

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Erfursichtigen Ersamen vnd weyßen Burgermeisteren Vnd rhat disser stat franckfurt vnseren gvnstigenn liebenn Herren

L[ECT]V[M]

[Item 3 – 13 September 1576 – Letter from the Mayor and Council of Cologne to the Frankfurt Council, requesting safe conduct for Matthes Baum von Dillenberg, a Freifechter and Cologne citizen, arguing he could not be subject to Marxbrüder jurisdiction in Frankfurt.]

[1r]

Vnser freuntlich gruß vnd was wier Liebs vnd guts vermogenn zvuor Ersam Fursichtige vnnd Weise besonders Liebe vnnd gutte freunde. Vnser Mitburger Matthes Baum von Dillenberg, Freifechter, Hatt vns zverkhennen gebenn wellichermaßenn ehr gemeintt vf Franktfurtt zuuerreisenn vnd sich daselbst mit der Anwesender Bruderschafft von Sanct Marx wie preuchlich Im fechten zuuben.

Damitt ehr aber von derselben Bruderschafft vnder recht vnnd Pilligkeitt nitt beschwertt, Hat ehr vns vmb furpitliche schrifft an E Furß Weißht gepettenn die wir Ime vf diesen pilligen zugelaßenen fal nicht verwegeriren sollen Angesehen ehr vnser gehorsamer Mitburger den wir zubefurdern schuldich.

Da nun Angeregte Bruderschafft von Sanct Marx einige Rechtmeßigen furderung zuhaben vermeint wan solliche alhir da ehr Iederman zu rechtt gesessenn Angesteltt wurde sol Inen furderlich rechtt vnd execvtion deßelben one Affection widerfaren Dan sie In Iren eigenen sachen

[1v]

nit rechter de Iure sein khonnen. Weßhalb sich nicht gepuren wolle die Bruderschafft von Sanct Marx einen Feder Fechter vnd Buger dieser Statt der Inen nittt vnderworffen, richten sollen.

Gelangett derohalb An E Furß Weißht vnser freundlich guttlich begeren, die wollen gedachten freyfechter vnsern Mitburger fur Allen vnpillgen gewaldt schutzen vnd schirmen vnd demselbenn vmb seine ritterliche kunst wie Anderen on behenderniß zugebrauchenn frei sicher gelaidt gvnnstiglich verleihen daran thun E Furß Weißht one das eß sich zu recht zimbt vns sonder gefallens vnd seint eß hinwid[er]umb Zuverschulde guttwillig Thun derselbe damit Gott Almechtig seliglich empfelen. Geben Am 7. Septembris Anno đ [MD]Lxxvi

Burgermeistere vnd Rathe des heil: Reichs Stat Cöln

[2r]

[empty]

[2v]

[papered wafer seal of the Imperial City of Cologne]

Den Ersamen vorsichtigen vnd weisen Burgermeistern vnd Rathe der Statt Franckfurtt vor vnsern besondern lieben und gutten freunden

3

p[ro]ut 12. Sept Aᵒ. đ. [15]76

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Burgermaister und Rath d[er] Stat Collen, schreibe für Mathesen Baum freifechter vnd bitten denselben Glaidt zu gebe[n]

Lect[e] donnerstags den 13 Septembris Anno đ [15]76.

[Item 4 – 1 September 1578 – Marxbrüder petition reminding the council of a previous assurance that Freifechter abuses would be stopped, noting that a candidate master had travelled a long distance to be examined only to find a Freifechter had been granted his slot.]

[the formerly first folio has been cut out]

[1r]

Ehrnueste, Hochgelertte, Fursichtige, Ersame vnd Weise, denselben seÿen vnser vnderthenige gantz willige dienste, mit fleiß bereÿt zuvor, gunstig gebietende herren, E. E. vnd F. W. wissen sich (·vngezweiffelt·) noch wol zuerinnern, welcher massen sÿ vns, vor zweÿen jaren vn⸗geuerlich vff vnser damals, wider der Freÿ⸗ vnd anderer frembden Fechter zur vngebur Schulen anschlag vnd halttung &c. vnderthenig Suppliciren vnd anbringen, gnedig vnd gunstig vertröstet haben. Nemlich, daß solcher einbruch vnd mißbrauch abgeschafft, vnd ferner nicht gestatet werden solle. Vnd ob wol das⸗selb, angeregter vertröstung nach, ein Zeit lang also ergangen, So ist es doch nuhnmehr wider⸗umb in vorigen vnbrauch gerathen, Also, daß denselben Fechtern, vff ihr begeren, Schulen an⸗zuschlagen vnd zuhaltten [insertion: ohne vnderscheid] erlaubt vnd verstattet, Dardurch dann die Angelobten Meister, welche die Meisterschafft deß Schwerts zuerlangen zum offternmal einen weiten weg biß anhero, als zu dem ortt darzu bestimpt, zu reÿsen haben, schwer⸗lich vertrungen, an Irem furnemen verhindert

[1v]

vnd höchlich vernachteÿlt werden, Wann dan wir vns gentzlich versehen, E. E. vnd F. W. uns beÿ vnsern habenden Kaÿserlichen Priui⸗legien vnd begnadigungen zuhandthaben gunstig geneÿgt. Als gelangt an dieselben vn⸗ser sampt und sonder vnderthenige hochfleissige bitt, sÿ wöllen vorgerurten Mißbrauch, durch die Freÿ und andere frembde Fechter, höchst⸗gedachter Kaÿ: Mt: [insertion: vns] verliehener Freÿheit entgegen vnd zuwider, eingefurth, gnedig vnd gunstig einstellen vnd verbieten, damit wir solcher unserer Freÿheit von vndencklichen Iaren löblich vnd wol hergebracht, vor andern, wie billich, ge⸗niessen mögen. Solches gebetener massen zugeschehen, thun wir vns gantz vnder⸗thenig getrösten. Wöllens auch vmb E. E. und F. W. mit Leib und gut geflissen sein zuuerdienen.

E. E. vnd E. W.

vnderthenige gantz willige

die Meister des Langen Schwerts der Bruderschafft S. Marx Iezundt alhie zu Franckfurt.

[2r]

[empty]

[2v]

Die Maister des Langenschwerts d[er] Bruderschafft Sannt Marx bitten sie bei Ihren Priui⸗legien zuhandthaben vnd sie durch die Freifechter nit schwechen zulassen.

Lecte donnerstags den 1 Septembris Anno 1578

4̅

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Supplicatio.

[Item 5 – 9 March 1579 – Marxbrüder petition requesting that a Freifechter’s already-granted Fechtschule permission be revoked in favour of a sworn master candidate who had travelled specifically to Frankfurt for his examination.]

[1r]

Ehrnueste Hochgelerte Ersame, Fursichtige und weÿse Gunstige

gebitendte herren, E. E. vnnd F. W. finden wir vnden benanten Meister des Schwerts, Aus hochbeschwerlicher Notturfft nach, vmb Gnedig schutz unnd hilff an zu Ruffen nit vnderlossen, demnach von viellen Kaÿssern, dero hochloblich gedechtnus, vnsern vohrfahren vnd nach komendten, als Meistern des Schwertzs, Gesiglete Kaÿserliche Freÿ⸗heytten mitgetheildt wordten, wie dieselbigenn Im val der Rath vorzu⸗legen beÿfandten, darauf wir dan vil Iahr hero die Freÿheyt vnnd gerechtigkaÿt, Alhie gebraucht vnnd Innen gehapt, Ain Idle figige afaMes vff den zweÿen Ersten Sundag, darinnen, vns von E. E. W. vnnd F. W. schul zu haldten vor andtern freÿfechtern vergindt, wordten, Erwart⸗et, wo sich ain angelobter Meister vff derren Schul Ainne zu Meister des Schwertzs vorstellen brobieren vnnd Schlagen Lassen woldte, wie dan auch sich konftigen Sondag Ainer vorzustellen gentzlich bedacht, welcher das wegen Ain weidten weg alhero verreist, vnnd große Zerung angelegt, Derweil aber Nun vns, von den auch Ersamen unnd weÿssen hernn Burgermeistern |⁝vff unser Ansuchen vnnd begern Negst könfftigen Sondag Schul zu haldten gebetten⁝| angezeigt wordten wie Albereith Ainem Freÿfechter vff ernanten Sundag Schul zu haldten vergindt seÿ wordten welchs vns dan, gantz hachlich beschwerlich vnnd nachtheilig fallen wirdt, Langt derowegen vnser hochfleisige Flelich vnnd vnderthennige bitt, An E. E. W. unnd F. W. die wollen vnns Genediglichen beÿ zugezogner vnser Kaÿserlichen [insertion: freÿheidten] vnnd Confermation [sic] brief Erhaldten Schützen vnnd handthaben, vnnd Obgedachtem Freÿfechtern, seÿnns Itzige Erlaubte Schul, Ab vnnd vff Kindten vnd Eÿn Stellen lasen, damit Angezogner, Angelobter Meister nit gehindtert seÿnne Zerung vnnd versaumnus, nit vmbsunst Angelegt, vnnd auff gewendt hedt, wo vns aber In Solchem nit geholffen werdten mecht wie wir sich das kaines wegs vorsehen, hedten wir sich Solches vermeg offtgemelter freÿheiten, hochlich zu beklagen, Solches vnserm begern nach aber zugeschehen, wollen wir die Zeit vnserns lebens von E E W vnnd F W: hochlich Phemen / Auch mit Aller vndtherdeinigkaÿt so vil, Immer miglich zuuerdienen verbitig gehorsam vnnd willig Erfundten werdte

E E W vnd F W:

Gehorsamer vnderthenniger Burger

Friderich Renner Steinmetz
vnnd Geronimus Beckman
Laux Rubrecht Kürsner
Melchior Geÿsman von Nürnberg

[1v] [empty]

[2r] [empty]

[2v]

Die Maister des Langen schwerts Bitten den Freifechtern kain Fechtschul alhie zuhaltenn zuer⸗laubenn

Lecte donnerstags den 9 Martÿ Anno 1579

5̅

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Supplication

[Item 6 – 23 March 1580 – Marxbrüder petition escalating from specific grievances to a general complaint: the brotherhood could no longer enjoy its privileges in Frankfurt at all, as the common rabble at the fencing schools harassed and disparaged them in defiance of their imperial privileges.]

[1r]

Ehrnueste, Würdige, Hochgelertte, Fürsichtige, Ehrsame

vnnd Weise, Gebietten vndt großgünnstige Herren, E. E. W. vnnd F. W seindt vnnser vnndterthinig geulissen vnnd ganntz willige diennst nach vermögen bestes vleiß zuuor vnnd geben denselben hier mit um Vntterthönigkeit sup⸗plicando zuuernehmen. Daß vnd demnach wir vonn Weylandt Keÿser Friederichen [insertion: dem 3.] hochlöblichster gedächtnus vnnserm aller genädigsten Herren mit besonderen freihaÿtten nach Außweisunge Ihrer Kaÿ: Maÿtt: Brieuen vnd Sigeln, Allergenädigst begabet, Welche Priuilegia vnd Freÿheitten, vf beschehens undterthönigstes vnsers theils anruffen, auch hernach von Weilandt Kaÿsern Maximiliano dem Ersten hochmilter gedechtnus, vnnd dann auch Itzigem Regirendem Römischenn Keÿser Rudolpho dem Andern von Gottes gnaden vnserm Aller⸗Genedigsten Herren Vermöge hiebeiligendt mit übergeben Ihrer Kaÿ: Maÿtt: Brieff vnnd Sigill, Allergenädigste Erneẅert, Confirmiret vnd bestättigt worden. Deren wir auch billich geniessen vnd darwider nicht beschwehrt werden soltten. So geschicht doch vnns bey Izigen zeiten So mehr vnnd mehr zutrags, von Freÿfechtern vnd andern, vnd vorauß in dißer des Heiligen Römischen Reichs Statt Franckfurth, Darauff der gemeÿne Hauff auff den Schulen vnns mit sonther den Keÿserlichen Freiheiten der massen Mollestiren, auß⸗schreyen, schmehen vnd verachten. Daß ohne E. E. W. vnd F. W. einsehens vnd schutz wir vnserer Priuilegien vnd Freiheiten alhie nichts geniessen mögen. Gelangtt hierumben an dieselben vnnser vndterthönig dienstlichs Pitten Sie wöllen von Obrigkeit wegen, vnns dises Ortts

[1v]

beÿ Angeregten Keÿserlichen Confirmirten Freiheitten, günsthiglichen Hanndthaben, vnd daß wid[er] dieselbigen nicht so schmelich vn Leichtferttig vnd Verrächtlich gefreuelt vnd verschaffen. Auch die Ienigen so hier über gethan angeben werden, mit gebürlich Straff, zur schuldigen billigkeit weisenn Das sindt wir vmb E. E. W. vnd F. W. in Vnderthönigkeit zuuerschulden vnd zuuerdiehnen gantz willige

E. E. W. vnnd F. W.

Vnndterthenige vnd gantz dienstwilligen

Maister des Schwerdts vnd Gemeine Bruderschafft von Sanct Marx.

[2r] [empty]

[2v]

die Maister des Schwerdts bitten darbei Ihrer Freiheit handtzuhabe

Lecte donnerstags den 23 Martÿ Anno 1580.

6̅

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Supplicatio ~

[Item 7 – 27 March 1610 – Marxbrüder petition requesting certified copies (transumpta) of their imperial privileges under the city seal, three years after the Federfechter received their own imperial privilege in 1607.]

[1r]

Edle, Ehrnueste, Hochachtbar, Ehrsam, Für⸗sichtige vndt wohlweÿse grosgünstige gepieten⸗de herren

Hernach haben wir in alhiriger Cantzleÿ, vns⸗sere von Sanct Marxen Bruederschafft, der Meister des Langen Schwerdts, von der Röm: Kaÿß: Maÿtt: Vnserm allergnedigsten herrn, habende original privilegia vndtt freÿheitten, vmb vns derselben nach uns⸗serer notturfft haben zugebrauchen, vnder dieser löblichen Statt Innsiegell vff vnsere vnderthenige bitt transumiret worden. Vndt dann innerhalb den nechsten Sechs Iahren noch dreÿ andere kaÿserliche schreiben vndtt beuelch, vnsere bruderschafft betreffendt. anhero gelangett, deren gleichmeßige transumirte copeÿen vns von⸗nöthen.

Alß ist ahn E E. vndt F W. vnsere vnderthe⸗inige hochfleisge bitt, sie wöllen vns so großgunstig erscheinen, vndt beÿ des zu handt⸗habung vnserer wohlerlangten Kaÿser⸗lichen privilegien vndt waß denen an⸗hengig, dann auch zu beßerer vnserer nachrichttung angeregtter Kaÿser⸗lichen schreiben beglaubdtte abschrifften vndt transumpta vnder dieser Statt Inn⸗siegell vns wiederfahren lassen, vndtt mittheillen, die selbe beÿ andere Vhr⸗khunden haben zu reponiren.

Dargegen wir erguntig, die Canzleÿ vndt

[1v]

andere gepuhre willigliches Zu endtricht⸗ten, vndt sonstes solches vmb E. E. vndt F. W. in vnderthenigem gehorsam vndt treun was bestes vermögens zuuerdienen:

Die wir gottlicher protection zu allem beharrlichen wollstandtt vndt auff⸗richtigen empfehlens:

E. E. vndt F. W.

Vnderthenige gehorsame

Hauptmann vnd gantze Bruderschaft von St. Marx der Meister deß Langen schwerdts /.

[2r] [empty]

[2v]

hauptman und gantz Bruderschafft v. St. Marx, der Maister des Langenschwerdt: Pitten vmb glaubhaffte Abschrifft, von den Kaÿserlich[en] hierbeuar[ten] desweg[en] an Einen Erb: Rhat alhier abgangnen Schreiben.

Lecte den 27. Martÿ. Aᵒ đ. 1610.

7̅

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Vnderthenige supplicatio.

Hauptmans vndt gantz Brudschafft von St. Marxen, der Meister des Langen schwerdts.

[Item 8 – 17 March 1612 – Marxbrüder petition requesting permission to hold a Fechtschule and use the customary instruments (drums, fifes, and stringed instruments) despite the official mourning period following Emperor Rudolf II’s death.]

[1r]

Edle, Ernueste, Fürsichtig, Ersame und Weisse Großgünstig, Gebietende Herrn

Demnach vf der Röm: Kaÿ: Maÿtt: Vnnsers Allergnedigsten herrn Christseligstem hin⸗tritt vnd seeligem absterben, E. E. vnnd F. W. nit unbillich, sondern hochverstendig vnnd Löblich verpotten, daß man einig seiden⸗spiel, trommen, pfeiffen unnd anders nit ge⸗brauchen, sondern unnserm höchsten hauptt in christlicher demut vnd nidertrachtigkeit schuldiger pflichten nach trauren soll, daß wir doch vf dißmahl vnnserer Sachen notturfft nach nit umbgehen können, E. E. und F. W. hierunder in vnnderthenigkeit zuersuchen, vnnd darneben zu berichten, welcher gestalt wir vergangne wochen beÿ den Edlen vnnd Ernuesten diser zeit Regirenden herrn Burgermeistern wir In Vnderthenigkeitt angehaltten unnd gepetten, vns Großgünstig zu erlauben unnd zugestatten, vf künfftig Sontag Fechtschul zuhaltten, vf welche zeit Ich der vorgesetzte Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St Marx den anfang zumachen gemeint, Es haben aber I. E. vnnd gunsten vnns in disem vnserm begeren zu willfahren bedenckens getragen, sonder am E. E. vnnd F. W. solches supplicando zu suchen verwisen.

Dieweil dann Gebietende Großgünstige Herrn theils von meiner Gesellschafft welche erst vor wenig tagen alhier ange⸗lang, dise zeittung eingebracht, Obwohl

[1v]

in vnderschiedtlichen Vornehmen Reich⸗stätten allerleÿ seidenspiel zugebrauchen vnnd zuhaltten verpotten gewesen, daß doch solches verpott wider aufgethann, und die seidenspiel wider erlaubt worden, vnsers geringen erachtens vielleicht aus denen Vhrsachen, die weil der künfftige wahltage nahe beÿ der handt |.

Vnnd dieweil wir auch bey vnnserer er⸗lernten manhafften kunst des fechtens gern ein stuck brodt sehen vnnd fechtschul haltten wollen, diselbige aber one ge⸗breuchliche Trommen vnnd Pfeiffen nit wol zu werck setzen können, solches auch wenig leisten vnd begirde bringen thutt, Als haben wir darauf nit umbgehen sollen, E. E. unnd F. W. hierunter in under⸗thenigkeit anzulang, Vnnd ist solchem nach an diselbe E. E. und F. W. unser underthenig hochfleissig vnnd vhlehenliche Pitt, die wöllen vnns nach der ordnung vnnd vermag habenden privilegien vnnd freÿheitten, nunmehr nit allein Fechtschul zuhaltten, vergunstig: sondern auch großgunstig erlauben vnd verstatten, daß wir die gewonliche darzu gehorige Spiel, als Trommen vnd Pfeiffen darbey gebrauchen mögen seind wir darneben nit allein erbietig sondern auch schuldig, sie Innen ge⸗bürende beschaidenheit zugebrauchen

[2r]

vnnd sich darbeneben alß zuuerhaltten, daß verhoffentlich einige clag vber vns nit vorkommen soll |.

E. E. vnnd F. W. als welche hierinnen zu dispensiren vnd Ire ordnung zu ändern helen, Großgünstiger Resolution vnnd willlfarung in Vnderthengkeit er⸗warttendt, vnd vns deroselben vnab⸗schlegig getröstendtt |.

E. E. vnnd F. W.

Vnderthenige Dienst⸗und beraitwillige |.

Verordneter Hauptman vnd gantze Brtuderschafft von St. Marx.

[2v]

Marxbrüder bitten Ihnen widerumb schul zuhalten vnd die Trummen zugebrauchen

zugestatten.

Lecte 17. Martÿ Aᵒđ 1̅6̅1̅2̅.

8̅

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Vnderthenige supplicatio.

Verordneten Hauptmans vnnd gantzer Bruderschafft von St. Marx |.

Vmb vergunst Fechtschul: vnd darbeÿ spiel zuhaltten vnd zugebrauchen |.

[Item 9 – 28 March 1613 – First petition by the Federfechter themselves to the Frankfurt Council, arguing that imperial privileges for Masters of the Sword applied to both guilds equally and requesting unrestricted access to Sunday Fechtschulen during the trade fairs. Signed by three approved masters.]

[1r]

Edel, Ehrenvest, Hochgelehrt, Fürsichtig, Ersam vnd wolweiße großgünstig gepietende herren.

Wie hoch die freÿlöbliche Fechtkunst von Keißer König, Fürsten Vnd herrn Iederzeit gehalten worden seÿe, deßen kann neben täglicher erfah⸗rung, auch das nicht ein geringes Zeugnuß sein, daß die von denen, vor vielen hundert Iaren hero Iederzeit, benebens sonderlicher favirung, mit Vielen ansehnlichen Vnnd stattlichen privilegi⸗en Allergnedigst begabet Vnd versehen worden. Ob dann demnach wol billich, dieselbig in nicht wenigerer acht, Von den der Fechtkunst erfahrnen selbs, Alß Von sonst männiglichen gehalten, Vnnd zu Vortheilsichtigem behelff dero sich nicht mißbraucht werden solt: So müeßen wir der feder zugethane Vnd anverwanthe Fechtmeister doch, solch löblicher übung selbs zu mercklicher Verrin⸗gerung vnd hinderung, sonderlich aber zu vnserm Vnerträglichem abgang und schaden nuhn ein Zeitlang, Von den auß Vnverstandt St: Marx, sonst den Brudern Martis⁶² genant, so viel erfahren, daß obwoln das priuilegium, deßen Sie sich zu Ihrem Vermeinten behueff, zubehelfen Vnderstehen, gantz general, Vnnd vff alle Meister des Schwerdts gericht Vnnd daher so wol Vnß alß Sie begreifft vnd Con⸗cerniret. Ob wol auch wir inspecie Vnd Vffs New Von Weilandt dem Allerdurchleuchtigsten

[1v]

Großmechtigsten Vnd Vnuberwindlichsten Fürsten vnd herren hern Rudolpho dießes nahmens dem Andern Röm: Keißer hochlöblichster gedächtnuß, Vor die rechte Meister deß Schwerts erkandt, Vnnd für solche durch ernewerung Vnd widerholung Vorgemelter priuilegÿ vnd befreihung gleichsamb der gantzen welt pæsentirt vnd dargestellt worden: Iedoch deßen alles ohnerachtet, mehrgemelten Brüder Martis, auß lauterem Vnfueg, solch helles viel⸗oft bemelten priuilegÿ wort vnd verstandt, sonderlich aber unsern ernewerten freÿheiten entgegen, sich vnter⸗stehen Vnnd nicht schewen durffen, solch priuilegium vff sich allein zu deuten Vnnß außzuschließen, Vnnd da, crafft dero, Allen meistern deß Schwerts, sonderlich aber Vnß, Vnserer Newen bestettigung wegen, in der gantz welt, denen so das fechten zu uben lust haben, täg zube⸗stimmen, Vorzustellen Vnd zu probiren erlaubt ist, Allhier in dießer deß H. Reichs gar leichtlich fürnembsten Stätt einer, Vff eußerst zu coarctiren, solches zuverwehren Vnd Vnß der Sontäg in den Meßen zu solchen zugebrauchen, zu impediren Vnnd zu verhindern.

Wann dann solches aller billichkeit, Viel oft ermelten Alten vnd Newen priuilegien, wie dann auch den ge⸗meinen Rechten schnur stracks entgegen Vnd zu wider ist, crafft dere solche Concessiones Imperatoriæ ohne das quam latissimè accipi d[ebe]nt, ut quam possunt plurimos com⸗prehendant,

Demnach so wißen wir zu præiudicirlichen Verfeng Vnumbgenglicher Vnserer notturfft nach, zu solchem

[2r]

Vnrechtmeßigem Ihrem beginnen lenger still⸗schweigendt nicht nachzusehen: Sondern wöllen zu⸗Vorderst dem in bestendigster Rechts formb contra⸗dicirt Vnd widersprochen, deßwegen auch zum Zier⸗lichten protestirt, Vnnd darauff E. E. E. Hgl. vnd F. W. Vnterthenigsten, demuetigsten Vleißes angeruffen Vnnd gebetten haben, die Marxbrüder von Ihrem Vnfueg abzuweißen, Vnnd Vnß Vnbezirckt Vnnd freÿ, so wol die Sontäg in den Meßen, Alß Andere täg der wochen Vnßere Federfechter Vor⸗zustellen Vnnd probiren zulaßen, großgunstig zu⸗verstattten.

Ein solches nebens deme es zur handhab vielbe⸗melter Vnserer Keiß. priuilegien gereicht, zu welchen wir E. E. E. Hg. Vnd F. W. an und für sich geneigt wißen, Vnnd der billichkeit selbsten ähnlich Vnnd gemäß ist, sindt wir solches der örter zu rühmen, Vnnd Vmb E. E. E. Hg. Vnd F. W. Vnter⸗thenigen eiffers vnnd Vleißes in schuldiger Re⸗Verentz, ehrerpietung Vnnd möglichen diensten zuverdienen begierig, Vnd geririger Resolution in Vnterthenigkeit gerertig.

E. E. E. hochgl. vnd F. W.

Vnterthenige dero Zeit anwesende [insertion: approbirte] Meister deß Schwerdts von der Feder.

Martin Federmann Von Dantzig
Hanß Gundelsheimer Von Augspurg
Dauid Büsche von Rappis auß der Chur Brandenburg p.

[2v]

Supplication

Hierin Vermelter Federfechter vmb verstattung der Sontags schulen in den Meßzeitten gleich den Marxbrudern.

Lect[e] in Senatu den 28. Martÿ

9.

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

[Item 10]

[Document 10.1 – 20 September 1614 – Marxbrüder petition concerning Hans Rambisch of Bamberg, a baker, whose dubbing as Master of the Long Sword had been blocked by the Federfechter the previous Sunday on account of a wound sustained during the examination. Requests council oversight at future Fechtschulen.]

[1r]

Ehrnueste Hochgelehrte, Achtbare, Ersam Fur⸗sichtig vnnd wohlweise grosgb: gepitende herrn:

E. E. vnd F. W. geben wier kurtzlich in Vnderthenigkeit zuerkennen, daß wier vorhabens gewesen, ahn nehst verschienen Sontag Hanß Ramps vonn Bamberg vn⸗serer Mittbruder einer der löblich Brü⸗derschafft St. Marxen, Vermög habender Kaÿ: Priuilegien vndt Freÿheiten, zue einem Meister deß langen schwerts zu schlagenn, Aber die federfechter solches auß der Vrsach nicht zugebenn wöllenn, weil er vonn einem federfechter, ihrem vermeÿnen nach, geschlag[en] wordten, darumben es dann biß auff heutig Tag verschoben, da er wird vorgestellet vndt obberührt vnser Vorhaben nis werck gerichtet werdenn solle: Dieweÿl ermelter Hanß Ramps Vnsern Priuilegien nach welche wir hirbeÿ zu besserer nachrichtung vber gebenn; darzu düchtig, vndt wir onds nicht erkennen können vngehindt der geg[en] Parteÿ wiedsetzens od[er] furwendens: Sinte⸗mahl er nicht also geschlagen, daß es vor eine Verwundung zuhalten od[er] ihne ahn der Meÿsterschafft hindern könte, son⸗dern nur etwaß gleichsam gekratzt od[er] geritzet, wie der Herr Bürgermeister

[1v]

selber im augenschein befundenn: Zur deme Vnsere Priuilegia im buchstaben mit sich bringen, obgleich einer auß Vnserer brüd⸗schafft vonn federfechtern geschlagen würden daß er dannach, da er sonsten darzue duchtig (wie dann beÿ Hanß Rampisch vnds nicht gesagt werdenn kann:) vonn vnß zum Meister geschlagen werdenn könne.

Dieweÿl Aber die federfechter sich etwan abermahlß widsetzen möchten, wo es durch E. E. vndt F. W. beuelch nicht abgewendet, wirdt:

Alß seindt wier bewogen wordenn, E. E. vndt F. W. Vnderthenig zuersuchenn, vnd zubitten daß sie vnß beÿ vnsern Priuilegien großgl: handthabenn [insertion: vndt] den fedfechtern anbefehlenn, wöllenn, vnß darin keinen eintrag zu thun darauß etwann andere Vngelegenheit erfolgen möchte:

Vnd da es E. E. vnd F. W. nicht zurwieder were so wehre unsere fernere underthenige bitt, etwan zwen bürgere [insertion: zu ieder ordern, welche] nicht allein dißmahl sondern auch künfftig Iedesmahl den Schu⸗len beÿwohnetten, auff beÿden seithen inhalter wehren, vnd da etwaß mißver⸗standt furfiele darüber bericht thun könten, damit es desto friedtlicher zugehen vndt aller

[2r]

handt vnwillen Verhuttet werde: E E. vndt F. W. fördlich [insertion: vnd] verhoffentlichenn ge⸗würigen bescheidts hierauf erwahrtent.

E. E. vndt F. W.

Vnderthänige gehorsame

Anwesende Meÿster des langen Schwerdts der Bruderschafft St. Marxē

[2v]

Vnderthenige Sup⸗plicatio. ⸺

Ahnwesender Meÿster deß langen schwerts der Brud[er]schafft deß St. Marxen

Lecte in Senatu den 20. Septemb. A^o đ 1̅6̅1̅4̅.

1̅0̅

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

[Document 10.2 – 23 March 1546 – Misplaced. Petition by the community of Nida near Höchst to the Frankfurt Council concerning a missed payment deadline for their burgher rights, caused by a faulty almanac.]⁶³

[1r]

Fvrschtigen Ersamen vnd Weysen E F W. herren vnsren ongesparten gantz willige dinst alles vlyss zuvor an v vnd w, gunstigen lieben herren noch dem E F W, wir Iahrlichen viertzehen pfennig zu beglichen vnd eyn pfennig ze Inschrÿbgelt vff Sanct Gertruden tag nach altem löblichem herkhomen zu haben, vns schuldig erkennen, wie wir denn vil Iar her vns gehorsamlich vnd on seumlich gehalten, vnd noch aller gebure zuthun willig, so aber Ist lauffenden sechs Vnd Vierzigisten Iars der nemblich zal Etliche Almanach als nemblich angeschlagen vffgangen, In welcher sanct Gertruden tag vff montag den zween vnd zwentzigsten tag des monats martÿ erunt vnd gesetzt worden ist vnd vns vnser pferhere abgangen vnd entbant haben der vns bei heutigem tag verkhant, haben wir vns nach dem almanach gehalten, vnd vff angezeigten montag die selbe vnser Burgrecht gehorsamlich zu entrichten erschienen, so werden wir bericht, das sanct Gertrud tag nechst vergangen entlichen gehapt, vnd wir also an gehorsamen, vnser burgrecht verlorn solten haben, dweyl nun solch Aber noch als burgerecht offenttlich feyl zu haben gestattett worden, vnd wir arm angelert leut vnd itzt eyns gehorsam In mangel geharst, vnd widder Vnser

[1v]

begere vnd maynung, durch falsche almanach betrogen⁶⁴ vnd vorhindert worden seint sol⸗ten wit nun durch solichs vnser burgrecht verlorn han, wars Erbarmlich zu horen dwyl es aber vff begeren vorgehungtem mutwillen, oder argens Hinderhaltens sonder vff falsch hergetruckter almanach vnß onbewost beschehen so ist an E F W vnser ganz vleyssige Bit solches zu bedenckhen vnd vnser Burgrecht von vns gnediglich ernewern vnd da bey wie bisshere lengere bleyben zulassen was denn zu E F W wir vns gantz⸗lich versehen, das wollen wir ongesparten willigen vlyss zuuorderen erfinden werden, vnd furthin desto vlÿssiger halten, das vns nit mer beschehen soll E F W vmb getrostliche antwort bettende Datum Dinstags dem xxiii tag Marty aᵒđ

[ml]xvi

E F W

gantz williggen

Eyn gemeÿner zu Nida bey Hochst gelegen

[2r]

[empty]

[2v]

gemein zu nidda bei hochst von wegë des burglehens so sie zu vorher zeit nit vetr ha[ben]

lecte 23 martÿ

anno [15?]46

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

Den fursichtigen Ehrsamen vnnd Weißen Burgermeisteren Vnnd Rathe der Stat Franckfurtt vnsern gunstigen lieben herren

L[ECT]V[M]

---

1. See, for example, Talaga (2025) “Who Were the Freifechter?” ↩︎
2. Wassmannsdorff (1870) “Sechs Fechtschulen,” p. 6 f. ↩︎
3. Wassmannsdorff (1870) “Sechs Fechtschulen,” p. 6, pp. 12 ff. ↩︎
4. Edlbeck (1574) Großes Schießen Zwickau, fol. 6v–8r. ↩︎
5. Edlbeck (1574) Großes Schießen Zwickau, fol. 17v ff. The Margrave in question is Georg Friedrich of Brandenburg-Ansbach, not Elector Johann Georg of Brandenburg. ↩︎
6. Edlbeck (1574) Großes Schießen Zwickau, fol. 81r–86v, 107v–109r. ↩︎
7. Wassmannsdorff (1870) “Sechs Fechtschulen,” p. 6. ↩︎
8. The term “Freyfechter” or “Freifechter” is ambiguous across the sources. Within the Marxbrüder, it denoted a rank below sworn master – a skilled fencer who had not yet been recommended by his home base to be formally examined in Frankfurt. From the 1570s onward, however, the same term increasingly appears as a designation for the breakaway group that would eventually call themselves “Freyfechter von der Feder” or simply “Federfechter” (Talaga 2025). ↩︎
9. Edlbeck (1574) Großes Schießen Zwickau, fol. 81r f.: “Da ist des Churfürstn Lackey kom̃en Melchior von Birn er sich nent/ Ein frey Fechter vnd so behendt/ Mit seiner Faust gar gschwind vnd rundt/ Vnd dem war da ein Schuel vergunt […] Vnd wer da was kund vnd hets glert/ | Võ freyfechtern odr meistrn des Schwert/ Oder von anglobten Meistern” ↩︎
10. “Wer mir ein von der feder veracht / Vnd macht sich wider die geruest / Den will ich bstehen wie wild er ist / Schwing dich Feder sich wie man thut / Schreib gern mit dintn / die sicht wie blut.” Edlbeck (1574) Großes Schießen Zwickau, fol. 82r. ↩︎
11. Edlbeck (1574) Großes Schießen Zwickau, fol. 81v. ↩︎
12. First Fechtschule: Edlbeck (1574), fol. 82v (names), fol. 83r–84r (outcomes); second Fechtschule: fol. 107r–109r (names and outcomes). ↩︎
13. “Also daz nu hinfür allennthalben in dem heiligen reiche sich nyemannd ein meister des swerts nennen, schul halten, noch umb gelt lernen sol, er sey dann zuvor von den meistern des swerts in seiner kunst probirt und zugelassen” H.18.02. Nr. 1, cited after the 2018 transcription by Daniel Burger. ↩︎
14. Original: “Die Maister des Schwerdts der Gefreÿten Marx Bruderschafft. haben suppliciert und gepetten, Ihrer habenden Freÿheit zu⸗wid. den Freÿfechtern kaine offene Fechtschul allhier mehr (· wie hirvur geschehen ·) anschlagen od[er] halten zu⸗halten zu gestatten etc.
    Ermelte Maister des Schwerts Wilhelm Schütz Fechtmaister von Cöln & Matheum Baum Freÿfechter daselbst. Haben vmb Freÿheitt an Burgermeister vnd Rath zu Cöln für Wilhelmen Schützen von Cöln, wid Matheus Baumen aus Burgen daselbst suppliciert vnd gepetten etc.” ↩︎
15. H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 1; the full transcription is in the Appendix. ↩︎
16. Also appearing in the Red Record Book on fol. 3v–4v: He eventually became captain of the brotherhood from 1584 to 1587. ↩︎
17. Original: “Fechtschul. Ist anbracht, vf nechstgehaltener Fechtschul habe d[er] Fecht⸗meister einer, dem Ihenigen so die Fechtschul gehalten, das Schwerdt genommen, vnd dasselbig Im Wirtshauß versoffen; derowegen sÿ einen Kampf einand aus⸗gepotten, mit bitt, Ihnen vf nechstkünfftigen Sontag widrumb ein Fechtschul zuhalt. zugönnen etc.” ↩︎
18. Original: “darumb wir auch vor etlich wenig tagen, als sich ein solches abermals begeben hat, einen derselbigen anschlag Zeitel, nit auß frefel oder mutwillen, ſonder allein zu einem warhafftigen ge⸗zeugnus, abgenommen haben” (H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 2). ↩︎
19. By marrying a burgher widow, Lucas Ruprecht from Mainz became a Frankfurt citizen on 1 June 1572: “Lucaß Ruprecht von Meinz Kurßener Duxit Viduam Ciuis Iuravit den Burger Aidt solis den i Junÿ Anno đ 72” (ISG FFM H.02.17, Nr. 7, fol. 240r). ↩︎
20. Gaißmann appears as signatory of the letters H.18.02, Nr. 19, item 2 (19 April 1576) and item 5 (9 March 1579). He is confirmed as Marxbrüder captain by the Red Record Book under H.18.02, Nr. 13, fol. 3r (see this article for my full transcription). ↩︎
21. Werner Ueberschär (Schwertbund Nurmberg) identified Gaißmann’s epitaph on St. Rochus cemetery in Nuremberg. ↩︎
22. Original: “aber vor wenig Iaren, etliche von uns, (⋅wissen nicht aus was ursachen⋅) sich abgesondert, vnd die Freÿe oder Federfechter, wie man sie noch heut⸗tigs tags zu nennen pflegt” H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 2, document 2.1, fol. 2v. ↩︎
23. H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 3. ↩︎
24. H.18.02 Nr. 19, items  4–6. ↩︎
25. “wo sich ain angelobter Meister vff derren Schul Ainne zu Meiſter des Schwertzs vorstellen brobieren vnnd Schlagen Lassen woldte, wie dan auch sich konftigen Sondag Ainer vorzustellen gentzlich bedacht, welcher das wegen Ain weidten weg alhero verreist, vnnd große Zerung angelegt, Derweil aber Nun vns, von den auch Ersamen unnd weÿssen hernn Burgermeistern |⁝vff unser Ansuchen vnnd begern Negst könfftigen Sondag Schul zu haldten gebetten⁝| angezeigt wordten wie Albereith Ainem Freÿfechter vff ernanten Sundag Schul zu haldten vergindt seÿ wordten” (H.18.02, Nr. 19, item 5, fol. 1r). ↩︎
26. Original: “So geschicht doch vnns bey Izigen zeiten So mehr vnnd mehr zutrags, von Freÿfechtern vnd andern, vnd vorauß in dißer des Heiligen Römischen Reichs Statt Franckfurth, Darauff der gemeÿne Hauff auff den Schulen vnns mit sonther den Keÿserlichen Freiheiten der massen Mollestiren, auß⸗schreyen, schmehen vnd verachten. Daß ohne E. E. W. vnd F. W. einsehens vnd schutz wir vnserer Priuilegien vnd Freiheiten alhie nichts geniessen mögen.” (H.18.02, Nr. 19, item 6) ↩︎
27. Of the thirteen commonly discussed imperial privileges for the fencing brotherhoods, eleven belong to the Marxbrüder and only two (1607 and 1688) to the Federfechter. Contrary to Maar (1962) “Anfang, Blütezeit und Verfall der Fechtkunst in Nürnberg vom 14. bis zum 19. Jahrhundert,” p. 127–128, all privileges in Frankfurt belong to the Marxbrüder. I thank Werner Ueberschär (Schwertbund Nurmberg) for drawing my attention to Maar’s discussion. ↩︎
28. Büsching (1817): “Über Fechterspiele und Fechtschulen in Deutschland,” pp. 3 f. ↩︎
29. The original of this privilege lies in the National Archives, Prague; its location was kindly confirmed by Antonín Kadlec from Fencers Guild in Czechia, to whom I was connected by Petr Turya. A copy including a colored armorial depiction is held at the Prague City Archive (PPL I – 47), kindly confirmed by Anton Kohutovič. ↩︎
30. “obgedachtes Wappen, wie solches die Visier ann gestaldt vnnd farben hienach außweiset […] beygelegte absonnderliche Punct vnnd Artiggel, die wir zu einem grundtfest besserer khunfftiger richtigkeit vnnd bestanden zue instituiren fur nothwendig vnnd Rathsamb befunden.” AT-OeSTA/HHStA RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-4-1, p. 39. Colored coat of arms on p. 40, black-and-white depiction on p. 37. ↩︎
31. Seyler (1898), J. Siebmachers grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch, Berufswappen, plate 42. ↩︎
32. Seyler (1898), J. Siebmachers grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch, Berufswappen, p. 40. ↩︎
33. I.e., “drunkenness” and “voluptuous fornication” (“Trungkhenheit, schwelgerig Vnnzucht”) RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-4-1, p. 32. ↩︎
34. “Even the Ottomans, bloodthirsty enemies of all Christendom, know full well what depends on this exercise, which is why they raise a select core of good fighting men from young boys in great numbers, training them in all ways, and especially with the sabre, making them quick and ready” (“der bluetbegirige feindt algemeiner Christenheit der Turgk selbst wol wais was ann diesem Exercitio gelegen, derhalben er Im ainen ausbundt oder khern gueter Kriegs Leuth aus Iungen Knaben in grosser anzahl auferziehen Vnnd die auf alle weis, sonderlich mit dem Sabell, hurdtig vnnd fertig abrichten last”) RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-4-1, p. 35 The petition also claims that many Federfechter died in the Ottoman wars and offers to produce a full catalogue of names with testimonials from field commanders. ↩︎
35. “But also our opponents, the Marxbrüder, would be re-invigorated, and thus the oft-mentioned art of fencing, if not further advanced, would at least be restored to its former standing and honor.” (“Sonndern auch Vnnser gegentheil die Marxbrueder wiederumb aufgemuntert, vnnd also vielbesagte Kunst des Fechtens wo nicht weiter, Iedoch wider in Iren alten standt und ehr gebracht werden solle”) RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-4-1, p. 40. ↩︎
36. The petition refers to the Marxbrüder as “idiotische Wiederparth” using “idiotic” in the early modern sense of “ignorant.” It notably also mentions the “Luxbrüder,” a third group of fencers about whom very little is known: “Wann dan allergnedigster Kaiser und vnnd Herr, Wier die Geselschafft oder Liod [?] der Freÿfechter von der Feder, welchen namben Vnnsere Vorfahren die alten Teutschen Maister fechter sambt Iren ange⸗hörigen, Vnnd wier Vmb der hochgeehrten Khunsst willen, die aus der Feder her fleist, nach bestem Vnn⸗serm Ver⸗muegen, gegen der Idiotischen Wiederparth den Marx vnnd Luxbruedern, defendirt vnnd Vertretten” RHR Grat Feud Conf. 48-4-1, p. 33–34. On the question of whether the Luxbrüder constituted a genuine confraternity or were rather a loose or catch-all designation for non-affiliated fencers, see Talaga (2025), who concludes that their existence as a formal brotherhood “remains largely speculative.” The present source, a formal Federfechter petition to the Aulic Council, may add a small but meaningful data point to that debate. ↩︎
37. The announcement, dated 10 February 1608 in Prague, survives at ISG FFM, H.18.02, Nr. 21, and was transcribed by Daniel Burger in 2018. ↩︎
38. Original: “Hauptmann vnd Bruder⸗schafft von St Marx. Haben vmb glaubwürdge Schein vnd Copias etlicher Kaÿserlichen [sic] schreiben gebetten.” ↩︎
39. Original: “Hauptmann und Bru⸗derschafft von St. Marx. Englische Comödi⸗anten. Haben gebeten Ihnen zugestatten Ihnen spil vnd respectiue Comoedias vnd Tragoedias zu agiren vnd zu halten vnd darzu die ge⸗wöhnliche Spiel zugebrauchen.” ↩︎
40. H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 8. The petition specifies “Seidenspiel, Trommen und Pfeiffen” and mentions the instrument ban and the anticipated election. ↩︎
41. See the discussion of this event and the underlying source (H.18.02., Nr. 13, fol. 18v) in my last article. ↩︎
42. The underlying letter (H.18.02, Nr. 19, item 9) bears no year. I inferred 1613 based on the convolute’s chronological order: Item 8 is from 1612, and item 10.1 from 1614. This makes 1613 likely for item 9. ↩︎
43. ISG FFM, H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 9, fol. 1r f. ↩︎
44. SG FFM, H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 9, fol. 1v. ↩︎
45. ISG FFM H.18.02. Nr. 19, item 10.1. ↩︎
46. ISG FFM H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 21v. For the Red Record Book and its content, see my previous article. ↩︎
47. Original: “Sinte⸗mahl er nicht also geschlagen, daß es vor eine Verwundung zuhalten od[er] ihne ahn der Meÿsterschafft hindern könte, son⸗dern nur etwaß gleichsam gekratzt od[er] geritzet,” (ISG FFM H.18.02 Nr. 19, item 10.1). ↩︎
48. Original: “Federfechter. & Marxbrüder. Begehren ihnen gelaich den Marxbrüdern die Sontags Fechtschulen zuverstatten.” ↩︎
49. Original: “vermehrt, geziert und gebessert” See my article from January 2026 for a full transcription and analysis. ↩︎
50. “dass wann kein Meister des langen Schwerts aus der Bruderschaft von Sanct Marco an Sanct Veitstage zu Prag sich befinden sollte, sodann ihr der Freyfechter von der Feder Obmann, Hauptleute oder sonst elteste Meister des langen Schwerts, so zur Stelle sein würden, ihre Leute auff ihr begehren unverhinderlich probiren mögen.” Seyler (1898) J. Siebmachers grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch, Berufswappen, p. 40. ↩︎
51. “Darzu auch ihnen gnädigst vergönt, erlaubet und zugelassen, dass sie in den öffentlichen Fechtschulen und in den ausruffen nicht weniger als die Meister des Schwerts der Bruderschafft von Sanct Marco sich der Formalien nach Inhalt ihrer Wohlerworbenen Kayserlichen Freyheiten gebrauchen und zugleich sich hinführo Meister des langen Schwerts von Greyffenfels uber die Gesellschafft der Freyfechter von der Feder nennen und schreiben sollen.” Seyler (1898) J. Siebmachers grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch, Berufswappen, p. 40. ↩︎
52. Seyler (1898) J. Siebmachers grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch, Berufswappen, plate 42. ↩︎
53. Seyler (1898) J. Siebmachers grosses und allgemeines Wappenbuch, Berufswappen, p. 40. ↩︎
54. I would like to thank Antonín Kadlec from Fencers Guild in Czechia for kindly confirming this, including the archival signature: NA, SM, sign. P.106, f. n. 16. ↩︎
55. 1718, by Christoph Martin, on behalf of the Sworn Certified Masters of the Long Sword of St. Marco and Löwenberg Over the Society of the Freifechter of the Feder: ISG FFM H.02.14, 1718-I (fol. 27–28, 144–145, 266–267); 1728–1742 by Friedrich Neugebauer, “Sworn Vice-Captain of Greifenfels as well as St. Marco and Löwenberg & Consorts:” H.02.14, 1728-I (pp. 255–258); H.02.14, 1739-III (fol. 418–419); H.02.14, 1742-III (fol. 51–54). ISG FFM also holds a 1752 master’s certificate issued by Neugebauer (H.18.03, 26), which was digitized upon Sabine Kindel’s request. ↩︎
56. Maurer (2018) “1575 – Die Meister bitten den Rat der Stadt Frankfurt wegen Freifechter.” ↩︎
57. Klein (2018) “1576 – Bürgermeister und Rat zu Köln verwenden sich für den Freifechter Matthes Baum.” ↩︎
58. Wassmannsdorff (1870) “Sechs Fechtschulen,” pp. 6 f. ↩︎
59. The document was originally folded so that [2v] formed the exterior, bearing the endorsement and address visible to the recipient. The same logic applies to all following documents and will not be noted separately. ↩︎
60. Throughout all documents, “E. E. W. vnd F. W.” is a conventional honorific abbreviation for the Frankfurt council, expanding to “Ehrnueste, Ersame, Weise und Fürsichtige Weise.” ↩︎
61. This document (a petition by the Fechtmeister requesting the inclusion of penalty clauses in their certificates, dated 15 September 1551) predates the period indicated on the cover (1575–1614) and concerns an internal administrative matter unrelated to the conflict with the Federfechter that forms the subject of this file. It was apparently misfiled in this collection. ↩︎
62. Literally: Brothers of Mars. I did not yet encounter this rendering of the Marxbrüder’s name. ↩︎
63. This document (a petition by the community of Nied near Höchst concerning a Burgrecht, dated 23 March 1546) is unrelated to the Marxbrüder and was apparently misfiled in this collection. ↩︎
64. The commoners of Nidda petition Frankfurt’s council to renew their Burgrecht, which they forfeited by paying on the wrong date – the almanac they relied on allegedly had misprinted St. Gertrude’s Day. ↩︎

A Data-Driven Study of Occupations, Origins, and Social Space (c. 1500–1700)

All data compilation, transcription, and analysis in this article are © Kilian Theil (2026), released under CC BY‑NC-SA 4.0. Please attribute when using this work.

For several centuries, the Marxbrüder shaped the martial culture of the Holy Roman Empire. Yet despite their prominence, our understanding of who these fencers were, where they came from, and how they moved through the social and urban spaces of their time has remained surprisingly fragmentary. Much of the existing narrative rests on scattered references, partial transcriptions, and long-standing assumptions – some of which prove far less secure when examined closely.

This study offers the first comprehensive reconstruction of the Marxbrüder across their entire documented tenure. Drawing on both the well-known Medel Fechtbuch and a second, largely overlooked Frankfurt chronicle covering 1583–1716, I assembled the most complete dataset of Marxbrüder masters to date: 363 individuals, their occupations, hometowns, and documented activities. This combined source base allows us, for the first time, to trace long-term demographic patterns, occupational clusters, geographic centers, and the shifting social profile of the brotherhood.

Part I maps the people – using data science to test claims about guild affiliations, regional origins, and the rise and decline of the Marxbrüder over time. Part II turns from numbers to places, examining the physical and symbolic spaces in which the brotherhood appeared, gathered, and was remembered. As we will see, several sites long associated with the Marxbrüder rest on surprisingly shaky ground, while others – such as the Krachbein and the Schelmengarten – emerge with new clarity.

Together, these two perspectives reveal a far more nuanced picture of the Marxbrüder: not merely a fencing society, but a mobile, socially diverse, and regionally interconnected network whose presence shaped both the demographic fabric and the urban memory of early modern Frankfurt.

Part I – Mapping People: Creating and Analyzing the Most Comprehensive Marxbrüder Dataset to Date 📊

The Red Record Book of the Marxbrüder (1583–1716)

Central to this study is the Red Record Book, the Marxbrüder’s continuous register of masters and captains from 1583 to 1716. It lies at Institut für Stadtgeschichte (ISG) Frankfurt under signature H.18.02 (Marxbrüder und Federfechter: Urkunden und Akten des Rates) Nr. 13.

Before turning to the manuscript itself, it is worth noting the limited prior scholarship on this source. Sabine Kindel’s lecture¹ “Die Marxbrüder – Spuren des fechtenden Handwerks in Frankfurt a. M.” provides the first structured overview of the Red Record Book and introduces a foundational sociodemographic analysis. Prior to her, Peter Maar’s 1961 diploma thesis examined roughly ten percent of the entries, focusing on masters from Nuremberg.² The present study builds on these contributions by offering the first complete transcription and quantitative evaluation of the entire manuscript.

The volume is bound in a reddish–orange cover (hence the name), measures 15 × 21 × 1.7 cm, and weighs about 300 g. In addition to 36 written folios⁴ (72 pages), it includes 39 blank folios at the end. Notably, the entries end in 1716 although the manuscript provides considerable unused space, suggesting that the brotherhood’s orderly administrative activity came to an end in that year.⁵

The book records all masters and captains of the Marxbrüder from 1583 to 1716 and is written in several hands using the typical cursive of early modern German manuscripts. My full transcription of this source is contained in the Appendix.

In total, the book lists 254 masters and captains (roughly two per year), along with their occupation, hometown, and – where applicable – citizenship. Extracting these, together with the 109 masters and captains recorded in Cod.I.6.2^º.5, yields a corpus of 363 Marxbrüder.⁶ An Excel file with Readme is included in the Appendix.

Mapping Occupations: What jobs did the Marxbrüder have?

To understand the social profile of the Marxbrüder, I extracted occupational information for all masters for whom such data is available. This yields 283 individuals between 1530 and 1680 – the longest continuous period covered by the sources. For clarity, I aggregated occupations into seven broad categories and grouped the data by decade.

The resulting stacked area plot shows, for each decade, how many newly admitted masters of the sword belonged to each occuptional group.

Across the entire period, furriers dominate by a wide margin, followed by bakers (including confectioners and gingerbread makers) and textile workers. Metalworkers, food‑related trades, and building professions appear in smaller but steady numbers, while a long tail of rare occupations forms the “Other” category.

Before turning to the broader implications, it is worth recalling how earlier scholarship characterized the Marxbrüder’s occupational profile. The 1894 Fechtbüchlein – a popular‑scientific work on German fencing brotherhoods – offered a strikingly specific list of “typical” Marxbrüder and Federfechter trades:⁷

• Marxbrüder: bakers, furriers, file cutters, hammer smiths, passamenterie makers, red‑metal casters, bell makers, saw smiths, potters, and cloth makers;
• Federfechter: wire drawers, wood turners, dyers, fire‑wall masons, goldsmiths, girdlers, tinsmiths, knife smiths, needle‑makers, locksmiths, and pewter casters.

Both groups allegedly also included princely servants, guardsmen, and hunters. If this sounds suspiciously precise, you are not alone. The authors cite no sources, and none have been identified since. That said, early modern craft specialization was indeed remarkably granular, with niche trades – such as “Nestler,” specialized producers of leather laces – flourishing in urban centers. With the complete dataset now available, we can finally test these assertions. As it turns out, the broad tendencies (furriers, bakers, clothmakers) are indeed correct, while the more granular claims do not hold up.

To give a sense of the socio‑economic world behind these categories, it is helpful to look briefly at contemporary depictions of the dominant trades:

These results also echo the broader tendencies noted by Sabine Kindel,¹¹ even if the absolute figures diverge in certain details. Her work established the foundations of the occupational distribution; working from a complete transcription here refines those figures while still confirming the same overarching tendencies: furriers predominate, followed by bakers and textile workers.

Turning back to the plot, the pronounced spike around 1610 reveals another interesting finding: the Marxbrüder appear to have reached their numerical peak in the early seventeenth century, with around sixty new masters in that decade. Thereafter, the numbers decline sharply, dropping to fewer than twenty in the following decade – a decrease of roughly two thirds. This coincides with the first imperial privilege granted to the competing Federfechter in 1607. My working hypothesis is that the rival fencers attracted many who otherwise would have joined the former monopolists, the Marxbrüder.

It would therefore be illuminating to conduct a similar analysis for the Federfechter (if comparable chronicles survive, perhaps in Prague) and overlay both plots. If the hypothesis holds, the Federfechter curve should mirror the Marxbrüder’s: relatively low numbers before 1610, followed by a rapid rise thereafter.

To summarize: How correct was the Fechtbüchlein regarding predominant Marxbrüder crafts? Considering the lack of sources available to its authors, surprisingly so. They correctly identified furriers, bakers, and clothmakers as major groups. The rest of their list, however, is too granular to be meaningful and finds no support in the primary evidence.

Mapping Places: Where did the Marxbrüder come from?

Besides occupations, the data also reveals the geographic heritage of the Marxbrüder. It is conventional wisdom that most of these fencers came from what is now southern and central Germany, but we’ll see in a bit that there are many more remarkable (and perhaps surprising) geographic centers. In conjunction with the prior analysis, we can also observe interesting shifts over the centuries.¹²

Restricting the sample to just those masters with available origin (hometown or citizenship) information yields 318 individuals. Ranking top-places of origins with at least five masters yields the following distribution:

Nuremberg dominated by far (33 masters or about 10%), followed with some distance by Straßburg, Königsberg, and Danzig, each with 9 masters.

To get a better spatial feel of Marxbrüder spread across central Europe, I used Python to create four interactive maps along the four semicenturies in the sample (1500–1549 up to 1650–1699). The resulting interactive maps are shown below. Of course, overlaying modern borders onto early modern mobility is anachronistic, but it helps visualize the general geographic spread.

You can move around the map freely using touch or mouse, and hover over the colorful circles to see how many masters came from each place – revealing the exact count and the town name as it appears in the source (and today’s local-language names in brackets for orientation). Zooming in and out is also possible whenever you want a closer look.

1500–1549: Origins of Marxbrüder Masters

1550–1599: Origins of Marxbrüder Masters

1600–1649: Origins of Marxbrüder Masters

1650–1699: Origins of Marxbrüder Masters

Coinciding with the occupational analysis, we observe an increase in geographic spread up to the period 1600–1649, and a sharp decline afterwards. So, perhaps not surprisingly, the growth in numbers was also accompanied by a larger distribution throughout central Europe.

While Nuremberg, the massive yellow circle, is again dominating by far, other notable centers include: the Rhine–Main region, Upper Bavaria, Saxony, Prussia, Silesia, and Bohemia.

The total area covered extends from Hamburg in the north down to Villach in Carinthia (Austria) in the south, and from Saint Vith (Belgium) in the west across to Riga in the east. Therefore, while southern Germany was a dominant Marxbrüder center, the data exhibits far more variance and spread across locations than at least I had initially assumed.

It would be fruitful to view this distribution not only geographically, but also through the lens of confessional boundaries and the competing networks of Marxbrüder and Federfechter that shaped these regional clusters.

Selected Figures and Fechtschule Episodes

Before turning to the spatial dimension of Marxbrüder activity in Frankfurt, it is worth to highlight several qualitative insights from the Red Record Book. These individual cases illuminate the lived realities behind the dataset and offer a glimpse into the personalities, events, and occasional drama that shaped the brotherhood’s history.

• Melchior Gaißmann, a Nuremberg locksmith¹³ whose beautiful epitaph featuring the Marxbrüder arms can still be visited,¹⁴ acts as captain of the brotherhood in 1583.¹⁵
• From 1586 to 1593, masters of the sword were publicly appointed in the Krachbein, an inn in Frankfurt¹⁶ – a location we’ll discuss in more depth toward the end of the article.
• An exception to this is Georg Faul of Nördlingen: In 1587, at 21 years of age, he was made master in the Schelmengarten,¹⁷ a site likely associated with dishonorable burials behind the Dominican monastery.¹⁸ Beyond baking and fencing, Faul also appears to have been a brewer who introduced brown beer to Nördlingen from Nuremberg.¹⁹ His epitaph, created in 1621, was still recorded in St. George’s Church in the early twentieth century,²⁰ though it remains uncertain whether it survived the destruction of the Second World War and the organ fire of 1971.
  👉 If you happen to be in or near Nördlingen: I would be genuinely grateful if you could check whether Georg Faul’s epitaph is still in St George’s.
• Paulus Reuter, a Nuremberg carpenter made master 1589,²¹ is very likely the same person that accidentally killed a goldsmith journeyman during a Fechtschule in Frankfurt in that same year.²² One year later, in 1590, he was again involved in a fatal incident: during a Fechtschule in Nuremberg, he unintentionally killed the dyer Hermann Mayer. As a consequence, he was imprisoned and subsequently banned from both fencing and visiting inns within the city.²³
• Klaus Rindfleisch, captain of the brotherhood from 1596 to his death in 1602,²⁴ was something of a local celebrity – at least, he prominently appears in Mangold’s Marckschiff, a 1596 song about the Frankfurt trade fair.²⁵ This overlapping source is interesting because it not only features a period account of a Marxbrüder Fechtschule – heralded by drums and pipes – but also confirms several masters in the dataset: There is a tall “von Cöln” among the leaders, likely referring to 1594 captain Christian Gülich von Köln. Moreover, an old white-haired fencer with a patched-up head called “der Altreiss” could be Konrad Friedwach, who became master in 1584 and made masters in the captain’s stead 1589–1591.²⁶
• The cover of the Marckschiff features a horse-drawn barge – the eponymous “market ship” used by trade fair visitors from Mainz. From the dataset, we can assume Ludwig Stoll (1532), Sigmund Mair (1539), furrier Jerg von Erdingen (1548), and blacksmith Sigmund Schamberger (1548) likely took this route.

• I found another epitaph for Konrad Wischeckel, a furrier from Nuremberg that acted as proxy from 1603 to 1606.²⁹ This one is located on St. John’s Cemetery in Nuremberg, tomb number 855.³⁰
• In 1612, two Trabanten (i.e., bodyguards) become masters at the election day of Emperor Matthias.³¹ This is not only significant because of the occasion, but also as – to my knowledge – the only other known Trabant joining the brotherhood was Onofrius Sokh.³²
• In 1613, the furrier Bartholomäus Eckhart from Breslau fails his first attempt for the master examination because he struck “bloodthirstily” and the Federfechter didn’t want to let him pass.³³
• The famous German fencing master Wilhelm Kreußler, who is often cited to have become a master of the sword in 1618 is not contained in the records (neither in that nor any other year), adding further evidence that his supposed mastership is likely apocryphal.³⁴
  Interestingly, not a single master is made in that year – perhaps due to the onset of the Thirty Years’ War. This mirrors the documentary gap during the Frankfurt guild uprising some 100 years earlier. Although Frankfurt itself was not a battleground and the trade fair apparently took place,³⁵ the political climate was intense, and it is likely that the council did not approve a large public gathering of armed men.³⁶
• The following year, the baker Hans Rambisch from Bamberg was wounded during the examination and therefore not admitted; he successfully repeated it on 20 September 1614.³⁷
• Furrier Michael Lembke from Preußisch Holland (Pasłęk) becomes a master in 1625, and captain the next year.³⁸ Several master’s certificates issued by Lembke are stored at ISG Frankfurt.³⁹
• In 1666, Martin Kähl – familiar to us from this article – becomes master and later captain.⁴⁰ He too left us several documents in Frankfurt.⁴¹
• Three years later, Georg Zwickel from Nuremberg becomes master. Just like Kähl, a copper engraving with his portrait features the augmented Marxbrüder coat of arms.⁴²
• In 1671, Gottfried Glatz, a “studiosus” from Breslau (Wrocław) enters the Marxbrüder ranks.⁴³ This is remarkable because this is the only documented student joining the brotherhood.

Part II – Mapping Social Space: Marxbrüder Sites of Memory Continued 🗺️

This section concludes the mini-series on Marxbrüder meeting spots in Frankfurt that I began with “Religion and Revolution” in December 2025.

While the first half of this study reconstructs the Marxbrüder through numbers – occupations, hometowns, and long‑term demographic patterns – the second half turns to the physical and symbolic spaces in which these fencers moved.

Social space is never abstract: it is anchored in streets, inns, and the urban memory of a city. Having mapped who the Marxbrüder were and where they came from, we can now return to Frankfurt and examine the places where they appeared, gathered, and were remembered. As we will see, these sites of memory are as revealing as the dataset itself – especially since several long-standing assumptions about them, above all the notion that they maintained some kind of guild hall, prove to rest on surprisingly shaky ground.

House Schildknecht alias House St. Marcus

House Schildknecht – later known as House St. Marcus – was the shoemakers’ guild house at Hühnermarkt 18 (Lit. L. 148). Its association with the Marxbrüder appears in 19th‑century literature, most notably in Heinrich Koch’s reading of the previously discussed 1458 passage in Jacquin’s Chronicon referring to “the fencing masters [original: schirmeyster] who are in St. Mark’s brotherhood.”⁴⁵ Koch erroneously equated the “schirmeyster” with shoemakers and therefore also placed them in their guild hall. Apart from a confusion of these terms,⁴⁶ the argument rests entirely on the shared dedication to St. Mark.

Even if we ignored the clear interrelationship between the Chronicon and the Medel Fechtbuch (cf. my previous article for a close reading), this identification cannot be sustained. First, the building did not bear the name House St. Marcus during the Marxbrüder’s active period, especially not in 1458. In the late 18^th century, Johann Georg Battonn explicitly notes that the house assumed the name St. Marcus only “in recent times,” and that he himself had seen the life‑sized depiction of the saint with his name in golden letters on the façade.⁴⁷ This places the renaming well after the active period of the Marxbrüder (see also Part I of this article), making it chronologically impossible⁴⁸ for the Marxbrüder to have known or used the building under that name.

Second, the occupational profile of the Marxbrüder does not support a connection to the shoemakers’ guild. Only five masters in the entire dataset were shoemakers, and none of them were Frankfurt citizens.⁵¹ The overwhelming majority were furriers, bakers, and textile workers – perhaps adjacent to shoemaking in the broader leather and cloth economy, but not institutionally linked to the shoemakers’ guild. Nothing in the Marxbrüder’s own records suggests that they ever used a craft guild hall as a meeting place.

Third, the Marxbrüder’s documented activities point in a different direction entirely. Their Red Record Book repeatedly places master appointments and Fechtschulen in public venues – most prominently the Krachbein – rather than in guild houses. The brotherhood functioned as a mobile, event‑based association, not as a craft guild with a fixed hall.

In light of this, the identification of House St. Marcus as a Marxbrüder meeting place is best understood as an onomastic misunderstanding: an 18th‑century attempt to harmonize two institutions dedicated to the same saint, despite the absence of any primary evidence linking them. While the shoemakers’ guild records do contain occasional references to armed altercations among journeymen,⁵³ these incidents reflect tensions of early modern martial culture, rather than any connection to the Marxbrüder.

House Schildknecht was destroyed in 1944 and reconstructed between 2012 and 2018 as part of the New Frankfurt Old Town project. Its modern façade at Markt 18 preserves the memory of the site, but not of any historical association with the Marxbrüder.

Although the Marxbrüder most definitely did not meet at this place, I note in passing that a thorough analysis of ISG Frankfurt’s holdings on House Schildknecht could still be an interesting – if mostly unrelated – research endeavor.⁵⁴

House Löwenberg

Following their armorial augmentation by Emperor Leopold I in 1670, the Marxbrüder styled themselves opulently as “Masters of the Long Sword and Experienced Practitioners of the Military Exercises of St. Marco and Löwenberg.”⁵⁶ Karl Wassmannsdorff interpreted the new epithet “Löwenberg” as a heraldic-symbolic reference to the lion standing on a trimount.⁵⁷ Other 19th‑century authors, however, attempted to anchor the term in Frankfurt’s topography by identifying a House Löwenberg as a supposed meeting place of the brotherhood.

This identification rests on shaky ground. The claim originates in commented editions of Peterweil’s Beschreibung der Reichsstadt Frankfurt⁵⁸ and Battonn’s Lokalbeschreibung,⁵⁹ which both mention House Löwenberg at Töngesgasse 46 (Lit. G 24) as a Marxbrüder gathering spot. Yet the evidence provided does not withstand scrutiny.

The first cites pp. 23 onward of Florian’s 1664 Chronica, which contains only a general reference to the Marxbrüder⁶⁰ and says nothing about a house named “Löwenberg” – i.e., this is a classic example of a misquotation. The second offers no source at all. In other words, the entire tradition appears to originate in 19th‑century antiquarian inference rather than in primary evidence.

Complicating matters further, Frankfurt had two houses named Löwenberg, neither of which aligns with Marxbrüder activity.

The first, at Töngesgasse 46, was a substantial patrician residence. Its documented owners include jurors,⁶¹ French-reformed merchants,⁶² and later members of the Lombard noble house Brentano‑Gnosso.⁶³ Nothing in its function or ownership suggests a connection to fencing masters or with the venues in which the Marxbrüder are known to have operated.

The second, at Krautmarkt 6 (Lit. M 203), served from 1311 to 1610 as the tanners’ guildhall⁶⁴ and also appears in primary sources as the “Lederhaus.”⁶⁵ Löwenberg could derive from Löwer, a historic term for tanner, rather than through reference to a lion.⁶⁶ As a guild property, it belonged to the leatherworkers, and surviving records from both the tanners and the Marxbrüder show no overlap or indication of shared use.

Both houses were destroyed in the 1944 air raids. The post‑war building at Töngesgasse 46 occupies the same plot as its predecessor, as confirmed by the Ravenstein Plan of 1861,⁶⁷ while the former tanners’ hall including the entire topography of Krautmarkt survives only in archival references and antiquarian notes.⁶⁸

Taken together, the evidence points in a clear direction: The association of the Marxbrüder with House Löwenberg is a 19th‑century construct, created by conflating the heraldic-symbolic “Löwenberg” of the 1670 augmentation with an unrelated Frankfurt building that happened to share the name. No source – neither in the secondary literature, nor in the Medel Fechtbuch, the Red Record Book, or any guild or property records – supports such a connection. In light of this complete absence of evidence and the mismatch with the Marxbrüder’s documented practices, there is no historical basis for linking the brotherhood to a House Löwenberg.

House Krachbein⁶⁹

After this unsatisfactory interim conclusion – two of three previously claimed meeting places remain unsubstantiated – let us turn to a location at which the Marxbrüder definitely met, and a rather remarkable one at that. The Krachbein (Lit. A. No. 123)⁷¹ was an old, well-known inn to the the northeast of Frankfurt, close to the Dominican Monastery.⁷² During the trade fairs, it accommodated large numbers of visitors, and it was here that the Marxbrüder publicly created their masters of the sword. The Red Record Book mentions this repeatedly in the late 16^th century.⁷³

A 17^th century poetic description of the trade fairs likewise refers in passing to a Fechtschule at the Krachbein, followed by a comedic theatre.⁷⁴ By that that time, the inn was not a mere drinking house but a large, lively entertainment venue. It possessed a spacious dance hall⁷⁵ with a substantial stage (attested already around the Thirty Years’ War 1628–1648) which regularly hosted English comedy troops⁷⁶ and dance events. Such a setting was ideal for Fechtschulen, which required ample room for numerous fencers wielding weapons such as long swords and polearms as well as space for musicians, and an assembled audience. As with performances at the Globe Theater, specators likely would have eaten and drunk – perhaps Bamberg beer mentioned in this context,⁷⁷ or Rhenish wine.

In keeping with the establishment’s spirited character, its hanging sign humoristically played on the name Krachbein (“crack-bone”) by showing two angels breaking a bone in two.⁸⁰

Making a Master of the Sword

Unfortunately, the sources do not describe the ceremonies at the Krachbein in detail. Thankfully, the Frankfurt Fencing Regulations provide a clear account of the master-making process from 1534 onward.⁸¹ Whether the rules still applied in precisely the same form some forty years later – when masters were made at the Krachbein – cannot be stated with certainty. Later regulations survive, but they do not describe the process of making masters.⁸² Furthermore, the Red Record Book merely notes that candidates were “publicly dubbed master” at the Krachbein,⁸³ a phrase that refers specifically to the act of admission and not necessarily the preceding fencing bouts. Still, since Fechtschulen are attested at the inn, it is plausible that both the public trials and the formal presentation took place there.

According to the regulations, any sworn master first had to pass a private examination before the captain and two or three appointed masters. They tested his knowledge of the “five hidden strikes”⁸⁴ performed three times with the weapons long sword, dussack, and staff. Furthermore, the applicant had to demonstrate the “six master‑cuts”⁸⁵ with the long sword, and a series of dagger techniques. Only if he showed full command of all these elements was he permitted to advance to the public trial.

The public examination consisted of formally presenting the candidate and requiring him to fence multiple bouts with every master present, “on free ground and in free art,”⁸⁶ without refusing any challenger. If he withstood these encounters without being overcome and was judged by the masters and the captain to have shown sufficient skill, he was admitted to the next ritual.

During the act of admission, the new master kneeled and placed two golden shillings upon a sword, received the symbolic strike from the captain, and swore the prescribed oaths. Afterward, he made the additional payment of one shilling⁸⁷ and swore the oath of secrecy by God.

The final step, conducted once more in private, consisted of the captain and a small group of experienced masters imparting the confidential knowledge reserved for members of the rank. Only then was the newcomer admitted to the rights and obligations of his rank, including participation in the distribution of fees.

While much more could be said, I’ll pause here for a résumé.

Conclusion: the Marxbrüder, Mapped

Taken together, the transcription of the Red Record Book and the resulting dataset allow us to see the Marxbrüder with a clarity that has not been possible before. Quantitative patterns that were previously assumed – or asserted with great confidence in 19th‑century literature – can now be tested against a comprehensive body of evidence. The results are both confirming and corrective: furriers, bakers, and textile workers indeed formed the backbone of the brotherhood, while the geographic distribution of masters reveals a network far more expansive than the traditional focus on southern Germany suggests. The Marxbrüder were not a narrow craft confraternity but a mobile, pan‑regional association whose members came from Nuremberg to Königsberg, from Strasbourg to Riga.

Equally revealing is what the data does not support. Several long‑standing assumptions about the social and spatial life of the Marxbrüder – particularly their supposed association with specific Frankfurt guild houses – turn out to rest on little more than 19th‑century name‑matching. Neither House St. Marcus nor either of the two Houses Löwenberg can be meaningfully connected to the brotherhood. The Marxbrüder did not operate like a craft guild with a fixed hall; their social space was defined instead by public venues such as the Krachbein, where masters were appointed and Fechtschulen held. Correcting these misconceptions not only sharpens our understanding of the brotherhood itself but also helps disentangle the Marxbrüder from the historiographical projections of later centuries.

This study also opens several promising avenues for future research. A comparable dataset for the Federfechter – if their records in Prague or elsewhere can be located – would allow us to test the hypothesis that the rise of the Federfechter after 1607 directly contributed to the Marxbrüder’s numerical decline. Likewise, integrating confessional boundaries, trade networks, and municipal politics into the spatial analysis could illuminate why certain regions became Marxbrüder strongholds while others remained peripheral. Finally, the gaps in the record during moments of political tension, such as 1618,⁸⁸ invite a closer look at Frankfurt’s council minutes to understand how urban governance shaped the public practice of fencing.

For now, the picture that emerges is one of a brotherhood deeply embedded in the economic, geographic, and social fabric of early modern central Europe – more diverse, widespread, and dynamic than earlier scholarship assumed. By grounding the Marxbrüder in data rather than conjecture, we can finally begin to understand them not as a romanticized relic of German fencing lore, but as a living institution shaped by the trades, towns, and tensions of their time.

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

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Werner Ueberschär for his helpful comments regarding the transcription and the signature.

My gratitude also goes to ISG Frankfurt’s Reading Room team (Lukas Mayeres, Kevin Stumpf, and Georgina Lienhard) for swiftly facilitating access to the Red Record Book, and for accomodating even obscure requests – such as weighing and measuring the volume – with great professionalism.

Appendix

Licensing & Attribution

This article, including the complete transcription of the Red Record Book and the Marxbrüder Master Dataset, is © Kilian Theil (2026). All transcriptions, datasets, visualizations, and analyses were created by the author.

Except where noted, this work is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY‑NC-SA 4.0. Non‑commercial reuse is permitted with attribution; commercial reuse requires explicit permission.

The thumbnail map is not covered by the CC BY‑SA‑NC 4.0 license. It incorporates public‑domain coats of arms from Siebmacher (1605) and map assets by Laurent Mazenc (used with permission). No reuse or redistribution is allowed without my explicit consent.

Suggested Citation

Theil, Kilian (2026). Mapping the Marxbrüder: A Data‑Driven Study of Occupations, Origins, and Social Space (c. 1500–1700). https://kiliantheil.com/marxbruder/2026/02/11/mapping-the-marxbruder

The Marxbrüder Master Dataset 1491–1716

👉 Click here to download

The Excel file has three content sheets:

1. “Data” with the Marxbrüder corpus
2. “Analysis of Occupations,” with a pivot table and plot as discussed above.
3. “Analysis of Origins,” again with a pivot table and the plot discussed herein.

Structure & Methodology

The key sheet “Data” has 20 columns, each descriptively named. All columns in light green contain data directly extracted from the underlying sources and all columns in light blue contain derived data.

The 109 masters from Cod.I.6.2^º.5 were cross-validated with Jens P. Kleinau’s table,⁸⁹ and the 33 masters originating from Nuremberg with Werner Ueberschär’s table.⁹⁰

• “Full Name Source” contains all spelling variants contained in the source and is unified into a canonical/typical form “Full Name Standardized.” The same logic applies to “Hometown Source” and “[…] Standardized.” As the latter requires a degree of interpretation, I also add a ternary certainty label from “Low” to “High.”
• There also is contextualizing metadata I added to allow for the analyses presented herein. “Citizenship Source” and “Hometown Standardized” are aggregated into “Origin Aggregated” (use Hometown if available, else Citizenship) and then contextualized with geographic “Origin Latitude” and “Origin Longitude” of that place.
• I classify “Occupation Source” (i.e., the occupation as it is listed in the Marxbrüder chronicles) into seven categories “Occupation Classified” that I devised.
• “Rank” encodes if a Marxbruder became a master (the default case), was elected captain, or made masters in the captain’s stead (which I call “Proxy”).
• “Years” contains the semicolon-separated years in which a Marxbruder is mentioned. I also derive “Year First” (the year of the first mention), “Decade” (the decade that “Year First” belongs to) by assigning all years 149X to decade 1490 and so forth; and “Semicentury” by assigning “Year First” into one of two halves of a century (e.g., 1400–1449 or 1450–1499).
• “Source” and “Source Folio” reference the mentions of that master either in the Medel Fechtbuch, or the Red Record Book (transcribed below). Because the Record Book contains a duplicated folio 35 between fols. 7 and 8, I label this redundant folio as 35* in the dataset to distinguish it from the actual final folio 35.

My Transcription of ISG FFM H.18.02 Nr. 13 (Red Record Book)

Additional Codicological Observations

• The volume is bound using limp binding with five sewing stations.

• The back cover once had a hole that was repaired by gluing a piece of paper over it from the inside.
• The pages show slight waviness, likely caused by moisture exposure.
• Folios 2 and 6 are fretted at the upper right corner.
• Folios 35v and 36r bear a dark stain toward the top, suggesting these leaves lay closest to the cover during storage.

Notes on the Transcription

• The transcription was prepared with the assistance of Transkribus; all readings were manually verified.
• For readability, I preserve only those line breaks that separate distinct entries (e.g., different masters or records). Hyphens mark line breaks in the original.
• The foliation is irregular, including a duplicated folio 35 between 7 and 8. I retain the manuscript’s foliation as written and mark recto/verso as [r] and [v].
• Editorial comments appear in square brackets and italicized.
• Where a reading is uncertain, I add [?].
• To denote “Anno Domini,” the source uses a ligature-like formula looking like the below, which I transcribe as A° đ

Transcription

[cover]

Uglb. U 69. N. 14 13

1583–1716

marxbrüder

1[r]

Sambstags den 19. Martÿ A° đ 1̅6̅1̅4̅. hat Baltha⸗sar Horn von Greiffenber Meister deß lang Schwerdts in namen vnd von weg der Bru⸗derschafft von St. Marx der Röm. Kaÿ. Mtt. Matthiæ Confirmation Ihrer Privilegÿ zur Statt Franckfurt Cantzleÿ gelieffert vnd zu den andern Privilegien in Verwahrung zunemen in namen ermelter Bruderschaft gebetten, welches dann auch geschehen.

den 26. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1628. hat Michael Lemcke von Hollandt in Preussen Hauptman der Bru⸗derschafft Kayserl., Mtt Ferdinandi II. Confir⸗mation Brieff zur Cantzleÿ gelieffert vnd zu den andern Privilegien in Verwahrung zunemen gebetten.

den 31. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1642. hat Hanß Reuter von Kirchen an der Eck, Hauptmann der Bruderschafft, Keyß. Mt. Ferdindandi İİİ. con⸗firmation Brieff zur Cantzleÿ gelieffert vnndt zu den andern Privilegÿs in Ver⸗wahrung zunehmen gebetten.

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

[1v]

[ex-post insertion belonging to 2r with the corresponding symbol and comment: ≠ sechs fünff vnterschiedliche Kaÿserliche Privilegia vnd darunder sonderlich obgesetzte]

2[r]

[left margin: ist im maßen gewiedert, wie hernach zu sehen]

wir der Rath der Statt Franckfurt am Mayn thun kundt vnd hiermit beken⸗nen daß wir ≠ [insertion from 1v] zween Kaÿserliche Confir⸗mation Brieff den Meistern deß Schwerdts gegeben von wort zu wort laut⸗tendt wie vorabstehet an Pergamen, Schrifften vnd Kaÿserlichen Anhan⸗genden Insigeln, vnd sonst allent⸗halben gantz vnversehrt vnd vnarg⸗wöhnisch gesehen vnd befunden Auch vmb Meister deß Schwerdts beschehener fleissiger Bitte willens dieß gegen⸗wertig Transsumpt daruon machen, mit vnserer Statt anhangendem Insigel bekraftiges vnd NN. welcher an heut dato von NN. Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx, zu einem Meister deß [insertion: langen] Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden, zu vrkundt haben mittheilen lassen, so ge⸗schehen đ.

verte.

[2v]

Wir der Rath der Statt Franckfurt am Maÿn, Thun kundt vnd hiermit bekennen, daß wir ein von dem jetztregierenden ≠ [insertion: Röm.] Kaÿß, Auch zu Hungern vnd Boheim Kön. Mtt. Ferdinando dem Andern zc. Vnseren allergnedigsten Herrn den Meistern deß Schwerdts allergnedigst ertheiltes Privilegium vnd Confirmation Brieff von wort zu wort lauttendt wie vorstehet, an Pergamen, Schrifften vnd Kaÿserlichem anhangendem Insigel vnd sonst Allent halben gantz vnversehrt vnd vnarg⸗wohnisch gesehen vnd befunden, Auch vmb Meister deß Schwerdts beschehener fleiß⸗siger Bitte willen dieß gegenwertige Transsumpt darvon vorfertig vnter vnserer Statt Anhangendem Insigel verfertigen vnd N. N. von N. welcher in heut dato von NN. vor N. als Jetzig Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister des Lang schwerdts geschlag, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden, zu Vrkundt haben mittheilen lassen, So geschehen den đ

3.[r]

Caspar Bachar von Dresden kürschner Ist durch Melchior Gaißmann von Nürnberg, der Zeit verordnetem hauptman über die Bruderschafft von S. Marco zu einem Meister des langen Schwerdts offentlich geschlagen wordn Am Sontage den 8. 7bris Anno 1583.

Sontags den 24 Martÿ Anno 1584 seindt nachbenante Personen, durch Melchiorn Nauman von Say auß der Schleßing, als hauptman über die Bruderschafft von S. Marx. zu Meistern des lang Schwerdts offentlich geschlagen worden.
Peter Schultheiß von Regenspurg Glockengießer.
Caspar Felber von Tressen, Lein wöber.
Joachim Gotthardt von Custrin, Kürschner.
Geörg Fuchs von Wien, Becker.
Conrad Fridwag von Nürmberg, Schumacher.
Pauly Merlo von Nürmberg Schellenmacher.
Lazary Bauert von heilspurg In Preußen kürßner.
Hanß damser von Greitz In d. Steirmarkh kürßner.
Moritz Büschel von der Weyde kürßner .|.

[3v]

Geörg Palm von Newem Soln In Vngarischen Bergstetten ist den 9. Aprilis Anno 1584 durch Wilhelm Schützen von Cöln zum Meister des langen Schwerdts geschlagen worden.

Bastian Völklin von München
Christoff Koch von Breßlaw.
Dauid Lintz von Dantzig.
seind Sontags den 12. Aprilis Anno đ 84 durch Wilhelm Schützen zu Meistern des Lang Schwerdts geschlage worde.

Geörg Rad von Jena Glaser, bürg zu Augspurg
Niclauß wünsch von Königsperg zu Preüßen kürschner
seind Sontags den 4 Aprilis Anno 1585. durch wilhelm Schützen von Cöln. zu Meistern des lange Schwerdts geschlage worde.

4[r]

Thomas Schnedergerger von Passaw ein Beck Ist von Michel Wincklern zu einem Meister des lange Schwerdts geschlage worde Am Sontags den 12. 7bris. Anno 1585.

Sontags den 27 Martÿ Anno 1586. seind nachuolgende Personen von Wilhelm Schützen von Coln diser Zeit verordnetem hauptman über die Bruderschafft von S. Marx. zu eine M. des lange Schwerdts geschlage worde
[curly bracket Caspar Grimm to Dauid Reibholz: kürßner]
Caspar Grimm von Arnstadt.
Peter Niß. von Dantzig.
Augustin Ferber v. Schwebisch gemündt,
Melchior Mair v. Nörlinge
Dauid Reibholz von Raudt.
Peter Lentz von Augspurg wöber
Niclauß Wiltobler von Bregitz am Boden See Kupferschmidt.

[4v]

Sontags den 11. 7bris Anno 1586. seindt nachuolgende Personen durch M. Wilhelm Schützen von Cöln, als dieser Zeit verordnetem Hauptman über die Bruderschafft von S. Marx. zu M. des Schwerdts offentlich Im Krachbein geschlagen worde. Als namentlich
– Christian Kölckes, von Gülch. Schwartzferber
– Michel Dunckel von Lahr. kürschner.
Peter Hepfner v. dreßden. Leinwöber.
Lorentz Schmidt. v. Ochsenfurt. Bader,

Sontags den 9. Aprilis Anno 1587. Ist. Geörg Faul von Nörlinge seines handtwerks ein Becke. Von. M. Wilhelm Schützen von Cöln als elteren hauptman über die Bruderschafft Von. S. Marx. zu einem Meister des lange Schwerdts, Im Schelmen Garten, offent⸗lich geschlagen worde.

5.[r]

Sontags den 24. Martÿ Anno 1588. Ist. Hannß Mestel von nürmberg seines handwercks ein Tüncher gesell. Von Peter Lentzen von Augspurg als diser Zeit verordneten haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von S. Marx zu einem Meister das lange Schwerdts offent⸗lich geschlage worden .|.

Sontags den 31. Martÿ Anno đ 1588. Ist Lorenz Bruellman ein harnisch Pollirer von Schaffhausen auß Schweiz von Peter Lentzen von Augspurg Alß diser Zeit verordetem Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von S. Marx zu einem Meister des langen Schwers, offent⸗lich geschlagen worden,

[5v]

Sontags den 8. 7bris Anno: đ 1588. Ist Hanns Friederich Boll von Konigsperg außer land zu Preußen, seines hanndwercks ein Kürschner gesell, von Peter Lenzen von Augspurg, als dieses Zeit verordnetem Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von S. Marx zu einem Meister des lang Schwerdts, offendtlichen geschlagen worden /.

Thomas Jordan von Camitz in der nider Laußnitz ein Kürschnergesell, Ist Sontags den 15. 7bris Anno 1588. Von Peter Lentz Von Augspurg dißer Zeit verordnetem hauptman über die Bruderschafft von .S. Marx, zu einem Meister des langen Schwerdts, zum Krachbein offentlich geschlagt worden.

6[r]

Paulus Reuter von Nürmmberg Zimmerman [correction: gesell.] Ist Sontags den 16. Martÿ Anno đ 1589 von Conrad Fridwach von Nurmberg, als diser Zeit der Vier Maister einem an statt Peter Lentzen Hauptman vber die Bruder⸗schafft von S. Marx zu einem Meister des Langen schwerts, zum Krachbein offentlich geschlag worden,

[horizontal bar]

Sebastian Klier von Nurmberg Schwartz⸗ferbers gesell ist Sontags den 16. Martÿ Anno đ 89. von gedachtem Conradt Fridwach von Nurmberg anstatt vnd von weg Peter Lentzen hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von S. Marx, zu einem Meister des lang schwerts, in der herberg zum Krach bein offentlich geschlagen worden.

[horizontal bar]

Sontags den 25. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 91, seindt Nachfolgende Personen durch Peter Lenz von Augspurg Lein vnd Barchent⸗weber, Auch hauptman vber die Bruderschafft zu St. Marx vnnd

[6v]

Approbirten Meister des Langen⸗schwerz offentlich Im Krachbein zu Meistern des langenschwerts geschlagen vnd zugelassen worden. Alß nemblich
Mattheß Mattheß v. Meichenburg seins hanndwercks ein Kirschner gesell ./.
Hannß Bapst von aßAlßeldt, Kirschner gesell,
Christoff Selig von Eisprugk, hammerschmied
Hannß Bierdümpfel v. Coburg ein Tuchmacher

Conrad Fridwach von Nurnberg Altreiß In nahmen vnd aus beuelig Peter Lenz von Augspurg Barchenweber alß diser Zeit verordnetem Hauptman vber die Brudeschafft zu Sant Marx vnnd Approbirter Meister des Langen Schwerdts hat nachbenante Perßonen offentlich In d Herberg zum Krachbein, zu Meistern des Langenschwerdts geschlage, vnd zuge⸗laß worden Actum den 13. 7mbris. 91.
Hannß Goldener v. Royffenhofen aus vannmarck Kirschner vnd
Wolff Bahl von München außm Land zu Baÿern, Tuchmach.

7[r]

Wolff Ball von Munchenn der vier Approbirtenn Meister einer deß Langen schwertts Jn hatt in namen vnnd auß Beuelig Peter Lentzen von Augspurg Alß diser Zeitt verordtneten Hauptt⸗mans vber die Bruderschafft zu S. Marx, nachbenantte drei personen offent⸗lich in der herberig zum Krachbein zu Maistern deß langen schwertts geschlagen vnd zugelassenn Actum solis denn 8. Aprilis Anno 1̅5̅9̅3̅.
Caspar Kretschmann von Preßlaw Kirschner
Hannß Krauß von Nurnberg Tuchmach
Sigmundt Harttung von Naumburg ein Kirschner,

[7v]

Wolff Ball von München d 4 approbirten Meister einer deß lange schwerts hat in namen Peter Lenzen von Augspurg alß diser Zeitt hauptmans vber die Bru⸗derschafft z. von S. Marx hatt Hannß Schustern von Nürmberg seins handtwercks ein Kürschner zum Meister deß langen schwertts gesch geschlagen vnd zugelassen, Actum solis den 24. Martÿ Anno đ 94

Thomas Körster Burger vnd Leinwöber zu Augspurg.
Georg Sehinz von dressen ein Becken vnd
Heinrich wagner von [hometown missing] Becker
seindt sontags den 15. 7bris Anno. 9̅4̅. durch Hanns Schustern vom Nürnberg Kürschner, aus Beueleg vnd anstatt

35[r – sic]

Christian Gülichen von Cöln Als diser Zeit verordneten hauptmanns der Bruderschaft zu Sanct Marx zu Meisten geschlagen vnd zugelassen worden.

Joachim Baltz von der Wißmar aus dem Landt zu Meckelburg kürschner Ist Sontags den 6. Aprilis Anno đ 95. durch hat Hanns Schuster von Nürmberg Kürschner aus Beueleg vnd an statt Christian Gulick zu als diser Zeit verordneter hauptman der Bruderschafft zu St. Marx, zu Meister des Langen Schwerdts geschlagen approbirt, vnd zuge⸗lassen worden.

[archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

[35v]

1 Samuel Probst Kürschner von Augspurg.
2 Jacob Paulting Becker von Gotha
3 Hanns dilehrman Kaufmans Gesell von Rugen aus lif⸗landt
seindt alle dreÿ durch Christian Gillicuhen Burgern zu Cöln, als diser Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft zu St. Marx Appro⸗birt vnd zu Meistern des lange Schwerths geschlage worden. Actum Sontags 4. Aprilis Aᵒ đ. 96.

Matthes Rosenau von Künßberg aus Preußen seines handwercks ein Kurschner,
Ist Sontags den 20. Martÿ durch Clauß Rindtfleißen als für Zeit hauptman über die Bruderschafft zu St. Marx, zu einem Meister des Schwerths geschlage worde.

8.[r]

Andreas Crosigk von Aschersleben, ein Tuchmacher oder Wüllenweber, ist Palm Sontags den 9̇̃ Aprilis 1598. von Hanns Bapsten von Elfeldt in Hessen, an Statt Clausen Rindfleisch alß diser Zeit haubtman vber die Bruderschafft S. Marx, zu einem Meister des Lang schwerdts geschlag worden. Actum vt supra.

Jacob Beck, Burger vnd Kürschner zu Straspurg, Ist Palmen sontags den 1. Aprilis 1599. von Hannsen Bapsten von Elfeldt in hessen in namen Clausen Rindtfleisch alß diser Zeit haubtman vber die Bruderschafft S. Marx zu einem Meister des langen Schwerdts geschlagen worden ./.

[8v]

Philips Clements von Oppen⸗heim ein Kirschner ist vf Palm Sontag den 16 Martÿ 1600 von Clauß Rindtfleisch von Rottenburg an d Fulda alß d Marxbruder haubtman zu einem meister deß Langen schwerts zugelassen vnd geschlagen worden Actum Martis 18. Martÿ 1600.

Sebastian von Matzenheim von Straspurg Becker, Ist vf Sontag den 14. 7br. 1600. von Claus Rindt⸗fleischen von Rotenburg an der Fulda +⸗ [insertion: Als izig Zeit haubt man vber die brüderschafft von S. Marx⸗] zu einem Maister des lang Schwertdts zugelaßen vnd geschlagen worden, Actum den 15. 7br. 1600. ÷

9[r]

Carlo Martini von Ulm ein Lein⸗weber Ist vf obgl. Sontag von gemelt⸗ten Rindtfleischen, zu einem Meister des lang Schwerdts, zugelaßen und geschlagen worden. actum vt supra.

Hanns Hertel von Sehneberg in Meÿssen, Kurschner,
Ist Sontags den 29. Martÿ 1601. von Claus Rindtfleischen von Rotenburg an der Fulden als iziger Zeitt haubtman vber die bruoderschafft von S. Marx zu einem Meister des lang schwerdts geschlagen, Approbirt vnd zuge⸗laßen worden. ÷

Georg Schneider von Landsperg im herzogthumb Beÿern, ein Kurschner,
Ist solis 13. 7br. Aᵒ đ 1600. von Christian Kilcken burger zu Cölln, als izig Zeit haubtmann vber die Bruderschafft zu S. Marx, zu einem Meister des langen Schwerdts geschlagen [insertion: approbirt vnd] zugelaßen und zu⸗worden.

[9v]

Adam Rasti von Doorn in Preußen ein Kürschner,
ist Sontags den 20. 7br. Anno đ 1601. von Claus Rindtfleischen, von Rotenburg an d Fulden, als iziger Zeit haubtmann vber die bruderschafft von S. Marx. zu einem meister des langen schwerdts geschlagen Approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

1. Hanns Heberle v. Nurmberg ein Platt⸗ner vnd Bolirer und
2. Hanns Sanftmeÿer von München in Beÿern ein Kürschner:
sindt beede von Hanns Bapsten von Alsfeldt in Heßen, als der Vier Meister einen des Langen Schwerdts, in namen des Abgestorbenen Claußen Rindtfleischs gewesenen haubtmann vber die bruderschafft S. Marx, zu Meistern des lang Schwerdes ge⸗schlag approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden Actum solis Palmarum 28 Martÿ Anno đ 1602.

10[r]

Ludtwig Beck Kurschner von Sehneberg auß Meissen ein Kürschner gesell
Ist Sontags den 12 7bris. Anno 1602 von Bastian von Matzenheim von Straßburg der vier geschwornen Meister deß Langen schwertts einem, zu einem Meister deß Langen schwerts geschlagen, approbirt vnnd zugelassen, worden, Actum vt supra.

1. Hannß Busse von Stettin ein Drexler vnd
2. Hannß Heinle von d Lignitz Kirschner vnd Bürger zu Preßlaw
seint Sontags den 10. Aprils 1603 von Bastian von Matzenheim von Straßburg d vier geschwornen Maister deß Langen Schwerts ≠ [insertion: anstat hansen von sehnebergs izig Hauptmans] zu einem Meister deß Langens schwerts geschlagen approbirt vndt zugelassen worden.

[10v]

Vlrich Harder Kibler Burg zu Nurn⸗berg vnnd
Matthes Geiger von Costritz Kirschner
Seint Sontags den. 17. Aprilis 1603. von Bastian von Matzenheim Bürger zu Straßburg der vier ge⸗schwornen meister deß Langen schwerts anstat hansen von Sehnebergs der Marxbrüder hauptman zu Meistern deß Langen schwertts geschlagen vnd approbirt worden Son⸗tags denn 17. Aprilis 1603.

Conradt Wÿscheckel burger vnd Kürschn⸗ner zu Nürnberg, vnd
Hanns Ermler von Franckfurt an der Ader ein Kürschner.
Seindt Sontags den 11. Sept. Aᵒ đ 1603.

11.[r]

von Sebastian von Mazenheim bur⸗gern zu Straspu^org, der Vier geschwor⸗nem Meister einen des Lang schwertts, anstatt Hannsen [insertion of an illegible word looking like: hertel] von Sehneberg in Meichen, der Marxbruder haupt⸗mann, zu Meistern des langen schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

Martin Newmärcker von Roglitz in Meichsen Kürschner, vnd
Sebastian Kuchenmeister von Leipzig in Meichen Kürschner.
Seindt Sontags den 18. Septembr. Anno đ 1603. von Christian Chilcken burgern zu Cölln, alß haubtmann vber die Bruderschafft v. S. Marx. zu Meistern des Lang Schwertts geschlagen Approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

[11v]

Wendel Kraÿl von Lommenthen Seiffen Sieder vnd Hans Grimm von Augspurg Render
Ist Sontags den 25. Martÿ Anno đ 1604. von Vlrich Hartens von Nürnberg als Hauptmann vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen schwerdts geschlagen werden appro⸗birt vnd zugelassen worde

Hans Grimm von Augspurg Render ist Sontags den 1. Aprilis Aᵒ 1̅6̅0̅4̅. von Vlrich Hartern Burgern zu Nurenberg Als Hauptmans vber die Bruder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß Langen Schwerdts, geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

12[r]

1 Bartholomes deutschländer von Mar⸗genberg Becker vnd
2. Mattheß Lewman Kurschner von Straßburg
seindt bede Sontags den 9. Septemb. Anno đ 1̅6̅0̅4̅ von Vlrich Hartern von Nurnberge Alß Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen appro⸗birt vnd zugelassen worden.

1. Hanns Leÿß von Weÿlheim aus Beÿern Klingenschmidt, vndt
2. Gabriel Miliz von Golnaw in Pommern, Schloßer oder Büchsenmacher.
Seindt beede Sontags den 16. 7br. Aᵒ đ 1604 von Vlrich Harttern von Nurmberg Alß hauptmann vber die bruderschafft von S. Marx zu Meistern des Langen Schwerdts geschlagen, Approbirt vnd zu⸗gelaßen worden.

[12v]

Paulus Korn von Lesten in chürm⸗gau Huffschmidt
ist sontags den 24. Martÿ, Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅5̅. von Vlrich Har⸗tern von Nurmberg als Jetziger Zeitt Hauptman vber die Brüder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, ap⸗probirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1. Hans wisender Flaschener von Pilsen vnd
2. Georg Vreiner Kurschner von Trauttenaw

[left margin: und im Beÿsÿs]
Sindt bede von Conradt Wißheckel von Nurnberg der 4 geschwornen Meister einem An statt Vlrich her⸗ters Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptmans vber die Bruderschafft vor St. Marx zu Meistern deß Langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden, Actum Sontags den 8. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅5̅.

13[r]

1 Thomas Heldt von Güterbork Ku in Sachsen, Kurschner,
2 Gregorius Wisender von Pilsen Flaschener,
3 Hans Beinsfeldt von Trier Becker
Sindt Alle drey Sontags den 15. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1605. von Vlrich Herter Hauptman vber die Bru⸗der von St. Marx. zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, ap⸗probirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1 Simon Wÿnckelman von Hertzberg in Meissen Kurschner.
2 Mattheß Pfeiffer von der Neuß in Schlesien Nestler
Sind bede von Hans Grimmen von Augspurg als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden Sontags den 6. Aprilis Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅6̅.

[13v]

Caspar Arnoldt von Nemstettel in Schlesien Kürschner,
Melchior Brandt von Sehneberg in Meissen Kürschner
sind bede von Hans Grimmen von Augspurg als Jetziger zeitt Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft vor St. Marx zu Meistern deß lang schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden den 13. Aprilis, Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅6̅.

1. Christoff Ihose von dreßden Kurschner
2 Mattheß Kleinner von Breslaw Becker
3 Martin Saur von Drosklow in Schle⸗sien Kurschner.
Sind Alle 3. Sontags den 14. Septem⸗bris Aᵒ 1̅6̅0̅6̅ von Conrad Wißheckeln Burgern vnd Kurschnern von Nurnberg die an statt Hans Vlrich Grimmen von Aug⸗spurg Als Jetziger Zeitt Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß lang schwerdts geschlag approbrit [sic] vnd zugelassen worde.

14.[r]

Christoff Furer von Bartekirch Kursch⸗ner ist dinstags den 24. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅7̅. von Hans Grimmen von Augspurg Als Jetziger Zeitt Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zum Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zu⸗gelassen worden.

1. Hans Bar von Hollandt Auß Preussen Kurschner.
2. Georg Seiler von Ulm Tuchmacher.
3. Peter Hertzog von Schlanders Auß Tirol
Sind Alle Sontags Palmari den 29 Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅7̅. von Hans Grimmen vor Augspurg Als Jetziger Zeitt Hauptman vber die bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdt geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelas⸗en worden.

[14v]

Melchior Wessel von Altenberg in Meissen Becker vnd
Jacob Grosser von Hirschberg Auß Behen Becker.
Sindt bede Sontags den 6. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅7̅ von Hans Barr vor Hol⸗landt in Preussen der 4. geschwore⸗nen Meister einer An statt vnd von wegen Hans Grimmen vor Aug⸗spurg als Jetziger Zeitt Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern des Langen schwerdts geschlagen Approbirt vnd zugelassen worden. Actum vt supra.

Leonhard Weber von Wurtzburg Tuch⸗macher ist Sontags den 13. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1608. von Hans Bar von Holland in Preussen Als Jetziger Zeit Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß lang schwerdts geschlage, approbirt vnd zu⸗gelassen worden. Actum vt supra.

15[r]

Conrad Endreß von wien Becker Ist Sontags den 20. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅8̅. von Vlrich Hartern von Nurnberg der vier geschwornen Meister einem An statt Hansen Bar von Holand in Preussen als Jetziger Zeitt Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von S. Marx vnd in dessen Beÿseÿn zum Meister deß langen Schwerdts ge⸗schlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Georg Gepherindt von Kirchberg An der Jauchst Becker ist Sontags den 11. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅8̅. von Hans Barrn von Hollandt in Preussen Als Jetziger Zeitt Haupt⸗man vber die Buderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen ap⸗probirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[15v]

1 Hans Brosch von Preslaw Becker
2 Mattheß Erckel von Munchen Koch
Sind bede vor Hans Bar obgenande als Hauptmann vber die Bruderschaft von S. Marx, zu Meistern deß langen schwerts geschlag, approbirt vnd zuge⸗lassen worden. Actum Solis den 18. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅8̅.

1 Hans Beckmeister von Leiptzig Kursch⸗ner
2 Georg Weidtman von Berg in Thüring Schwartzfärber.
3 Daniel Spieß von Straßburg Kursch⸗ner
Sind Alle 3. Sontags den 2. Aprilis Aᵒ đ 1609. von Mattheß Klen⸗ner von Preßlaw der 4. geschwor⸗nen Meister einem An statt Hans Barn von Hollandt in Preussen Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptmans vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß lang schwerdts geschlag approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

16[r]

1 Mattheß Schmidt von Nurnberg Beck
2 Vlrich Burckhardt von Straubingen Kurschner,
sin bede Sontags Palmarum den 9. Aprilis Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅9̅. von Mattheß Klennern von Preßlaw der vier geschwornen Meister einem Anstatt Hans Barn von Hollandt in Preus⸗sen als Jetziger Zeitt hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Philips Adam von Veela Auß preus⸗sen kurschner ist Sontags den 10. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅9̅. von Hans Barn von Holland in Preussen Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu ei⸗nem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[16v]

Mattheus Traub von Rotweil Kurschner vnd
Adam Schmidt von Miltenberg Kurschner
sindt bede Sontags den 17. Septem. bris Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅0̅9̅. von Hansen Barn von Hollandt in Preussen, Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdte geschlagen ap⸗probirt vnd zugelassen worden

1 Hans Klemsch von Olmutz in Mehren, Meurer.
2 Jacob Klemsch Olmutz in Mehren Meurer.
3 Dauid Biernstengel auß den Zips Kurschner
Sind Alle dreÿ Sontags den 25 Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅0̅. von Georg Gepherindt von Kirchberg An der Jauchst, Als Jetziger Zeit Haupt⸗

17[r]

man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Hans Wirth von Regenspurg Becker.
Andreas Crafft von Preßlaw Kurschner.
Martin Beschman von Leiptzig Kurschner
Sind Alle dreÿ Sontags den Aprilis Aᵒ 1̅6̅1̅0̅. von Georg Gepherindt von Kirchberg An der Jauchst Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß Schwerdts langen [sic] geschlagen Approbirt vnd zuge⸗lassen worden.

[17v]

1 Tobias Bogener Burger vnd Cor⸗dubener von Prag in der Neustatt.
2 Andreas Dobel von Nurnberg Becker
3 Abraham Boruffskÿ von königs⸗berg in Preussen Becker.
Sindt Sontags den 9. Septembris Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅0̅. von Georg Gepherinden von Kirchberg An der Jauchst, Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman Veber die uderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Hans Bock von Santerfor, [insertion: Kürschner] auß Lot⸗tringen ist Sontags den 16. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅0̅. von Georg Gepherinden von Kirchberg an der Jauchst, Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelasset worden.

18[r]

1. Joachim Wormbs von Rostock Auß dem Landt zu Mechelburg Schlosser.
2. Michael Claus von Reichenbach Auß der Schlesien Becker
Sind Sontags den 10. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅1̅. von Georg Gepherinden von Kirchberg An der Jauchst Als Jetziger Zeit Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdts ge⸗schlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

David Sturm Kurschner vnd Burger zu dantzig Ist Sontags den 17. Mar⸗tÿ Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅1̅. von Georg Gepherinden von Kirchberg an der Jauchst als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St Marx zu einem Meister des langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zuge⸗lassen worden.

1. Martin Frölich von Olmutz in Mehren, Kurschner
2. Christian Reutsch von Leiptzig, Kurschner vnd
3. Hans Engelhardt Diestel von Nurnberg Tucher
Sindt alle drey Sontags den 15.

[18v]

Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1611. von Georg Ge⸗pherinden von Kirchberg an der Jauchst als Jetziger Zeits Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1 Weÿl Brotschieber von Grätz auß der Steÿrmarkh ./.
2 Georg Clar von Bischofswerth auß dem land zur Maÿchsten bede der Römisch Königlichen Markh Trabanten ./
3 Martin Bedermann Barchetwöber von Nürmberg,
seind alle dreÿ Dinstags den 9. Junÿ Anno 1612 vf damals gehaltenem Königlich wahltag, von Georg Gepherinden Von Kirchberg ahn

19[r]

der Jauchst, diß Zeit Hauptman über die Bruderschaft vom St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerts zuge⸗lassen vnd offentlich geschlage worden ./.

1 Hans Clain von Messenkirch Becker
2 Fabian Reich von Königsperg in Preussen Kurschner.
3. Balthasar Horn von Greiffenberg in Schlesien Kurschner.
4. Jacob Marsteller vor Straßburg Becker
Sindt Alle vier Sontags den 13. Se⸗ptembris Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅2̅. von Georg Ge⸗pherinden von Kirchberg an der Janchst alt Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1. Michael Heintz von Olmutz in Mehren Kurschner
2 Jacob Luck von St. Mellen Schwartz⸗ferber vnd
3 Alexander Saurweÿdt von Vlm, Weber

[19v]

Sindt Alle dreÿ Sontags den 21. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅3̅. von Martin Frölicher von Olomutz, Als etziger Zeit Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß Langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1. Bartholome Eckhardt von Preßlaw, Kurschner.
1. 2. Andreas Backes von Straßburg Becker
2. 3. Hans Herman von Dunckelspül Becker.
Sindt Allen dreÿ bede Sontags Palmarum den 28. Mar⸗tÿ Aᵒ đ 1613. von Martin Frölichen von Olomutz als Jetziger Zeit Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern des Langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Bartholome Eckhardt von Preßlaw Kurschner, Ist zwar beneben den nehest vorgemelt vff ermelten tag Auch zur Prob furgestelt, weil Er Aber damals

20[r]

blutrunstig geschlag vnd die federfechter Ihn nit zulassen wöllen, Als ist Er An heut Abermals furgestelt vnd, ob gedachtem Martin Frölichen von Olomutz Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden, Actum dinstags den 30. Martÿ, Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅3̅.

Barthel Katz von Freÿberg in Meissen Kürschner ist Sontags den 12. Septemb. Aᵒ 1̅6̅1̅3̅. von + [insertion: Martin Neumerker von Rothlitz der vier bestelten Meister ein⸗em anstatt und in beÿseÿs] Martin frölichen Als Ietz von Olomutz Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1 Balthasar Pfeiffer von Franckfurt Drucker.
2 Thomas Thiergartner von Berghe⸗ratsoffen in Osterreich Becker.

[20v]

3. Hans Rins von Magdeburg Becker
4. Hans Kegel von Munchen in Beÿern Bierbrewer.
5. Barthel Weiß von Morgenthal an der Tauber Meurer.
Sindt Alle funff Sontags den 10. Aprilis, Aᵒ 1̅6̅1̅4̅. von Baltha⸗sar Horn von Greiffenberg als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Buderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1 Hans Keller von Frawenstatt in Polen Kurschner.
2 Lorentz Pflug von Pesche in Bohemen Becker.
3 Jacob Calav von Soldavr in Preussen Kurschner.
4. Henning Muller von Osterwick auß dem Landt Braunschweig Kurschner.
5. Wolff Brandtner von Eher in Bohem Becker vnd

21.[r]

6. Sebastian Furst von Wrombs Beck. sindt Alle sechs Sontags den 17. Aprilis Anno 1̅6̅1̅4̅. von Balthasar Horn von Greiffenberg, als Jetziger Zeit haupt man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx, zu Meistern des langen Schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Michael Schrumpff von der Naumburg An der Saal, vnd Becker, vnd
Martin Beÿer von der Frawenstett in Schlesien Tuchmacher,
Sind bede Sontags den 11. Septemb. Anno 1̅6̅1̅4̅. von Georg Sailern von Vlm An stett vnd von wegen Mar⸗ten + [insertion: Frolich] von Olomutz als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zu⸗gelassen worden.
Georg Ackerman von Leiptzig kurschener Ist Sontags den 18. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅4̅. von Georg Sailern von Ulm An statt

[21v]

vnd von wegen Martin Frölich von Olomutz, als Jetziger Zeit Hauptmann vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Hans Rambisch von Bamberg Becker Ist vfff vorgemelten Sontag benebes Georg Hofman vorgestelt worden, weil Er eterz damaln verletzt, Als ist er nit zugelassen, sondern erst an heut dienstag den 20. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅4̅. Abermals vorgestelt vnd weil Er bestanden von Georg Sailern von Vlm an statt vnd von wegen Martin Frolich von Olomutz Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptmans vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen schwerdts geschlag, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.
Peter Sebastian vom Schwitzenberg in Meissen Kurschner. Vnd
Christoff Müller von Bultowitz in Schlesien Backer.
Sindt bede sontags Palmarum den

22.[r]

2. Aprilis Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅5̅. von Lorentz Pflugen von Schlackenwaldt in Bohemen, der Vier geschwornen Meister einem An statt deß Hauptmanns vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden Actum vt supra.

Christoff Hintze von Dritztorff Auß der Marck Brandenburg Kurschner, Ist Son⸗tags den 10. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅5̅. von Vlrich Hartern von Nurnberg, an statt vnd von wegen deß Hauptmans vber die Bruderschafft von St Marx zu einem Meister deß Langen Schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Hans Conrad Kaltroff von wertheim Schwartzfarber, Ist Sontags den Sieben⸗Zehenden Septembris Anno 1̅6̅1̅5̅. von Vlrich Harrttern von Nurnberg An statt vnd von wegen deß Hauptmans vber die Buderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langern Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[22v]

Friderics Frischeisen von Nurnberg Plattner Ist Sontags den 17. Martÿ Anno đ 1616. von Jacob Calavr von Soldavr in Preussen Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu ei⸗nem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden .|.

Balthasar Büchler von Scheibs in Oesterreich Kurschner gesell ist Sontags den 8. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅6̅. von Jacob Calavr von Soldavr in Preussen Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, Approbirt vnd zugelasen worden.

1 Christoff Kacher von Wien [?] Schwartz⸗ferber.
2 Hans Muller von Nurenberg Com⸗paßmacher

23.[r]

3 Peter Schwarck von Konigsberg in Preußen Kurschner
4 Sigmundt Naueshundt von Leipzig Kurschner.
sindt Alle 4. Sontags den 6. Apri⸗lis Aᵒ đ 1617. von Hans Herman von Dunckelspfuhl der vier geschwor⸗nen Meister einem An statt vnd von wegen Jacob Calavr von Sol⸗davr in Preussen, Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

1 Paul Pol von Hollandt in Preussen Kurschner.
2 Hans Horn von Magdeburg Tuch⸗macher
Sindt bede sontags den 13. Aprilis Aᵒ đ 1617. von Jorg Hans Herman d 4. geschwornen Meister einem gleich gestelt zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zuge⸗lassen worden.

[23v]

Hans Ring von Nurnberg Becker vnd Burger daselbsten. Vnd
Paulus Bol von Holandt in Preußen Kurschner.
Michael Haan von Gartz in Pom⸗mern Kurschner.
Sind bede Sontags den 7. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅1̅7̅. von Paul Poln von Holandt in Preussen Alt Jetziger Zeit haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Paulus Schmidt von Streel in Meissen Kurschner ist Sontags den 14. Septem⸗bris Aᵒ đ 1617. von Paul Poln von Hollandt in Preussen als Jetziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen schwerdte geschlagen, appro⸗birt vnd zugelassen worden.

24[r]

Julius Hartisch von Caden in Bohemen Kurschner, vnd
Jacob Weigenhan, von Wollin in Pommern Kurschner,
Sindt Sontags den 9. Aprilis Anno đ 1̅6̅2̅0̅ von Christoff Faren Furen von Bartenkirch Burgern zu Augspurg an statt vnd in namen deß Hauptmans vnd der vier geschwornen Meister zu einem Meister deß lang Schwerdts geschlag, approbirt vnd zuge⸗lassen worden.

Philips Braschner von Bautzen Leinenweber vnd
Philipps Brahe von Metz in lot⸗tringen Kurschner
Sindt bede Sontags den 25. Martÿ Anno đ 1̅6̅2̅1̅ von Hans Conrad Kal⸗troff von wertheim der vier geschwor⸗nen Meistern einem zu Meistern deß langen schwerdts geschlag appro⸗birt vnd zugelassen worden.

[24v]

Davidt Vogt von Freiberg in Schlesien, Kürschner, ist Sontags den 21. Martÿ 1̅6̅2̅4̅. von Hanß Conrad Kaltern von wertheim der vier Geschwornen Meister einem, zum Meister des Langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Peter von der Hohenmühlen von Torgaw, Kürschner, ist Sontags den witt 3. April 1̅6̅2̅5̅. von Hanß Paull Bohlen von Hollandt in Preussen, als ietzig Zeit Hauptman über die Bru⸗derschafft von S. Marx, zu einem Meister des Langen Schwerdts geschlagen approbirt, vnnd zu⸗gelassen worden.

Michel Lembge von Hollandt in Preussen, ein Kürschner, vnd
Caspar Voltz von Augspurg ein Löher,
sindt beide Sontags den 10. Aprilils 1̅6̅2̅5̅.

25.[r]

von Paul Bohlen von Hollandt auß Preussen, iezig Zeit Hauptman über die Bruderschafft von S. Marx, zu Meistern des langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt, vnd zu⸗gelassen worden.

Jacob Newman von Bartenstein in Preussen, Kurschner ist Sontags den 18. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅2̅5̅. von Michael Lembke Kurschnern von Hollandt in Preussen der vier geschwornen Meister einem An statt vnd in namen Paul Bohln von Hollandt in Preussen Als Jetziger Zeit Hauptmann vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen ap⸗probirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[25v]

Caspar Haffner, Zuckerbäcker, von Nürmberg ist Sontags den 26. Martÿ 1̅6̅2̅6̅. von Michael Lembke Kurschnern von Hollandt auß Preussen, alß itziger Zeit hauptmann vber die Bruder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister des Langen Schwerdts, geschlagen, approbirt, vnndt zuge⸗lassen worden.

Mattheus Sigel von Aans Bäcker ist Sontags den 11. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1627. von Peter von der Hohenmuhl von Tor⸗gau in Meissen Als einer der 4. Meister an statt vnd von wegen Michael Lembke von Hollandt in Preussen als Jetzig Zeit Hauptmann vber die Bruderschafft vor St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langen Schwerdts

26[r]

geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden. Actum vt supra.

Georg Haizmar von Sultzbach in d Oberpfaltz Becker ist Sontags des 9. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1627. von Jacob Neuman von Bartenstein in Preussen Als einem der vier geschwornen Meister an statt vnd von weg Michael Lembge von Hollandt in Preussen, als Jetziger Zeit Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschaft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß langer Schwerdts geschlagen, appro⸗birt vnd zugelassen worden.

[vertical bar down to page bottom]

[26v]

Jacob Niß von Dantzien bericht sei vor 9. od 10. Jaren alhie von Hannsen von der Sebe⸗nitz alß damals hauptman vber die Brude⸗schafft von S. Marx zu einem M Maister des lang schwertts geschlagen worden, welches dan Wilhelm Schulz von Coln Con⸗firmirt, in d fastenmeß Aᵒ đ 9̅0̅. ist Ihm ein ander brieff vnder dato den 20. Mar⸗tÿ Anno đ 8̅0̅. mit getheilt worden,

[vertical bar down to page bottom, accompanied by the archival stamp: Aus dem Stadtarchiv Frankfurt/M.]

27[r]

Georg Heuß von Nurnberg Barchet⸗weber vnd
Paulus Rausch von Nurnberg Drat⸗zieher.
sind bede Sontags den 30. Mar⸗tÿ Aᵒ đ 1628. von Michael Lembke von Hollandt, in Preussen als Jetzi⸗ger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bru⸗derschafft von St. Marx zu Mei⸗stern deß Langen Schwerdts ge⸗schlagen, approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

Zacharias Schönenknecht von Stet⸗tin in Pommern Kurschner vnd
Matthias Groseswaldt von Hirsch⸗feldt in der Oberlaußnitz Kursch⸗ner.
sindt bede Sontags den 6. Aprilis Anno đ 1628. von Michael Lembke von Hollandt in Preussen, als Ietzi⸗

[27v]

ger Zeit hauptman vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Steffan Leupoldt von Nurnberg Kurschner Ist Sontags den 14. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1630. von Paul Rauschen von Nurnberg, Als Jetzig Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschaft von St. Marx zu einem Meistern deß langen Schwertzs geschlage approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Georg Meÿer von Nürnberg Kürschner ist Sontags den 12. Septemb. Aᵒ đ 1̅6̅3̅0̅ von Paul Rauschen von Nürnberg, als ietzig Zeit hauptman uber die Bruder⸗schafft von S. Marx, zu einem Meister des Langen Schwerdts geschlag, approbirt vnd zugelassen worde.

28[r]

[left margin: Ingl.] Niclaus Moritz von Hamburg Frÿzecker [?] ist Sontags den 27. Martÿ Anno đ 1̅6̅3̅1̅. von Paul Rauschen von Nurnberg, Als Jetzig Zeit Hauptman vber die Brueder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister deß lang Schwerdts ge⸗chlagen appobirt vnd zugelassen, worden.

[left margin: Ingl.] Valentin Faber von Wertheim Kursch⸗ner ist Sontags den 3. Aprilis Anno đ 1̅6̅3̅1̅. von Paul Rausch von Nurmberg, Als jetziger Zeit Haupt⸗man vber die Bruderschaft von St. Marx zu einem Meister des lang Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[28v]

Joachim Roldt von Riga in liff⸗landt Kurschner ist Sontags den 25. Martÿ, Anno đ 1̅6̅3̅2̅. von Hans Babsten von Alßfeldt an statt deß Hauptmanns vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister daß deß langen Schwerdts, geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Hanß Schaff von Kirchheim an der Eck, Becker vnd
Hanß Reuter, Auch von Kirchheim an der Eck vnd Becker.
Seind beede Sontags den 29. Martÿ 1640. von Georg Haußmeÿern von Sultzbach, in der Ober Pfalz der Vier Meister einer, an statt Michel Lembkes, von Holland in Preußen

29.[r]

des Hauptmanns vber die Bruder⸗schafft von St. Marx zu einem Meister des Langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

Leonhard Gackstätter, vonn Rotenburg an der Tauber, Becker
Conrad Haußner, von Nurmberg, Becker,
Friederich Hagen, von Bayräut Becker, vndt
Marx Eckstein, von Nappurg Kürßner
Seind alle Vier Sontags den dritten Aprilis 1642. durch Hanß Reutern von Kirchen an der Eck, alß Jeziger Zeit Hauptman vber die Bruderschafft zu St. Marx zu Meistern des Langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[29v]

Henrich Tehennes von Dusseldorff Faßbender.
Hanß Joachim von Dantzig, leinweber.
Seind Bede Sonntags den 14. Aprilis 1644. von Leon⸗hard Gackstettern von Roten⸗burg an der Tauber, an statt Hanßen Reuters von Kirchen an der Eck, des Hauptmanns vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern des Langen Schwerds geschlagen, approbirt vnnd zugelassen worden.

Johann S̃chottler, von Bremen, ~ßaffa⸗Wercker, Ist Montags den 22 Aprilis 1644. von Friederich Hagen von Baÿrävt, Becker anstatt Hanß Reuters von Kirchem von der Eck, des Hauptmans über

30[r]

die Brüderschafft von St. Marx zum Meister des Langen schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelasen worden

Hanß Rummel, von Erfurtt, ein Alt⸗raiß (⸫ das ist Schuhflicker :​| ist Sonn⸗tags den 21 Septembris, vonn Hanß Gogelsen, von Hamburg, Bierbräwern, anstatt Hanß Reuters von Kirchen an der Eck, des Haupt⸗manns vber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx, zum Meister des langen Schwerds geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[diagonal bar at page bottom]

[30v]

Steffan Andreas von Ingolstatt Backer, Ist Sonntags den 26. Martÿ Aᵒ đ 1648. von Hanß Rummels von Erfurtt, an statt Hanß Reuters von Kirchen an der Eck, alß Jezigen Zeitt Hauptmanns vber die Bruder⸗schafft von St. Marx zum Meister das Langen Schwerds geschlagen approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

Dieterich Liebendantz, Von Königsberg in Preu⸗sen Lebküchlin⸗ vnd Looßbecker, Ist Sontags den 24. Septembris Aᵒ đ 1648. von Hanß Rum⸗meln von Erfurt, an statt Hanß Reuters von Kirchen ander Eck, alß Jetziger Zeit hauptmanns über die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zum Meister des Langen Schwerdts ge⸗schlagen, approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

31.[r]

Hans Leipnitz von Wettin, auß Sachsen Kürschner Ist gestrigen Sontags den 30. Octobris Septem⸗bris 1649. von Jacob Schmiedten, von Niclasburg auß Mähren, Kurschnern an Statt Hanß Reuters von Kirchen an der Eck alß Jeziger Zeit Haupt⸗manns über die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zum Meister des Langen Schwerts geschlag vnd approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

Hans Clausenburg von Danzig, Kürschner,
Raimund Homler, von Basel, Tuchbereiter
Seynd beede Sontags den 7. Aprilis 1650. von Hanß Reutern, von Kirchen an der Eck, alß Jetziger Zeit Hauptmann über die Brüderschafft von St. Marx zum Meister des Langen Schwerdts geschla⸗gen, approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

[31v]

1 Daniel Bleich, von Kalten Steinberg, Becker,
2 Adam Beyer, von Starkart in Preusen, Bernstein Treher. v.
3 Adam Kistenfeger von Caden in⸗ Böhmen, Kirschner
Seindt alle dreÿ Sontags den 23. Martÿ 1651. von Hanß Reutern, von Kirchen an der Eck, alß Jetziger Zeit Hauptmann über die Brü⸗derschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern des Langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelasen worden.

1 Georg Rotlshuber, von Rosenheim auß Baÿern
2 Georg Löchel von Aussich auß Mehren, bede Becker
Seind Sontags den 21. 7bris 1651. von Daniel Glaichen, von Kalwen Steinberg, an Statt Hansen Reuters, von Kirchem an d Eck, alß iezig Zeit Hauptmanns über die Brüderschafft von

32[r]

S. Marx zum Meistern des Langen Schwerdts geschlag, approbrit vnd zugelaßen worden.

1 Peter Sacker, von Breßlaw, Kürschner, vndt
2 Hanß Melber, von Kinßelßheim in der Graffschaft hohenlohe, Becker:
Seindt Sontags den 27. Martÿ, 1653. von Hanß Reutern von Kirchen an der Eck alß Jeziger Zeit Hauptmann über die Bruderschafft von St Marx zu Meistern des langen Schwerdts geschlag worden approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

Jeremias Tschencke, von Sarau auß der Nied⸗Laußniz, der Zeit Burger vnd Handelßmann in der Kays. vnd Königl. Statt Breßlaw: Ist Mittwochens den 30. Martÿ 1653. von obigem Hanß Reuter, Hauptmann über die Bruderschafft von St. Marx zum Meister des Lang schwerdts appro⸗birt vnd zugelaß worden.

[32v]

Johann Schwabauer Burger undt Backer in Nürnberg, vndt
Johann Ohlschlägel von Graich in Vogit Landt, Becker
Seindt OsterMontags den 7. Aprilis 1656 Von Daniel Bleichen, Bürgern zu Straß⸗burg, alß Jetziger Zeit Hauptmann uber die Bruderschafft von St. Marx, zu Meistern des Lang Schwerdts geschlag, approbirt vnd zugelaßen worden.

Martin Keehl, von Zellich in der Marck⸗Brandenburg, Loß Kuchen⸗ undt Weißbeck Ist Sontags den 8. Aprilis 1̅6̅6̅6̅. von Daniel Bleichen, Bürgern zu Straßburg, alß Jetzige Zeit Hauptmann über die Bruderschafft von St. Marx, zu einem Meister des Langen Schwerdts geschlg geschlag, approbirt vndt zugelaß worden.

33.[r]

1̅ . Georg Zwickel von Nürmberg, Drath⸗ziher.
2̅. Philipp Strobel von Heldtspurg in Österreich, Becker.
3̅. Christian Daden von Dantzig, Knöpffmacher.
4̅ . Jacob Ackermann von Feldtkirchen aus Tÿrol, Becker, vnd
5̅. Caspar Anthoni Richmann von Berlin, Kürßner,
Seindt in Ostermes 1669. von Hans Reütern von Kirchen an der Eck, als ietziger Zeit Hauptmannen über die Brüderschafft von St. Marx zu Meistern des langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zu ge⸗lassen worden.

[33v]

1̅ . Heinrich Veit, von Hamburg, Metzger
2̅ . Georg Fentzenaur von München Becker.
3̅. Peter Schnell von Hamburg, fischer
4̅. Georg Still von Dantzig Weber
5̅. Carl Küchinger, von Wien, vnd
6̅. Ludwig Woidtke von Dantzig Kürßner.
Seindt von Martin Kähl von zullich in der Marck brandenburg, als ietziger Zeit hauptmannen über die Brüderschafft von St. Marx, in Ostermes 1670. zu Meistern des langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

34[r]

1̅ . Johann Becker von Hamburg dripp⸗, vnd Sammetmacher.
2̅ . Christian Riel von Leipßig Lebkuchenbecker
3̅ . Gottfriedt Glatz von Breßlau Studiosus.
4̅ . Conrad Koers von Hamburg, Metzger
Seindt von Martin Kähl von zellich in der Marck Brandenburg als ietziger Zeit Hauptmannen über die Brüderschafft von St. Marx in Herbstmeß 1671. zu Meistern deß langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt vnd zugelassen worden.

[34v]

1̅ . Christoff Fellbaum von Altdorff Becker
2̅ . Tobias Strauß von Sanct Veit aus Lützenburg
Seind in Ostermeß 1674 von Johannn Beckern, an statt Martin Kähls als ieziger Zeit Hauptmannen der brüderschafft von St. Marx, zu Meistern des langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt und zu gelassen worden.

1̅ . Johann Conrad Hartmann, von Rudolstatt, Becker
2̅. Adam Reimetshoffen, von Seiming in ostrich, Becker
3̅ . Johann Martin Schmuckert, von Lunbach, d Ober⸗Pfaltz, Becker
Seind mense octobri 1686. von Johann Beckern auß Hamburg, alß jetziger Zeit Hauptmann über die Brüderschafft von S. Marx, zu Meistern des langen Schwerdts geschlagen, approbirt und zugelassen worden.

35[r]

[empty]

[35v]

đ 24. Marti 1716. Sind Von Johann Henrich Hofmann von Münchenberg beidig, so mit tüchtigen Vollemacht zu sehen gwesen, an statt des gewesenen Hauptmanns, folgende der Brüder⸗schaft zu St. Marx, folgende zu Meistern des langen Schwerds geschlagen, approbirt u. zugelassen worden.
1̅. Johann Hausse Von Coblentz, Landen u. Bierbrawe.
2. Joh. Gottfrid, Schmelzer Von Pegau auß Sachsen, Kirschner.
3. Christof Martiny von Tieffensen in Schleßien, Becker.
4. Johann Adam Opitz von Schweiniz in der Schleßien, Kirschner ./.

[36 empty folios follow; the original last folio has been cut out. The new final page bears the pencil note Marxbrüder UgB Nr. 13 at the bottom]

---

1. Which I had the pleasure to attend on 26 May 2025 at ISG Frankfurt. There also is a recording from 27 November 2025, wherein she introduces a foundational sociodemographic study from 18:20 onward. ↩︎
2. Maar (1961): “Anfang, Blütezeit und Verfall der Fechtkunst in Nürnberg vom 14. bis zum 19. Jahrhundert.” ↩︎
3. Institut für Stadtgeschichte (ISG) Frankfurt: H.18.02 (Marxbrüder und Federfechter: Urkunden und Akten des Rates) Nr. 13. ↩︎
4. The folio numbering (added later in pencil) runs 1–7, 35, 8–35. In other words, the number 35 was assigned twice. This duplication may be the result of a later rebinding, as the ISG FFM stamp appears on the recto of the first folio numbered 35, indicating that it once formed the end of the volume. In addition, a folio between 8 and 9 was clearly cut out, and the second folio 35 is blank on its recto, with text only on the verso. ↩︎
5. Later inventories (cf. toward the end of my last article), also do not contain a newer record book. ↩︎
6. The dataset covers most of the brotherhood’s tenure, except for the less documented early years 1450–1491, and the waning years post 1716, along with a small documentary gap 1566–1583 (between the two chronicles).
   ↩︎
7. Schmied-Kowarzik & Kufahl (1894): Fechtbüchlein, p. 114. ↩︎
8. Sachs (1567): Ständebuch. ↩︎
9. Sachs (1567): Ständebuch. ↩︎
10. Sachs (1567): Ständebuch. ↩︎
11. As discussed in her excellent talk on the Marxbrüder, with a recording from 27 November 2025 available online, courtesy of DDHF. The part about Marxbrüder occupations starts at around 18:20. ↩︎
12. Sabine Kindel also provided a tabular analysis of several locations in her DDHF talk from about 21:00 onward. ↩︎
13. Schwertbund Nürnberg: “Geschichte der Fechtkunst. Nürnberg – ein historisches Zentrum der Europäischen Kampfkunst.” ↩︎
14. Ibid. He died seven years after becoming a master, in 1590. His epitaph on St. Rochus Cemetery, Nuremberg is located at 49°26’50.5″N 11°03’37.6″E (cf. Leuchtenstern) and features canting arms: St. Mark’s lion with a long sword in the crest and top field of a divided shield, with a goat in the bottom field (“Gaißmann” literally translates to “goat man”). Around the arms appear locks, alluding to his profession. I am indebted to Werner Ueberschär for making me aware of this epitaph. ↩︎
15. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 3r. The record book starts in that same year, so he may already have been master for some time. ↩︎
16. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 4v–7r. ↩︎
17. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 4v. I inferred his age from his epitaph: he died on 17 November 1621 at 55 years of age. ↩︎
18. ISG FFM, H.19.01, 2468 locates it there. This would likely be outside the old town fortifications and south of the Jewish quarter. The garden’s name could also refer to the knightly family Schelm von Bergen. ↩︎
19. Beyschlag (1803): “Beyträge zur Nördlingischen Geschlechtstheorie,” vol. 2, p. 101 f. ↩︎
20. In 1803, it was listed as number 74 and located beneath the organ. It displayed the familiar Marxbrüder arms: a black shield bearing a winged lion with a sword in his right (here also with a book in his left). A 1914 reference notes that the epitaph included a portrait and had been renumbered to 86. According to Wikimedia photographs, there are indeed epitaphs beneath the side organ today, but the image quality is too poor to determine whether one of them belongs to Faul. He also appears as a sealer in 1608, so it is possible that another Marxbrüder seal survives in the Nördlingen city archives under signature U 7392 dating to 1603 April 4/14 (cf. Stadtarchiv Nördlingen, p. 39). ↩︎
21. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 4r. ↩︎
22. Ueberschär (2014): “LAUS NORINBERGAE,” p. 13 f. Ueberschär first pointed me to this connection in his footnote 34. Since our Paulus Reuter matches name, occupation, origin, and chronology – and since he is the only carpenter in the entire dataset – this identification appears highly probable. ↩︎
23. Ibid. ↩︎
24. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 8r–9v. ↩︎
25. Verein für Alterthumskunde in Frankfurt am Main (1858): “Marckschiffs Nachen,” p. 358. ↩︎
26. He is one of only two Altreißes (cobblers) in the entire dataset, and the only one who fits this chronology. ↩︎
27. Marckschiff (1596). ↩︎
28. Gruber: “Die Marktschiffe,” Frankfurt-Lese. ↩︎
29. H.18.02 Nr. 13, 12v–13v. ↩︎
30. Virtual Museum: Nuremberg Art. ↩︎
31. H.18.02 Nr. 13, 18v. ↩︎
32. Kleinau (2013): “1561 Onophrius Sockh, a Marxbruder and veteran of war of Vienna.” ↩︎
33. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 19v f. ↩︎
34. For a much more substantiated and eloquent argument for why Kreußler was not a Marxbruder, see also this 2023 article and its continuation by J. Christoph Amberger. ↩︎
35. I found a catalogue of books sold at the 1618 fair. ↩︎
36. It would be interesting to check the council notes at ISG Frankfurt to confirm this hypothesis in future research. ↩︎
37. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 21v. ↩︎
38. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 24v ff. ↩︎
39. E.g., H.18.03, Nr. 12 and 24. ↩︎
40. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 32v. ↩︎
41. Master’s certificates issued by him are in H.18.03, Nr. 11 and 13. There also is a convolute of letters (54 pages) from and to him in the years 1670 and 1671 under H.18.03 Nr. 25. ↩︎
42. Frankfurt University Library (2002): “Georg Zwickel von Nurnberg.“ ↩︎
43. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 34 r. ↩︎
44. Public domain image asset adapted from a work by Robert Szydlik. ↩︎
45. Original: “vor die schirmeyster, die in Sant Marcus bruderschaft sÿnt,” cited after Koch (1892), p. 64. The underlying source can be found under ISG FFM, H13.14, Nr. 16, p. 168 ff. ↩︎
46. “Schirmeyster” (and its variant spellings) undoubtedly means fencing master(s). Koch appears to not have considered the layered Latin additions from 1474–1476, which refer to “dimicatores” (i.e., fighters or fencers, not shoemakers), nor the “Frankfurt Fencing Regulations” in the Medel Fechtbuch, which clearly attest to the Marxbrüder’s affiliation with the Dominican Monastery. See my previous article for further details. ↩︎
47. See the following quotes (italics mine): “In recent times, the House assumed the name S. Marcus, and I still saw the depiction of the saint in life-size painted with the golden subscription at Sanct Marcus,” Battonn (1867): “Oertliche Beschreibung der Stadt Frankfurt am Main. 3, Die Beschreibung der Altstadt und zwar des südlichen und westlichen Theils der Oberstadt,”p. 141. “One can read in the local newspaper in September 1787: ‘the house Lit. L. No. 148 called at St Marcus or Shoe House.’” Battonn (1867), p. 142. ↩︎
48. The painted façade with St. Mark – which briefly caused the name to change from House Schildknecht to House St. Marcus – was created by master builder and painter [Johan] Conrad Unsin[ger] (cf. Reiffenstein Manuskript, vol. 6, p. 121), who was active in Frankfurt during the early 1700s. This is a quarter millennium after the misunderstood Chronicon entry, some 200 years after the Marxbrüder ceased their affiliation with the Dominicans, and at the end of the guild’s documented period (up to 1716). ↩︎
49. Public domain image reproduced from Kleiner (1728/1735): “Florierendes Frankfurt,” Wikimedia. ↩︎
50. Battonn (1867), p. 141. ↩︎
51. Cf. my Marxbrüder Master Dataset: Veltten Wolspach (1539), Veltten Siechs or Susß (1542), Lienhart Hoffer (1548), Andreas Benawiz (1549), and Conrad Fridwag (1584). While these occurrences cluster around the 1540s, none of those masters is from Frankfurt or in the vicinity. ↩︎
52. Sachs (1568): Ständebuch. ↩︎
53. See ISG FFM H.12.05 Craftsmen: Charters → 5 Clothing → 5.1 Shoemakers. A convolute under H.12.05, Nr. 785 records several incidents involving armed violence among journeymen (e.g., Hans von Gröltz intimidating Hans Born von Kirn with a drawn sword; Hans Wacherswan von Wilpershausen chasing Hans Fuchsle’s family with two drawn swords). As a separate curiosity, the shoemakers also issued an ordinance in 1596, prohibiting “disorderly and excessive drinking” in the guild hall (H.12.05, Nr. 777). ↩︎
54. “O. U. 1406. Das Stift S. Barthol. verleiht zu ewigem Zins das Haus zum Schildknecht den Owern als von der Schuhmecher Handwerk.” (Battonn, p. 140, footnote 139); Further sources at ISG FFM include: H.14.09, Nr. 607; H.15.10 Nr. 3522 and Nr. 3872. ↩︎
55. Lion’s vector asset from Wikimedia Common (CC-BY SA 3.0), created by Jmh2o. ↩︎
56. See also my last article on the 1670 augmentation. ↩︎
57. Waßmannsdorf (1870), p. 9. Although the lion had already stood upon this trimount on the original 1541 grant and not only the 1670 augmented grant (cf. here), I deem this interpretation plausible: In their own armorial augmentation from 1688, the Federfechter also added a “Greifenberg” (i.e,. “griffon’s mount”) to their name (Schaer, p. 69), which probably references their coat of arms (cf. Wikimedia), rather than a specific house of that name in Prague. ↩︎
58. Verein für Geschichte und Altertumskunde in Frankfurt am Main (1896), p. 39. ↩︎
59. Euler (1863), p. 223, footnote 194. ↩︎
60. I provide the passage in full – it merely mentions that the Marxbrüder were active during the trade fairs, their privileges, and the rivaling Federfechter: “Es ist auch zu gedencken / daß / wie Munsterus in seiner Cosmographia meldung thut / in beyden Franckfurter Messen / die Fechtmeister zu Franckfurt / und sonsten nirgendswo Ge⸗walt haben / die Marx⸗Bru^eder unter den Kunst Fechtern / gleich wie die Federfechter zu Prag / zu Meistern deß Langen Schwerdts zu machen / unnd denselben den Tittul der Meisterschafft zueignen / so von den Ro^emi⸗schen Ko^enigen den Franckfurter Bu^ergern / vor eine sonderbahre Freyheit gegeben wor⸗den. Aber Martin Zeiler gedencket dieses in dem Außzuge seines Teutschen Reysebuchs pag. 465. in 8. 1662. zu Ulm getruckt auff solche weise: Es wollen etliche / daß unter den Kunstfechtern / die Marxbru^eder / allein all⸗hier / zu Franckfurt / und zwar in wa^ehrenden Messen / gleich wie die Federfechter zu Prag / zu Meistern deß Langen Schwerds gemacht werden. Deß Keysers Friderici IV. den Frey⸗Fechtern ins gemein / im Jahr 1487. gegebe⸗nes Privilegium, so in meiner Topographia Hassiæ fol. 29 zu lesen / saget hievon nichts. Aber dessen bin ich wol berichtet / daß die Frey⸗Fechter ins gemein dem Rath der Statt Franckfurt / solches Privilegium, so die fol⸗gende Ka^eyser confirmirt / hinderlegt / oder zu verwahren gegeben haben.” ↩︎
61. In 1486, the tailor Hans Hoenberger and his wife Else sell House Lewenberg located in Thongis Gassen to juror Hans von Eyne and his wife Katharina – cf. Giessen University Library, charter 200, lines 5 and 8. Some years later, the Liebfrauen monastery receive a meal and a donation of wine in House Lebenberg, which the editor equates with House Löwenberg in Töngesgasse. Cf. Jung (1888): “Wolfgang Königsteins Tagebuch,” in “Quellen zur Frankfurter Geschichte,” p. 34, footnote 5. ↩︎
62. In 1582, the house (then called “Löwenburg”) was acquired by Martin Noë du Fay, a wealthy French-reformed tradesman – cf. Dietz (1910–1925): “Frankfurter Handelsgeschichte,” vol. 2, p. 10. A representative epitaph for his son Jean Noë remains on Peter’s Churchyard. In 1624, his granddaughter Maria sells the house to her brother-in-law Johann de Famar the Younger, also a tradesman – cf. ISG FFM, H.19.01, 593. ↩︎
63. In 1803, the house resurfaces in possession of the family von Brentano-Gnosso, a line of the Lombard noble house Brentano. Afterward, tradesman and inventor Johann Valentin Albrecht buys the house which now serves as the Clubhouse of the Physical Society from 1827 onward – cf. Goethe University (2000): “Forschung Frankfurt,” vol. 3, p. 74. Albrecht sells the house in 1834. ↩︎
64. Breuberg-Bund (2017), p. 79 pointed me to the source for the 1311 date at ISG FFM H.19.01, 1660. The 1610 date is given in Rittweger (2006): “Das alte Frankfurt,” cited after Riedel (2009). The house was rebuilt in 1651 according to the Reiffenstein Manuskript (vol. 7, p. 145), but ownership and function remain unclear. ↩︎
65. ISG FFM, H.13.01, 855 and H.06.17, 229. ↩︎
66. Kriegk (1862), p. 507, footnote 111. ↩︎
67. The Ravenstein Plan of 1861 preserves the pre-war layout of the Old Town (cf. Wikimedia). Number 46 lies just above the “ö” in Töngesgasse, a placement that aligns with its present-day location when compared with modern mapping tools. ↩︎
68. I found a substantial contribution from 3 July 2009 by user “Riedel” in Architekturforum Architectura Pro Homine. ↩︎
69. Once more, special thanks to Sabine Kindel for bringing the Krachbein connection to my attention – see her 2025 talk “Die Marxbrüder – Spuren des fechtenden Handwerks in Frankfurt a. M.” from around 57:10 onward. ↩︎
70. This is inspired by the emblem of the Jewish family Krachbeins, inhabiting a house of the same name in the Jewish quarter. The source for the vectorized bones is this open-source rendition by user apoo. ↩︎
71. Battonn (1863), p. 29. ↩︎
72. Specifically, it stood on the eastern side of Fahrgasse, in the block between the fourth and fifth passage leading to Predigergasse – directly opposite the Kircheneck (alias Würzburger Eck), and between the houses of Herbert Richter and Hohensteg (cf. Battonn 1863, p. 29). This corresponds to the house with the round portal I marked in red on the plan above. Becker locates its successor König von England at today’s Fahrgasse 80 in his “101 historische Orte in Frankfurt” (2024), pp. 56 f. ↩︎
73. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 4v–7r. ↩︎
74. Last page of Teutonicus (1694): “Zuletzt Marx Lucas Freund, die Fechter sahen wir / Im Krachbein wundersam sich klopffen für und für” The cover of this edition also features beautiful copper engraving of the river Main with ships on it. ↩︎
75. Rittweger (2019): “Das alte Frankfurt am Main,” p. 89. ↩︎
76. Verein für Geschichte und Alterthumskunde (1892): “Archiv für Frankfurts Geschichte und Kunst. Neunter Band,” p. 75 f. ↩︎
77. Verein für Alterthumskunde in Frankfurt am Main (1858): “Marckschiffs Nachen,” p. 357. This almost certainly was a dark, smoky beer, since malt kilning over open fires remained common practice until the nineteenth century – cf. Brauhistorische Mitteilungen 2022, vol. 7 nr. 2, p. 13. ↩︎
78. Battonn (1863), p. 29. ↩︎
79. A chronicle records that in 1571, a duke of Anhalt stayed here with his entourage, requiring 50 horses to be stabled (Lersner 1706, vol. 1, p. 351). ↩︎
80. Jaquin’s Chronicon Praedicatorum (c. 1740): “in cuius Scuto ante domum pendulo conspiciebantur duo angeli tenentes in utraque extremitate os in medio sui fractum et quasi divisum,” vol. 2, p. 282, cited after Battonn’s Oertliche Beschreibung, p. 30 in this 1863 reprint. ↩︎
81. Cod.I.6.2º.5. The surviving regulations exist in two versions: an earlier, shorter ordinance from 1491 (fol. 8v f.) and a substantially expanded and more formalized revision from the 1530s (fol. 14 v to 17r). The description here follows the later, more detailed form, which should therefore reflect the sixteenth‑century practice more accurately. ↩︎
82. For this timeframe, the one of 1566 would be relevant (H.18.03, Nr. 8; transcription available here). However, it only concerns administrative, financial, and disciplinary matters rather than the examination or admission of masters. ↩︎
83. Original: “zum Meister des Schwerts öffentlich im Krachbein geschlagen” or similar. H.18.02 Nr. 13, fol. 4v to 7r. ↩︎
84. i.e., Zornhau, Krumphau, Twerhau, Schielhau, and Scheitelhau. ↩︎
85. Six modules combining and expanding on the previously tested techniques. For the technically inclined, these are (Cod.I.6.2º.5 fol. 15r f.): i. Schwäche and Stärke (probably plays from the bind, incl. Winden and Fühlen), ii. Zornhau-Ort, iii. Krumphau → Abschneiden, iv. Schielhau and Scheitelhau, v. Twerhau → Zucken → hit, vi. Alber as Versetzen.
    Eric Burkart (habilitation 2025, p. 148 f.) notes striking parallels with Liechtenauer’s Zettel, suggesting continuity between 14^th German fencing and the 16^th-century Marxbrüder tradition. For example, “zoren Ort jm trawer” (Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 15r) echoes “zornhaw ort dem trawt” (MS 3227 a, fol. 23r). I further note that “alber der versazung” corresponds to “alber vorsatzt”; for an interpretation of Alber as Versetzen, see Paul Becker.
    Burkart reads these correspondences as conscious recollection of the older tradition amid declining skill among newer fencers. This aligns with the fact that the 1534 regulation was issued under captain Laux Braun (Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 14r f.), following the brotherhood’s earlier hiatus during the reformatory unrest. ↩︎
86. “auff freÿer walstat doch jnn Freÿer kunst” (fol. 15v). ↩︎
87. In addition to these ritual offerings, the newcomer also had to pay 2 Shillings to maintain the imperial privilege: “Es soll auch Ein jeder newkomender maister 2 ß jn die Büxen geben das man die Kaiserlichen Freihait damit Erhalten moge” (Cod.I.6.2º.5, fol. 17r). ↩︎
88. The year 1618 coincides with the Defenestration of Prague (the outbreak of the Thirty Years’ War) and the Red Record Book also pauses in that time – see Part I of this article. ↩︎
89. Kleinau (2011): “The Marxbrüder chronicle from the Cod.I.6.2o.5 and other sources.” ↩︎
90. Ueberschär (2024): “Personenverzeichnis Nürnberger Fechter und Fechtmeister,” as of 28 October 2024. ↩︎

Update 11 February 2026: As a result of this work, I’m pleased that the ISG Frankfurt has now recorded the charter as a separate item (see here), which greatly facilitates access. The images will follow shortly.

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

LeopoldVs · Dei · Gratia · ElectVs · RomanorVm · Imperator · Imper · AugVstVs · Germaniæ · HVngariæ · Bohemiæ · Coratiæ · Schlavoniæ · zc · Rex · ArchidVx · AVstriæ · DVx · BVrgVndiæ · 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 the better part of two folios (or three 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 hindpaws 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 bare 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 bare 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 smallsword 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 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 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, mit 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 two festive masses around St. Mary’s Nativity cost 8 Shillings – paid by the brotherhood’s captain to the Dominicans – and the more modest six 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.

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

---

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.”

---

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 sone 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: For a complete and up-to-date treatment of this topic, I strongly recommend consulting my new article. It includes the original 1670 arms, a full transcription and analysis of the charter, and an updated vector rendering.

The article below still remains useful for specific sections – especially the parts on Kaehl, the concept at the Aulic Council, and the description and analysis of the arms.

Following my request, both the Marxbrüder and Federfechter convolutes at the Aulic Council have also been digitized, further improving the available source material.

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

---

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

---

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.

---

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. ↩︎