APD

Articles

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2024)

Krumphau, Fireworks, and Gap Crossings: Medieval Fechtbücher as Warfare Manuals

Submitted
January 21, 2024
Published
2026-05-11

Abstract

A number of late medieval Fechtbücher – commonly referred to as “fight books” – either contain or are bound with additional material, such as gunpowder formulations or engineering solutions in the broadest sense. This article focuses on one of these engineering solutions: gap crossings. Gaps – rivers, ditches, trenches, moats, etc. – have always been a challenge for the military commander. We shall compare the solutions found in the extended Fechtbücher to contemporary tactical tracts and narrative sources to assess whether the solutions offered there are realistic. The fact that they are is further evidence that the early Fechtbücher can be understood as elements of general warfare manuals.

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