JOACHIM MEYER was born in Basel in Switzerland in approximately
1537, possibly the son of Jacob Meyer, a stationer, and Anna
Freund. He became a burgher of Strasbourg by marrying a widow in
1560, most likely during his apprenticeship as a cutler. He made a
living as both a cutler and a professional fencer until 1570, in
which year he published his Art of Combat - the book that made him
famous. The making of this book, however, left him deeply indebted,
and the search for potential buyers led him to leave Strasbourg and
work as a Master-of-Arms at the court of the Duke of Schwerin.
Unfortunately, he died shortly after his arrival, on 24 February
1571, at the age of just thirty-four, leaving the burden of his
debt to his widow and brother-in-law.
JEFFREY L. FORGENG is curator of the Worcester Art Museum's Higgins
Collection, the second largest collection of arms and armour in the
Americas, and also teaches as Adjunct Professor of History at
Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His academic work specialises in
European treatises on the use of arms and armour. His publications
include translations of Royal Armouries MS I.33, the earliest known
treatise on swordplay, and of Joachim Meyer's Lund manuscript.
Forgeng was for many years an editor for the Middle English
Dictionary, and has published extensively on topics including the
Robin Hood legend, the history of games and sports, and the history
of daily life.
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