Brotherhood of Saint Mark
The Marx brothers (German Marxbrüder, or "Brotherhood of Saint Mark") was the name of the most important organization of German fencers in the 16th century.
The brotherhood originated in the 15th century, but it is not known when exactly it was founded. Hans Talhoffer may have been an early member, or even one of the founders (the lion of St Mark appears in his coat of arms in a manuscript of 1459). The earliest certain attestation dates to 1474. The group held an annual meeting in Frankfurt, where they elected their captain (Hauptmann). In 1487, Frederick III granted them the monopoly on the title "master of the long sword" (Meister des langen Schwerts) , effectively making them a fencers' guild. This title was relevant for the Landsknechts, because a certified "master of the long sword" wielding the Zweihänder was entitled to twice the pay of a normal soldier (Doppelsöldner).
The earliest reference to the brotherhood calls them brotherhood of Our dear lady and pure Virgin Mary and the Holy and warlike heavenly prince Saint Mark (German: bruderschafft Unserere lieben frawen und der reynen Jungfrawen Marien vnd des Heiligen vnd gewaltsamen Hyemelfursten sanct Marcen). After their recognition by Frederick, the brotherhood was usually referred to as "Marxbrüder", "Bruderschaft des heiligen Marren" or "Bruderschaft des St. Marco" ("Marx brothers", "Brotherhood of St. Mark")
Known members of the brotherhood:
- Anton Rast (captain in 1522)
- possibly, Joachim Meyer (author of a 1570 fechtbuch)
A second fencing brotherhood, the Federfechter, was founded in Prague in 1570, and recognized by the city of Frankfurt, in spite of protests by the Marx brothers, in 1575. From 1607 the two societies shared equal privileges.
A third guild may have been Lukasbrüder (brothers of Saint Luke). They had no official recognition, however, and were probably closer to a society of hooligans than to a proper guild.
Important centers of 16th century martial arts in Germany were Frankfurt, Augsburg and Nuremberg.