By C.VanSlambrouck

Joachim Meÿer, the Freyfechter of Straßburg, (1537–1571) was an influential 16th century Fechtmeister (“fencing master/instructor”) who authored several works on swordplay. Biographical data on author is extremely limited. The exact details and dates of many of the events in Meÿer’s life still remain elusive, or are simply lost. Sources do however allow for the construction of the following timeline; highlighting known and other suspected or ‘required’ key moments in the fencing master’s life.

Of particular interest are those details surrounding Meÿer’s and his students’ known requests for competitive fencing events called Fechtschule (“fencing schools”). Archived documents reveal at least seven Fechtschul requests made by Joachim Meÿer. This timeline covers the good master’s beginnings, from his youth training and learning in Basel (1530s-1550s), to his known time in Straßburg (1559-71), along with his suspected and ‘required’ travels (1550s & 1570s). This timeline would not be possible without the outstanding continued research endeavors of Olivier Dupuis and of Liam H. Clark which has confirmed past assumptions and has opened further avenues of research and study, they have my eternal thanks.