Paulus Hector Mair

Paulus Hector Mair (1517–1579) was a German civil servant and fencing master from Augsburg. He collected Fechtbücher (combat manuals) and undertook to compile all knowledge of fencing in a compendium surpassing all earlier books. For this, he engaged the painter Jörg Breu the Younger, as well as two experienced fencers, whom he charged with perfecting the techniques before painting illustrations of them. The project was very costly; it took four years and, according to Mair, consumed most of his family's income and property. Three versions of his compilation and one manuscript have been preserved.

Mair spent huge sums of money on his collections and projects. He also had an expensive lifestyle, frequently hosting receptions for important burghers of Augsburg. His own income was not sufficient for this and for many years, he misappropriated funds from the city treasury, the supervision of which he had been entrusted since 1541. Mair's embezzlements were discovered in 1579 and he was hanged as a thief at the age of 62.

Martial arts compendium

Paulus Hector Mair compiled a voluminous, encyclopedic compendium of the martial arts of his time, collected in 16 books in two volumes. The book was titled Ars Athletica: A Compendium of Renaissance German Martial Arts. The compendium survives in three manuscript copies. The subject matter is:

Volume 1: German longsword Dussack (backsword) Staff Pike Halberd Fighting with the scythe Fighting with the sickle. Unarmed combat (wrestling) Volume 2: Dagger Spanish rapier Battle axe Joust, mounted combat for sport Tournament history and rules Judicial combat Mounted combat, serious (self-defense) Fencing in plate armour (shield, spear, longsword)

Manuscripts Three copies of the compendium, in two volumes each: German version: Saxon State and University Library, Dresden, Mscr. Dresd. C 93/94, after 1542, two volumes, 244+328 folia. online facsimile: Digital Collections of the SLUB Dresden Latin version: Bavarian state library, München cod. icon 393, after 1542, two volumes, 309+303 folia. This is the most luxurious production of Mair's, and he sold it to Duke Albert V. of Bavaria, allegedly for 800 fl., in 1567 ( online facsimiles: De arte athletica Tome I, De arte athletica Tome II, daten.digitale-sammlungen.de Bilingual Latin-German version: Austrian national library, Vienna, Codex Vindobensis 10825/26 after 1542, two volumes, 270+343 folia. Online facsimiles: microfilm scans (thearma.org) Jörg Breu Sketchbook (Cod.I.6.2°.4), Augsburg city archive, Schätze B2 Reichsstadt, 1553, 110 folia, illustrated by Heinrich Vogtherr, based material acquired from Anthon Rast of Nürnberg (d. 1549). Online facsimile: media.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de, gesellschaft-lichtenawers.eu

Literature Knight, David James and Brian Hunt. Polearms of Paulus Hector Mair. Paladin Press, 2008. .