This is the 2nd, revised, edition of the English translation of the autobiography of the German 16th century knight, Gotz von Berlichingen. It is his account of his adult life, his battles, his feuds, and, in general, the life of men of his station in life in the 16th century. This edition varies from the 1st edition by the addition of details and illustrations of the famous iron hand.
Gotz von Berlichingen's autobiography is the first autobiography of a German knight. It was originally published between 1556 and 1562. Gotz was known for the fact that he lost his right hand in battle and had it replaced by an iron prosthesis which was so cleverly crafted that he could still use his sword with it. He is also well-known for his famous quote made to one of his enemies, "Lick (kiss) my ass." This work discusses his many feuds and battles, his participation in the peasant's war, and an invasion of France. This is the only English translation of this work.
Gottfried "Götz" von Berlichingen, the Knight of the Iron Hand, was one of the last great medieval knights of history. Born in the year 1480, Götz came of age in an era of great change, both in his native German lands and the wider world. The Reformation would fundamentally change the landscape of political power in Europe, and the ensuing wars would tear the continent apart. Yet, for a time, Götz' world remained true to its feudal history, and Götz himself participated in many feuds and conflicts. A good friend and a terrible enemy, Götz recalls how he fought and struggled in the internal politics of Germany, which pitted princes and lords against one another over land, titles, and wealth. He crosses paths (and sometimes swords) with other famous knights, esteemed princes, and, on more than one occasion, with the Holy Roman Emperor himself. Campaigning with the Imperial army abroad in France, Switzerland, and Hungary, he often survived on nothing more than his wits and his prowess in battle. His legacy as a folk hero lived on long after his death, inspiring Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to write a play based on his life, and becoming the namesake of the 17th SS-Panzergrenadier-Division "Götz von Berlichingen" in the Second World War. Before his death Götz von Berlichingen wrote down his unique story in an autobiographical account of one of Europe's most notable medieval knights. Translated from the original 1567 manuscript, Antelope Hill is proud to present The Autobiography of Sir Götz von Berlichingen, available for the first time ever to the English reader. Although politics and military technology may have changed since the time of this famous knight, one thing remains the same, that honor, bravery, and loyalty count for much, even for a man of humble beginnings.
-When his sword hand was struck off, his legend began- Based on the true life of the Baron Goetz von Berlichingen the Iron Hand, the most infamous Imperial knight of the Holy Roman Empire, who marauded through 16th-century Reformation Germany with a prosthetic iron hand. Schoental Abbey, Franconia, 1562. At the end of his long life, a dying Baron Goetz von Berlichingen the Iron Hand travels to his ancestral tomb to seek absolution for his sins. Before he can be buried in his family crypt, the sins of his life must be confessed. Enlisting the services of a Cistercian monk in order to record a narrative of his life as a robber-knight, and hopeful that his confession will not only prove his piety, but will lead to his soul's redemption- what follows is an epic that spans the entire life of the outlaw knight. The confessional journey they take together may lead to redemption- or condemnation- for both of their souls. ,,Tom Krupp bietet mit seinem Roman eine zeitgemäße literarische Verarbeitung der schon seit Jahrhunderten die Gemüter bewegenden Biographie Götz von Berlichingens, wenn ich recht sehe, die allererste überhaupt, die jenseits des Atlantiks entstanden ist." -Dr. Prof. Kurt Andermann, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg im Breisgau
Renowned scholar Thomas Asbridge brings to life medieval England’s most celebrated knight, William Marshal—providing an unprecedented and intimate view of this age and the legendary warrior class that shaped it. Caught on the wrong side of an English civil war and condemned by his father to the gallows at age five, William Marshal defied all odds to become one of England’s most celebrated knights. Thomas Asbridge’s rousing narrative chronicles William’s rise, using his life as a prism to view the origins, experiences, and influence of the knight in British history. In William’s day, the brutish realities of war and politics collided with romanticized myths about an Arthurian “golden age,” giving rise to a new chivalric ideal. Asbridge details the training rituals, weaponry, and battle tactics of knighthood, and explores the codes of chivalry and courtliness that shaped their daily lives. These skills were essential to survive one of the most turbulent periods in English history—an era of striking transformation, as the West emerged from the Dark Ages. A leading retainer of five English kings, Marshal served the great figures of this age, from Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine to Richard the Lionheart and his infamous brother John, and was involved in some of the most critical phases of medieval history, from the Magna Carta to the survival of the Angevin/Plantagenet dynasty. Asbridge introduces this storied knight to modern readers and places him firmly in the context of the majesty, passion, and bloody intrigue of the Middle Ages. The Greatest Knight features 16 pages of black-and-white and color illustrations.
The 17th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division "G�tz von Berlichingen" was one of the few SS formations to be employed exclusively on the western front during World War II. From the time of its formation in France in 1943, "G�tz von Berlichingen" saw bitter and bloody fighting in Normandy, the Seine front, Metz, the Saar, the Palatinate, and later the defense of the west wall until the final battles in Germany. Despite the overwhelming superiority of Allied forces, the units that comprised the division always managed to offer dogged resistance, counterattacking ferociously, and defending every foot of ground with great courage and determination. The units of "G�tz von Berlichingen" received praise, not only from the German high command, but also earned the respect of its Allied adversaries. In addition, the "G�tz von Berlichingen" division was never involved in any war crimes, or in crimes against civilians. Detailed operational history, rare combat images, maps, and personality profiles make this book the definitive history of "G�tz von Berlichingen."
This new book is a concise combat history of the six Waffen-SS panzergrenadier divisions in World War II. The formation and combat histories of each are discussed in detailed text, along with maps and rare photographs and includes: the 4th SS-Polizei Panzergrenadier Division; 11th SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division Nordland; 16th SS-Panzergrenadier Division Reichsführer-SS; 17th SS-Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen; 18th SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division Horst Wessel; 23rd SS-Freiwilligen Panzergrenadier Division Nederland.
