Heidelberg Duelling Scar

[journo]

I am an journalist/author based in London and New York.

I am researching a book on Heidelberg duelling.

I am looking for any information on Heidelberg duelling, people who have done it, been in attendance or maybe just know something about its history.

For any information at all I would be really grateful.

All replies in confidence if neccessary.

[sabreur]

What you are looking for is information on Mensur, which is ritual combat by German student fraternities. It is practiced at many universities, not just Heidelberg. The estimable and indefatigueably self-promoting Chris Amberger has done it and written about it--his email is zoergiebel@aol.com. I would recommend that you learn a little more about your subject before contacting him, however. He does not suffer fools kindly.

Regards, MR

[edew]

Get Mark Twain's (yes, Mark Twain) book, "A Tramp Abroad". In the early chapters, he describes with quite exquisite detail about the cadet program involving dueling.

[neevel]

The website for Chris Amberger's book "Secret History of the Sword" is www.swordhistory.com -- the book has parts on the mensur and it's place in the larger world of fencing. Doing a search at Google or the like for the terms "Mensur" and "studentische Fechten" will lead you to a good number of Mensur-related web sites.

-Dave

[Cthulhu]

Hey sabreur... I am originally from the Heidelberg area... How's the weather in my home town?

[sabreur]

Chthulu,

It's raining and about 15 degrees C--just about what you'd expect for this time of year.

MR

[Christopher J Umbs]

Actually, Chris gave a mensur presentation at this years WMA. Good stuff. I really like some of the transitional weapons that he showed that were developed before the full cage or bell mensur.

Chris