For a long time, the martial arts of medieval and early modern Europe seemed almost completely forgotten. It has only recently come to light that there was a vibrant tradition of swordsmanship in the German-speaking world, which modern sport fencing connects to almost seamlessly. This study examines, from a history of technology perspective, the royal discipline of medieval and early modern fencing, the longsword: What techniques do the works of the old fencing masters convey, and how can these be situated within the tactical context of their respective combat systems? The cultural-historical and functional significance of the weapon itself is also considered: In what situations was the longsword used, and what were its key characteristics as a fencing weapon?.