Explore the life of Götz of the Iron Hand, a 16th-century German knight with an iron prosthetic hand. Learn about his mercenary journey, conflicts with nobility, and legacy of his unique prosthesis. The podcast delves into historical events, societal changes, and the design of early prosthetics, offering a captivating journey through medieval and Renaissance Europe.
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Quick takeaways
Götz of the Iron Hand wore an iron prosthetic hand post-amputation, adapting to left-handed combat.
Götz's life reflects the transition from medieval to Renaissance Europe, marked by political and military shifts.
Deep dives
Guttfried von Berlichengen's Transition Period
Guttfried von Berlichengen lived during the transition from the medieval period to the Renaissance in Europe. This period, marked by gradual changes in political, religious, and economic structures, saw shifts like the Protestant Reformation and a move from knights to professional military forces. The transition was characterized by overlapping changes that influenced Guttfried's life directly, such as the military shift impacting his role as a knight.
Guttfried's Early Life and Knighthood
Born in 1480 or 1481 in the Duchy of Württemberg, Guttfried von Berlichengen was the youngest son of an imperial knight. Trained as a knight, he initially followed his father's path but later sought excitement and less responsibility. Joining a robber knight led him into a mercenary life during the Lenshut War of Succession.
Guttfried's Combat Injury and Prosthetic Hand
In 1504, during the Lenshut War, Guttfried suffered a severe combat injury that led to the amputation of his right hand. This event prompted him to acquire a pioneering prosthetic hand made of sheet iron, allowing some mobility in his fingers and thumb. Despite assumptions, Guttfried likely did not use this prosthetic for fighting but adapted to left-handed combat.
Feuds, Mercenary Work, and Legacy
Engaging in feuds and mercenary activities, Guttfried faced conflicts with the Swabian League and nobles. His involvement in suppressing uprisings and battles against the Swabian League and French reflected his controversial yet eventful life. Later recognized as a national hero through literature and music, Guttfried's unique hand prostheses remain a subject of historical interest and reconstructions.
In the early 16th century Gottfried von Berlichingen was known as Götz of the Iron Hand because after an injury and amputation, he wore a prosthesis made of sheet iron that was painted to match his skin.
Research:
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Otte, Andreas. "Lessons Learnt from Götz of the Iron Hand." Prosthesis, vol. 4, no. 3, Aug. 2022, p. NA. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A746916281/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=7de2cbee. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Otte, Andreas. “Letter to the Editor: ArtiFacts: Gottfried "Götz" von Berlichingen-The "Iron Hand" of the Renaissance.” Clinical orthopaedics and related research vol. 479,1 (2021): 210-211. doi:10.1097/CORR.0000000000001581
Otte, Andreas. “Smart Neuroprosthetics Becoming Smarter, But Not for Everyone?”EClinical Medicine. Vol. 2. August 2018. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(18)30025-7/fulltext
Otte, Andreas. 2021. "Christian von Mechel’s Reconstructive Drawings of the Second “Iron Hand” of Franconian Knight Gottfried (Götz) von Berlichingen (1480–1562)" Prosthesis 3, no. 1: 105-109. https://doi.org/10.3390/prosthesis3010011
Paisey, D.L. “Reviewed Work(s): Götz von Berlichingen: Mein Fehd und Handlungen (Forschungen ausWürttembergisch Franken 17).” The German Quarterly, Vol. 56, No. 1 (Jan., 1983). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/404827
Schontal Monstery. “Gotz von Berlichengen.” https://www.zisterzienserkloster-schoental.de/en/interesting-amusing/figures/goetz-von-berlichingen
Scribner, Bob. “Reviewed Work: Götz von Berlichingen: Mein Fehd und Handlungen by Helgard Ulmschneider.” The English Historical Review, Vol. 99, No. 392 (Jul., 1984). https://www.jstor.org/stable/569600
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