ArtiFacts: Gottfried "Götz" von Berlichingen-The "Iron Hand" of the Renaissance.

Abstract

From the column editor, The Renaissance-era German mercenary Gottfried “Götz” von Berlichingen defied the odds by surviving both a significant battle wound to his right arm and an upper extremity amputation at a time when few survived either. Ambroise Paré’s discovery that surgical patients were more likely to survive their operation without cauterization would not occur for another 30 years. The invention of the tourniquet did not occur for another century. However, von Berlichingen did survive, only to be confronted with a problem that is still relevant 500 years later. Indeed, despite 21st century silicone chip microprocessors, miniature electric motors, sensors, and myoelectric controls, developing an upper extremity prosthesis with suitable functionality remains a remarkably difficult problem to solve. But in the guest ArtiFacts column that follows, Berardo Di Matteo and his research group from Milan, Italy use their established expertise in the field of orthopaedic history [3, 4] to detail how, with the help of a local blacksmith, von Berlichingen managed to successfully wear and operate a functional iron prosthesis capable of wielding a sword in multiple battles, earning him the nickname “Götz of the Iron Hand.” — Alan J. Hawk BA The Renaissance contributed more than just art and architecture, and more even than the science of Kepler and Galileo. Then [1] as now [6], war and bloodshed advance the art and science of medicine, and wars were a part of life during the Renaissance. An innovation arising from one of those wars—a genuine representation both of the artistic and medical ingenuity of the time—is the extraordinary case of the “iron hand” of the 16 century German knight and mercenary Gottfried “Götz” von Berlichingen. Born into a wealthy German family in 1480, von Berlichingen was drawn to the battlefield at an early age. Before his 17th birthday, he enlisted into the Brandenburg-Ansbach army, where he served the Holy Roman Empire, before leaving to form his own mercenary squad at the age of 20 [7]. A skilled and fierce mercenary and commander, von Berlichingen’s impressive 47-year military career [7] spanned numerous German civil wars, including the German peasants’ war (1524 to 1525), as well as bloody European battles against the French and the Ottomans [1, 10]. While invading the city of Landshut as a mercenary in 1504 [11], enemy cannon fire jolted von Berlichingen’s blade against himself, maiming his right arm at the elbow. German doctors A note from the Editor-in-Chief: We are pleased to present the next installment of ArtiFacts. In this month’s guest column, Berardo Di Matteo and his research group explore the life of Renaissance-era German mercenary Gottfried “Götz” von Berlichingen, who had his right arm amputated from the elbow following a battle in 1504. Rather than transition into civilian life, the brutal mercenary and commander commissioned a local blacksmith to create an iron right arm prosthesis that he could wear in battle. von Berlichingen indeed donned the prosthesis in numerous confrontations following his amputation, ultimately surviving them all. The authors certify that neither they, nor any members of their immediate families, have any commercial associations, such as consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, and patent/licensing arrangements that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR or The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. B. DiMatteoMD (✉), Humanitas Clinical and Research Institute, Via A. Manzoni 113, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy, Email: berardo. dimatteo@gmail.com