Götz von Berlichingen was an imperial knight who turned mercenary in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He fought in dozens of disputes and wars, serving dukes, barons, and even Emperor Maximilian I. Then, at some point, a cannon shot ended his luck, and he lost half his right arm. From then on he was known as Götz of the Iron Hand, thanks to a pair of prostheses that let him carry a shield, ride a horse, and hold a pen.
Some people think that after experiencing a traumatic situation in their profession, the only viable option is to retire or find an alternative activity. But on the other side, there are those who simply double down. Let's imagine this: You are a 24-year-old mercenary fighting for Albert IV (Duke of Bavaria), and during the siege of Landshut, the fire of an enemy cannon sends the shrapnel of your own sword cutting your right arm off at the elbow. What would you do? What kind of trade could you continue with, at 24 and with one arm missing, in the Middle Ages? For Götz von Berlichingen, the answer was simple: strap on an iron hand and keep seeking battles as if nothing had happened.
(Editor's note: The video is in German and has no translation available.)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/bpo5yhwEcPEAn Extremely Complex Device
The most impressive part is that the hand didn't fall into the category of a simple hook or ornament. Although not much information is available about the first prosthesis, the Austrian blacksmith (or perhaps blacksmiths?) to whom Götz commissioned the making of the second model delivered an extremely complex device, made up of levers, springs, and precision parts. This gave the mercenary advanced control over his fingers, to the point that he could carry a shield, ride a horse, wield a sword, or hold something as delicate as a pen. Of course, several modern studies question the utility of the prosthesis in battle and conclude that all these abilities are part of the widespread folklore surrounding the mercenary.
Even so, we can't deny that the design is impressive for its time, and it was useful enough for Götz. In fact, it allowed him to extend his military career for 40 years, and even come out of retirement to fight against Turks and French. The iron hand of Götz von Berlichingen rests in the museum of Götzenburg Castle in Jagsthausen.
