Photo from open sources It is generally accepted that dueling Is an invention of aristocrats and what exactly representatives of the highest estates thus clarified relations with each other. IN reality, however, was different.
Fights between rivals were common at all times – at different classes and different nations. Somewhere only fought before first blood (such as Vikings), and somewhere – until the death of one from duelists. In some countries, fights took place in the presence of many spectators, in others it’s top secret. Weapons at this could also be the most diverse.
The Psychology of Duelists
Interesting thing: if two converge and beat each other with their fists, this is considered misconduct. And if two fighters arrange a duel, it speaks of their honor and dignity. Of course, some thought duelists were just badass a bad example, however, many believed that real men should behave that way.
Over time, dueling has become the main way to solve private conflicts, which killed many people. A number of countries duel were prohibited by law, but still carried out. Have appeared even the rules for their implementation. For example, in 1836. in France came out special code for duelists, although the duel itself was already here officially banned. And this code has been safely adopted by action not only in France, but also in many other countries of the world, for example, in Russia.
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The rules strictly regulated the behavior of the participants in the battle, which before that could put the steps on the opponent, beat him in back and even finish off the wounded. Also according to the rules when calling to duel the offender should hit on the face or throw a white a glove under his feet. After that, the “scene” was chosen, doctors and two seconds were invited, one of whom was appointed the manager. Duelists were not allowed to be late for a duel more than fifteen minutes. When everyone was in place, steward traditionally turned to opponents with a proposal make peace. If they refused, then weapons for duel and measured the distance. Fighters dispersed to the barriers and after the command of the manager shot at each other.
Before the duel, they also agreed on whether to shoot. simultaneously or alternately. Usually fired from thirty steps. Sometimes both opponents were injured or even perished.
If shot in turn, then the first shot was fired by the one who challenged to a duel. The one who was called could defuse his weapon in air. The wounded duelist was allowed to shoot while lying down. In that case, if both rivals remained alive and unharmed, they shook hands with each other friend and diverged.
In addition to the gunshot, duelists also used cold weapons – swords, sabers, knives. Some originals used to showdown axes, canes, razors, candelabra and so on. However, in such fights, it was not easy for the seconds to follow actions of the fighting, and in addition, the forces of duelists often turned out to be unequal. Therefore, most rivals tried not to resort to this kind of weapon.
Ban Duels
Dueling in France was banned in the 16th century. Reason for this served the death of thousands and thousands of aristocrats. Similar laws acted also in other states, but everything was in vain …
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If the authorities became aware of the fight, they they roughly punished duelists so that it would be disgraceful to others. Cardinal Richelieu, for example, introduced the death penalty for them, which in in rare cases, replaced by reference with the complete confiscation of property. This applied not only to duelists, but also to seconds and viewers.
Under Peter the Great, a mortal (for the first time) was also introduced in Russia execution for participation in a duel, and according to the decree of Catherine the Great, the perpetrators were either exiled to Siberia or imprisoned. Nikolay The second sent duelists to the war as ordinary soldiers.
However, everything was in vain. Moreover, in Russia they began to shoot without doctors, without seconds, from a distance of ten steps! Once firing, the opponents did not disperse, but fought “to hit.” It’s clear that most duels ended with someone else’s death.
Women’s Duel
Surprisingly, among the duelists there were women who fought even harder and more sophisticated than men: women’s fights are much more often ended in death. Often they turned into a real massacre with the participation of seconds and girlfriends-spectators. If you fought on swords, then the tip of the weapon is often wetted with poison, if shot, then to a serious injury or someone’s death.
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Famous opera singer Julie d’ Aubigny fought many times on duels with ladies and even men. Once she performed at a ball against three rivals and managed to hurt them. To avoid being executed, Julie had to spend several years outside of France.
Stories are known and quite funny female duel. For example, the one that happened due to composer Franz Liszt between his sweetheart Marie d’Agu and fond French writer George Sand. As a weapon, these determined ladies have chosen … their long nails. The duel took place in Liszt’s house, moreover, the composer himself was sitting in his office at that time. “Duel on the nails” ended in a draw; screaming and pretty scratching each other, the ladies parted. After that, George Sand did not seek layout sheet.
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And how do you like this fact: the Empress Catherine mentioned by us The second, which forbade dueling in Russia, in youth (before the invasion of throne) participated in an armed duel and performed more than once second ladies’ duties.
The most famous men’s duel
A.S. Pushkin participated in more than a hundred duels. His opponents were many famous people of that time (for example, Kuchelbecker), but the last for the poet was a duel with Dantes, spreading evil jokes about Pushkin and his family. Having received mortally wounded, the Russian genius died two days later.
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Renaissance Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe fought once on a sword with a relative who managed to chop him off part of the nose. All his subsequent life, Brahe spent with silver prosthesis in the nose …
Lermontov and Martynov were considered friends, which, however, did not saved them from a fatal duel. The reason for the confrontation was jokes that the poet made to Martynov. Result of all this turned out to be far from comic: a bullet pierced Lermontov’s heart and lungs…
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Two English gentlemen – MP Humphrey Howarth and nobleman Count Barrymore – quarreled in a pub and appointed a duel. Howarth, a former army surgeon, appeared completely naked at her, although he was not a joker, much less a pervert. Just like a medic he knew that the wounded did not die as a rule from themselves wounds, but from infection brought from clothing. Seeing your adversary as such, Earl Barrymore burst out laughing and announced that he would not shoot a naked man, and also does not want to be killed by him. Duel, thus did not take place.
Alexander Dumas participated in a rather peculiar duel: the loser by lot should have killed himself. Famous writer bad luck. Dumas went into another room and shot into the air, after which he returned and announced that he was aiming at the temple, however missed.
Seventh American President Andrew Jackson in his youth fought in a duel with a man who insulted his wife. Andrew injured in the chest, and the surgeons were unable to extract the bullet. She stayed with Jackson for life …
The duel of the minions (approximate French King Henry III) with the gizars (supporters of the Duke de Guise), in of which four members were killed and two seriously injured. By the order of the king on the grave of the dead set marble monument.
French aristocrat, besides handsome and womanizer, Count de Butville has fought duels twenty times, even though the Cardinal Richelieu banned them in the country on pain of death. Of course, Richelieu knew about all these fights of his favorite and constantly forgave him. However, for the twentieth time, Butville crossed all borders, having disassembled in broad daylight, and with a large congestion Parisians. The cardinal simply could not forgive this, without dropping his reputation. And the count was publicly cut off.
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Duels and the first chancellor of Germany, Bismarck, in twenty In seven fights, he lost only two battles, getting light injured. By the way, in Germany at that time dueling was forbidden only with fatal, but those ending with minor wounds, not.
But the most remarkable duel in the world took place in 1808, she passed by balloons. Young people did not share the lady and decided in such an original way to find out the relationship. Won in this fight is not the most accurate, but the most cunning shooter, who shot a ball – and his opponent simply crashed.
And in the end it’s worth saying that in many Latin countries America’s fights were banned only at the turn of the millennium, that is more recently, and in Paraguay are allowed to this day …
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