The History of Duelling. Vol. 1 (of 2)

“The despotism of Richelieu gave birth to the autocracy of Louis XIV; it became the energetic prologue of events naturally progressive. Ministerial absolutism served as a transi...

It has been truly said, that the virtues of the unfortunate Louis XVI. were an anachronism in the dissolute court that surrounded him. The most short-sighted observer could beho...

It has been truly said that during the French Revolution, the foot of Liberty slipped on blood, and she fell prostrate under a military despotism. Under the Directory an attempt...

Mistaken views of religion no longer presided over bloodshed, and priests found that they gradually lost the power of controlling the unruly by their simple commands; it therefo...

In the commencement of this work I have endeavoured to show that the practice of duelling was unknown amongst the ancient Romans; for although, as I have observed, various comba...

During the middle ages Germany was desolated by feuds and hostile meetings, which had succeeded the barbarous excesses committed by the savage hordes poured forth from the north...

To record the duels that have taken place in the United States of America would require a ponderous work. They not only have been very frequent, but in general marked with a cha...

Ancient chronicles have transmitted to us several curious duels that have taken place, for the purpose of deciding the justice of a cause by recourse to arms, and maintaining by...

Since no traces of this practice can be found in the records of antiquity, we must seek for its origin in more modern times, and we shall find that it arose from an association...

During this century the social body in France underwent a total renovation and reform. A long despotism had brutalised the public mind, and rendered it unfit to receive any gene...

We have seen that France has ever held out an example in duelling; and the rules which were established in that country, at various periods, to regulate these hostile meetings,...

During the reign of this monarch, or rather the sovereignty of his minister, private rencontres were carried on with as much ferocity as ever, and some of these meetings were at...

There appears but little doubt of the common origin of the Germans, the Chinese and Turcomans; some similarity of laws and customs may therefore be considered as likely to be tr...

France may be considered the classic ground of duelling, the field of single combat _par excellence_; whence, from the duchy of Normandy, as we have already seen, it was introdu...

As we have seen in the preceding chapter, it was during the reign of Francis I. that duels became multiplied, both in the French dominions, and in their armies employed upon for...

Whatever may have been the opinion of Brantôme, and other writers on this subject, it is evident that the practice of duelling was unknown to the ancients. History, no doubt, ha...

We now come to a reign which was considered the most glorious in the annals of French history--that of Henry IV. Yet France showed that the private character of a monarch can ex...

Although these two countries, both in a religious and political point of view, may be considered most distinct, and nothing but the blindest policy could ever have entertained t...

In the choice of a second, if physical courage be a requisite quality, and experience is equally desirable, a moral courage is still more precious; for, even after the meeting,...

Great events frequently arise from trifling causes; and it is possible, that had Count Julian challenged the Goth Roderic for having dishonoured his daughter, instead of request...

While calmly perusing the annals of duelling, we cannot but be amazed when we behold, in the present day of pretended intellectual perfection, this practice adopted in a society...

That women, who can mostly get silly people to fight for them, should not fight themselves is natural, but there are instances on record in which ladies have shown their determi...

Origin of Chivalric Laws and Customs.--The Assumption of Arms considered a Religious Rite.--Gallantry.--Union of Love and Religion.--Institution of Knighthood.--Tilts and Tourna...

Picture of the Times.--Endeavours to check the Spirit of Duelling.--The celebrated “Edit des Duels.”--Severe pains and penalties.--Courts of Honour instituted.--Prize Medal for...

Enactments of Theoderic against Duelling.--Prevalence in Cisalpine Gaul.--Duels to maintain the innocence of Women accused of Adultery.--Edict of Luitprand.--Efforts of Charlema...

Combat between Macaire and the Dog of Montargis.--Between the King of Burgundy’s Chamberlain and Gamekeeper.--Between a Courtier of Rharvald King of Lombardy and a Cousin of the...

Duelling, under the Directory, again becomes fashionable.--Numerous meetings in the Bois de Boulogne.--Duel between Generals Destaing and Reynier.--A diplomatic duel.--Napoleon’...

Association of Brute Courage with Superstition.--Religion and Love.--Barbarous Courage of the Northern Nations.--Personal appeal to arms traced to their irruption in the Fifth C...

State of the court and country on his accession.--Duelling chiefly confined to the soldiery.--Duel between the Count d’Artois and the Prince de Condé.--Between the Prince de Con...

Profligacy of the Court during the Regency of Philip d’Orleans.--Disregard of the edict against duelling.--A duel about an Angola cat, fought at Paris in open day.--Duel between...

Duelling abolished in Iceland, after the fatal Meeting between the Poets Gunnlang and Rafn.--Laws of Duelling in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.--Scandinavian Combats.--Anecdote of...

Effects of the Gasconading Challenge sent by Francis the First to Charles the Fifth.--Duel between Chateauneuf and his Guardian Lachesnaye.--Between the Nephew of Marshal St. An...

France the Classic Ground of Duelling.--Brantôme’s Rules for Duellers.--Right of a Soldier to call out his Captain.--Opinions of La Béraudière, Basnage, and Alciat.--Decorations...

The practice of Duelling unknown to the Ancients.--Personal conflicts of their Warriors.--Wrestlers in the Pancration.--Introduction of the Cæstus.--Female Pugilists.--Gladiator...

Frequency and reckless ferocity of duels in the United States.--Endeavours in several States to check the practice.--First notorious duel in America.--Challenge of Mr. Randolph,...

Ferocity and absurdity of private rencontres during this reign.--Fighting with knives.--Baron de Luz and his son killed by the Chevalier de Guise.--Prohibitory edicts.--Anecdote...

Rise of Duelling in Spain.--Combat between four Spanish Knights and four Arabs of the tribe of Zegris.--Edict of Charles the Fifth against Duelling.--The Santa Hermandada.--Loyo...

Edicts of Henry the Fourth against duelling.--Desperate nature of these bloody feuds.--Combat between Joeilles and Devese.--Celebrated Ruffians.--Trial of Skill between Lagarde...

Object of the Work.--Ancient Duels and Single Combats characterized.--Origin of Duelling.--Trials by Ordeal.--Treachery and ferocity of the days of Chivalry.--Light thrown by th...

Legend of the Abbey of Cambrai, and the duel between Jean le Flamand and a Jew.--Celebrated combat at Valenciennes in maintenance of an ancient franchise.--Duel between Arnold d...