CHAPTER XVII.

DUELLING IN ITALY.

Enactments of Theoderic against Duelling.--Prevalence in Cisalpine Gaul.--Duels to maintain the innocence of Women accused of Adultery.--Edict of Luitprand.--Efforts of Charlemagne to check Duelling.--The practice re-established by Otho the Second.--Works on the science.--Duel between Charles d’Anjou and the King of Arragon.--Between Charles the Third and Louis the First.--Duelling at Naples.--Professors of La Scienza Cavalleresca.--Military Order of St. George.--Disputes between the Guelphs and Ghibelins.--Introduction of Seconds and Witnesses.--Brantôme’s story of a Neapolitan Duellist--Celebrated Italian Fencing-masters.--“The Hamstring-cut.”--“The Vendetta.”--Scientific Assassinations.--Duel in the presence of the Prince of Orange.--Duel by Torch-light before the Duke Hercules d’Este.--Decree compelling Duellists to fight on the Parapet of the Bridge of Turin.--Humbert the Second’s Reply to a Challenge.--Extraordinary Duel in the town of Ostuni between the Count de Conversano and the Prince of Francavilla.--Duel between Crequi and Philippin, brother of the Duke of Savoy.--Tournament between twelve Frenchmen and twelve Italians.--Beccaria’s reasons for the frequency of Duelling in Italy.--Science of Assassination.--Duelling at Malta.--Singular Duel at Valetta between Signor Vasconcellos and M. de Foulquerre. 303