Today you can insult anyone using the Internet. They argue sometimes strangers, without choosing words. Only now you can only respond to the offender using the same “virtual” weapon, without causing him real harm.

But in the old days, the issue of insults was resolved much more simply. If men argued with each other, then they scheduled a duel or duel. At first, the weapons were swords and swords, and then they were replaced by pistols. And this solution to the problem was much more convincing than pressing the “complain” button.

And the most interesting thing is that duels in some countries and in some periods of history were a completely legal means of sorting out relationships. True, even the ban on such fights often did not stop the heated men. And although duels were a noble way to defend one’s honor, these battles sometimes turned out to be quite funny and absurd.

Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve vs. Paul-Francois Dubois. Duels are understandable when two bitter enemies collide in a dispute. But sometimes the situation gets out of control between old friends and colleagues. This is exactly what happened with Sainte-Beuve and Dubois, whose duel took place on September 20, 1830. Sainte-Beuve was a literary critic who created his own method for evaluating the works of writers. He believed that all of their stories and novels actually reflected their own lives and experiences to one degree or another. Dubois was the editor of the newspaper Le Globe. Paul-François not only taught the famous critic at the Charlemagne Lyceum, but also hired him to work for his publication. What exactly they were arguing about remained a mystery. But the result was a duel scheduled in the forest near Romainville. The problem was heavy rain. Sainte-Beuve said he doesn't mind dying, but refuses to get wet in the process. The critic picked up an umbrella instead of a pistol. In the end, no one died, and the two writers later became friends again. Sainte-Beuve himself recalled Dubois as a wonderful and sincere person. But the publisher behind his back called the critic “a mummy’s boy afraid of the rain.”

Otto von Bismarck vs. Rudolf Virchow. This story is about how a politician was ready to defend his beliefs, which modern world just can't be found. Otto von Bismarck was the Prussian minister who unified Germany and became its chancellor. In 1865 he clashed with the leader of the Liberal Party, Rudolf Virchow. This scientist and oppositionist believed that the politician had unnecessarily inflated Prussia's military budget. As a result, the country plunged into poverty, overpopulation and epidemics. Bismarck did not challenge his opponent's views, but simply challenged him to a duel. At the same time, the politician generously allowed his opponent to choose a weapon. But Virchow acted unconventionally; he decided to fight with sausages. One of them was raw and contaminated with bacteria. Bismarck understood that Virchow simply had no chance when using bladed weapons or firearms. But the sausages leveled the playing field. Then Bismarck declared that heroes had no right to eat themselves to death and canceled the duel. The story is not only funny, it is also notable for the fact that the head of the country summoned the oppositionist. Usually the opposite happens.

Mark Twain vs James Laird. Twain was a famous opponent of dueling. The writer considered them an unreasonable and dangerous way to sort things out. According to Twain, this is also sinful. If someone challenged him, the writer promised to take the enemy to a quiet place with the utmost courtesy and politeness and kill him there. That is why it is not surprising that when he challenged the editor of a rival newspaper to a duel, he tried in every possible way to prevent it. Describing the fight that never took place, Twain recalled that he was terrified. The fact is that his opponent was a famous shooter. But as soon as Laird and his second approached the place of the fight, Mark Twain’s second, Steve Gillies, hit the head of a flying bird from 30 meters away. The Laird asked in amazement who shot the subway like that? Then Gillies said that Twain, an excellent sniper, did it. Fortunately for the writer, Laird chose not to risk his life and canceled the fight.

Marcel Proust vs Jean Lorrain. Digital technologies make it difficult for writers to deal with devastating reviews of their works. The struggle comes down to endless comments, shares and likes. In 1896, Proust published a collection of short stories, Joys and Days, but the poet and novelist Jean Lorrain issued a devastating review on this matter. In addition, the critic called the author himself “soft” and allowed himself to make comments about his personal life. The duel was scheduled for February 5, 1897. Proust’s only request was not to start the fight before noon, since he was a pronounced “night owl.” Nevertheless, the writer arrived at the duel impeccably dressed. Both writers fired and both missed. The seconds then agreed that honor had been restored. It is worth saying that such a reaction to the review was still excessive, but with the help of a duel both writers were able to resolve their differences. It’s good that both of them turned out to be bad shooters, otherwise literature would have been greatly impoverished.

Lady Almeria Braddock vs Mrs Elphinstone. This duel went down in history as a “skirt fight.” The two ladies decided to go a little further in clarifying their relationship, as was customary among French women. But nothing foreshadowed such a conclusion to an ordinary tea party between two friends - Mrs. Elphinstone and Lady Braddock. It’s just that the first one began to describe the hostess’s appearance using the past tense: “You were a beautiful woman.” Lady Almeria Braddock was so offended by these words that she immediately scheduled a duel in nearby Hyde Park. Initially, it was decided to shoot with pistols. After the bullet hit Lady Braddock's hat, she still insisted on continuing the duel. Then the ladies took up swords. And only when Leti Braddock was able to easily wound her offender did she agree to a written apology on her part. The duel was over, but it was an unusually spectacular event.

Sasaki Kojiro vs Miyamoto Musashi. This duel may seem funny, but its participants cannot be denied ingenuity. In 1612, two fighters, principled opponents, fought in a duel on the territory of feudal Japan. They did not see eye to eye on the art of fencing. There are many different descriptions of that fight. The most common version says that Musashi was three hours late, and instead of a sword, he arrived with a hewn oar. It was a psychological blow to the enemy. Musashi smiled at his opponent as he hurled insults at him. And when Kojiro was blinded by the rays of the rising sun, he struck him with his improvised weapon, killing him. It turns out that it was possible to defeat the legendary warrior with the help of being late and a boat oar.

François Fournier-Sarlovez vs Pierre Dupont. Frnier-Sarlovez was a very impulsive man who resorted to the sword at every opportunity. The fact that duels in France in the 17th century were prohibited did not stop him either. The most famous fight between Fournier and Sarlovez lasted for 19 long years. These events even formed the basis for Joseph Conrad's novel The Duel and Ridley Scott's film The Duelists. It all started in 1794. Pierre Dupont, an army courier, delivered the message to Fournier. But he didn’t like the message. Word for word, the culprit turned out to be the unlucky courier, whom the bully immediately challenged to a duel. He agreed and managed to wound Fournier, but not fatally. Having recovered, he offered revenge. This time it was Dupont who was wounded. For the third time, both were wounded. Over the next 19 years, the duelists fought about 30 times, trying to prove something to each other. They even made an agreement that a duel could not take place only if there was a distance of more than a hundred kilometers between them. And although the French called each other sworn enemies, they corresponded and even sometimes dined together after the fight. In 1813, Du Pont decided to get married, and he had no need for the old enmity. He proposed to finally resolve the issue. The decisive duel took place in the forest. Dupont decided to cheat - he hung his doublet on a branch, where he discharged Fournier's charges. Then the groom said that he would not shoot, but next time he would do it twice. So Fournier stopped pursuing his longtime enemy.

Humphrey Howard vs Earl Barrymore. Experienced duelists know that they should always take some precautions before a duel. In 1806, a dispute broke out between two respectable English gentlemen, Member of Parliament Humphrey Howard and Henry Barry, the eighth Earl of Barrymore, which led to a duel. But Howard, a former army doctor, knew that it was the infection that got into an open wound that most often became fatal. That is why he decided that clothing is the very subject. And if the count, like a true gentleman, came into battle in a frock coat and top hat, then his opponent wisely stripped naked. They say, however, that Howard made this decision under the influence of alcohol. But the count turned out to be quite sober, preferring to hush up the matter. Is it a great honor to kill a naked person or, on the contrary, to die at the hands of a nudist? Howard was quite happy with this decision, and the gentlemen went home.

Alexey Orlov vs. Mikhail Lunin. When a person agrees to accept a challenge to a duel, it would be good to have some skills for this. Alexey Orlov was not ready for the fight. He was a good general who proved himself in Napoleonic wars. But this does not mean that he knew how to shoot accurately. Orlov never fought a duel with anyone, which became a reason for jokes among young people. Lunin invited the general to experience a new sensation for him, essentially challenging him to a duel. It was impossible to refuse such a challenge, even if it was a playful one. Orlov's vulnerability became noticeable during a duel with the much more experienced and skilled cavalryman Mikhail Lunin. He provoked the general so much that Orlov really wanted to kill the offender. The first shot went to the inexperienced duelist, but the bullet only knocked off Lunin’s epaulette. He only laughed in response and fired into the air. Then the enraged Orlov fired again, this time hitting the hat. Lunin laughed and fired into the air again. He found pleasure in danger. The enraged Orlov wanted to load the weapon again, but the senseless duel was stopped. Lunin offered his opponent shooting lessons. And although the young officer did not win the duel, he gained the upper hand in the battle - Orlov was humiliated.

Monsieur de Grandpré vs Monsieur de Piquet. It seems that dueling is something French, who, if not they, know a lot about this activity and maintain a certain style. In 1808, an opera diva fell in love with two respectable gentlemen. The rivals decided that there was no better way to discourage a competitor from their passion than to shoot with him. And the victory itself should have had a positive effect on that same lady. The men decided to have a duel in balloons, high in the sky, to make it more spectacular. The opponents rose above the Parisian Tuileries Garden, taking with them muskets with gunpowder and lead bullets. The co-pilots, who were assigned an unenviable fate, helped control the balloons. As soon as the balls approached within firing distance, on command Grandpre and Piquet shot at each other. Pique's ball caught fire and fell down. Along with the duelist, his co-pilot also died. The most interesting thing is that the prima donna did not appreciate such a sacrifice and ran away with another fan.

Andre Marchand against the dog. This amazing story happened in the 14th century. Andre Marchand went hunting with his friend, Jacques Chevantier. The friends couldn't find a third travel companion, but they took a friendly dog ​​with them. During the hunt, Jacques Chevante disappeared somewhere. No one would have suspected the disappearance of the Marchand man, but the missing man’s dog, who was an eyewitness to the events, literally began to bark at the sight of his owner’s friend. Chevantier's acquaintances came to an original conclusion - the dog wants to challenge Marchand to a duel, instead of the missing Chevantier. In order to maintain honor, Marchand had to accept the challenge. But he couldn’t choose a revolver; it simply didn’t exist then. Then the duelist decided to fight with a club with iron fangs. They just resembled dog fangs. The dog had little choice but to rely on his natural weapons - teeth and claws. The fight turned out to be surprisingly short. As soon as the dog was let off the leash, he immediately grabbed his opponent’s neck. Marchand didn't even have time to use his club. They say that while dying, the poor man managed to confess to the murder of his friend. But most likely this legend was invented by the organizers of such a wild fight in order to justify their madness.

Count Cagliostro vs. Doctor Sozonovich. The famous European sorcerer Count Cagliostro visited Russia in the 18th century. Here he received a warm welcome - the magician had many fans and clients. But there were also those at court who openly called the visiting guest a charlatan. The most serious conflict erupted between Cagliostro and Doctor Sozonovich, the court physician of Empress Catherine II. A curious incident occurred - Prince Golitsyn’s only ten-month-old son fell ill. Official medicine threw up its hands, but Cagliostro managed to cure him in just a month. Gossips whispered that the count had simply replaced the baby. Then the offended Sozonovich challenged Cagliostro to a duel. He stated that since we are talking about medicine, the weapon should be his own prepared poison. The enemies must exchange pills and the one with the better antidote will win. Cagliostro later boasted of how he managed to replace poison with a ball of chocolate in front of everyone. But the gullible Sozonovich drank the poison, trying to muffle its effect with several liters of milk. Fortunately, both duelists survived. Perhaps the cunning Italian decided to spare his opponent and did not give him poison. After all, Cagliostro, after that duel, wrote to Sozonovich that the pill contained only a potency enhancing agent.

Jack Robson and Billy Beckham. Times change the weapons of duelists. At first it was swords and swords, later - firearms. As you can see, even balloons took part in the showdown. In this case, two American farmers decided to sort things out with the help of their cars. The reason for the duel was banal - both guys fell in love with a certain beauty. The Americans decided that in the middle of the 20th century the weapons should be appropriate, which is why they chose cars. Early in the morning, the rivals gathered at the edge of the plateau, where seconds - a doctor and a mechanic - were supposed to monitor the fairness of the fight. And the subject of the dispute itself - a charming lady, appeared at the scene of the duel. On command, the cars rushed towards each other at great speed. But at the last moment the duelists turned away, avoiding instant death. The men decided to change tactics - now they tried to push the enemy car into the abyss. The winner was Jack Robson, but his prize was not the girl’s heart, but 15 years in prison. The beauty herself married a bus driver, who kindly gave her a ride home after a terrible duel.

History remembers the duels that became famous a large number inhabitants of the planet. They owe their fame to the participation of such celebrities as Alexander Pushkin, Alexander Hamilton, Mikhail Lermontov and others.

Top most famous duels

The most famous duels are duels in which at least one of the participants is a famous person in the field of politics, literature, or science.

The duel could also become famous because it was followed by some other events that received wide publicity or influenced the course of history. Next, we will talk in more detail about the fights in which the duelists were Pushkin, Mark Twain, Lermontov, and Hamilton.

Duel of Pushkin and Dantes

Every cultured person knows about Pushkin’s duel with Heckern (Dantes). A ridiculous duel claimed the life of the most talented Russian writer. This event took place at the end of January 1837 in St. Petersburg. Having received a mortal wound in a duel, Alexander Sergeevich died two days later.

Pushkin challenged Dantes to a duel because of such feelings as jealousy. There were rumors in society that Dantes was in love with the poet’s wife, as well as that he had achieved her favor. The last straw was an anonymous libel delivered to Pushkin and his friends. In it the poet was called a cuckold. This happened in November 1836. Due to the fact that Dantes proposed to the sister of Pushkin’s wife, Alexander Sergeevich withdrew his challenge to the duel. Dantes' wedding took place at the beginning of 1837. Unfortunately, this marriage did not end the conflict between Heckern and Pushkin; in addition, jokes about Pushkin’s family continued to spread in society.

A few days later, the poet sent an insulting letter to Dantes’ adoptive father, after which he received a summons. The conditions of this duel were very harsh, but the poet accepted them. After Dantes was shot, the poet was fatally wounded in the stomach. Lying in the snow, he managed to fire back, lightly wounding his opponent in the right hand.

Duel between Lermontov and Martynov

In July 1841, another famous duel took place. We are talking about the competition between Lermontov and Martynov. Unfortunately, many of the circumstances of that event remained unclear, since Martynov and both seconds at the trial, when giving evidence, tried to downplay their guilt. During the duel, Lermontov was shot in the chest.

The fatal event for Lermontov occurred not far from Pyatigorsk near Mount Mashuk. There was no doctor present at the scene of the fight, nor was the crew standing there in case of injury or death of one of the participants in the fight. These circumstances suggest that all participants in the duel hoped until the last moment that Lermontov and Martynov would agree to reconciliation and no one would shoot. However, there was no peaceful outcome. The poet died without regaining consciousness, just a few minutes after the fatal shot.

Duel between Hamilton and Burr

In July 1804, a duel took place between two prominent US politicians - Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. The latter issued several quite offensive pamphlets against Burr, which was the reason that Aaron Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel.

Duels in New York were prohibited by that time. Burr, Hamilton and their seconds went secretly to this fight. It took place in New Jersey in a secluded rocky place.

After the command was given, Hamilton noticeably hesitated to fire, but Burr fired and hit his opponent, whose liver and spine were damaged as a result. Hamilton had no opportunity to fire a return shot, and he did not want to fire one. Before the duel, the deceased wrote in his suicide note that his moral and religious principles were against duels.

The most famous duel in history

The most famous duel in history is considered to be the so-called “minion duel”. The duel took place in April 1578 in one of the Parisian parks. Its participants were those close to King Henry III, who were called minions, and those close to the Duke of Guise.

This duel had no political motives. The reason was an unflattering remark about the behavior of a certain lady. The main opponents of this fight are Quelus and D’Entragues. Each of them came to the duel with two seconds.

It should be noted that the king strictly prohibited showdowns through duels. However, this did not stop the opponents. The “Minion Duel” became famous for the fact that it involved not only D’Entragues and Quelus, but also four seconds, who, according to the dueling code, were obliged to do everything possible to reconcile the parties.

A marble monument was erected over the grave of the dead participants in this duel, by order of the inconsolable king. At the end of the sixteenth century, the rebel Legists destroyed this magnificent monument. “Minion Duel” became the reason for the emergence of fashion for participation in duels not only of the duelists themselves, but also of their seconds. A similar scene is described by Alexandre Dumas in the novel “The Countess de Monsoreau.”

In addition to one-on-one confrontations, there were other interesting fights in the world. .
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Duels and duelists

“How many fights have we seen for a just cause? Otherwise, everything is for actresses, for cards, for horses or for a portion of ice cream,” wrote Alexander Bestuzhev-Marlinsky in the story “Test.” Let's remember with Natalya Letnikova how the tradition of a duel appeared in Russia and which Russian writers had to defend their honor in a duel.

History of the duel

Valery Jacobi. Before the duel. 1877. Sevastopol Art Museum named after P.M. Kroshitsky

Ilya Repin. Duel. 1896. State Tretyakov Gallery

Mikhail Vrubel. Duel between Pechorin and Grushnitsky. Illustration for Mikhail Lermontov’s novel “A Hero of Our Time.” 1890–1891. State Tretyakov Gallery

The duel ritual originates in Italy. Either the hot sun heated the blood of the Italians, or the southern temperament did not give rest - from the 14th century, local nobles began to look for a reason for a mortal duel in conflicts. This is how “fighting in the bushes” appeared, when opponents went to a deserted place and fought with the weapons that were at hand. A century later, the fashion for dueling spread across the Italian-French border and spread throughout Europe. “Dueling fever” reached Russia only during the time of Peter I.

For the first time, foreigners, Russian service officers from a “foreign” regiment, found themselves at the barrier in Russia in 1666. Half a century later, fights were banned. One of the chapters of Peter’s Military Regulations of 1715 provided for deprivation of ranks and even confiscation of property for just one challenge to a duel, and participants in the duel faced the death penalty.

Catherine II issued the “Manifesto on Duels,” which equated murder in a duel to a criminal offense; the instigators of the duels were exiled to Siberia for life. But then the fashion for duels was just flaring up, and in the 19th century, when European passions began to wane, it seemed that there was not a day in Russia without a mortal duel.

In the West, the Russian duel was called “barbarism.” In Russia, preference was given not to edged weapons, but to pistols, and they shot not, as in Europe, from thirty steps, but almost point-blank - from ten. In 1894, Alexander III placed duels under the control of officer courts, and at the beginning of the twentieth century, dueling codes appeared in Russia.

Duel Code

Ilya Repin. Sketch for the painting "Duel". 1913. National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan

Unknown artist. Duel of Pushkin and Dantes. Photo: i-fakt.ru

Unknown artist. Duel between Lermontov and Martynov. 2nd half XIX century

There were several dueling codes in Russia, and one of the most famous was the Code of Count Vasily Durasov. The sets of all the rules were similar: the duelist could not suffer mental illness, had to hold the weapon firmly and fight. Only opponents of equal status could take part in the duel, and the reason for it was the insulted honor of the opponent himself or the lady. There were no women's duels in Russia, although several cases were known in Europe.

A challenge to a duel followed the insult immediately: a demand for an apology, a written challenge, or a visit from seconds. They protected the duelists from direct communication, prepared the duel itself and acted as witnesses. Being late for a duel by more than 15 minutes was considered avoiding battle, and therefore a loss of honor.

Initially, duelists used edged weapons: sword, saber or rapier. In the 18th century, dueling pistols began to be used more often, which, being absolutely identical, equalized the chances of both opponents to win. They were shooting different ways, for example, over the shoulder, standing with their backs to each other (“stationary blind duel”); with one bullet for two; putting a gun to his forehead; "Blow in the barrel."

They shot in turn or simultaneously, on the spot or approaching each other, almost point-blank, from three steps and through a scarf, holding it together with their left hands. The poet and Decembrist Kondraty Ryleev took part in such a desperate fight, defending his sister’s honor. He fought with Prince Konstantin Shakhovsky and was wounded, but not fatally.

Duels of writers

Alexey Naumov. Duel of Pushkin with Dantes. 1884

Adrian Volkov. The last shot of A.S. Pushkin. 2nd half of the 19th century

Ilya Repin. Duel of Onegin and Lensky. Illustration for the novel “Eugene Onegin” by Alexander Pushkin. 1899. All-Russian Museum A.S. Pushkin

The death of one of the opponents was not a necessary outcome of the duel. Thus, Alexander Pushkin had 29 calls on his account. In most cases, the poet’s friends came to an agreement with the police, and Pushkin was put under arrest for the duration of the fight. For example, the reason for the duel between Pushkin and his lyceum friend Wilhelm Kuchelbecker was the former’s epigram: “I ate too much at dinner, / And Yakov locked the door by mistake - / That’s how it felt for me, my friends, / Both Kuchelbecker and sick.”. The duel ended with a miss by both poets. In 1822, Pushkin and Lieutenant Colonel Sergei Starov did not agree on musical preferences: the poet asked the orchestra to play a mazurka, and the military man asked him to play a quadrille. Starov perceived the situation as an insult to the entire regiment, and a duel took place - both opponents missed.

Maximilian Voloshin's harmless joke on Nikolai Gumilev ended in a duel. Voloshin, together with the poetess Elizaveta Dmitrieva, conspired to publish several poems under the name Cherubina de Gabriak. Gumilev became interested in a non-existent lady and even tried to find out her address. Having learned that the mysterious Spanish woman did not exist, the poet became furious and challenged the joker to a duel. On the notorious Black River, two shots were heard: the angry Gumilyov missed, Voloshin fired into the air.

Two other Russian classics, Leo Tolstoy and Ivan Turgenev, also almost shot each other. While visiting Fet, Tolstoy accidentally insulted Turgenev's daughter Polina and spat in his direction. The fight did not take place only through the efforts of the writers' friends, but after that they did not speak to each other for 17 years.

Fights between rivals were commonplace at all times - among different classes and different peoples. In some places they fought only until first blood was drawn (like, for example, the Vikings), and in others they fought until the death of one of the duelists. In some countries, the fights took place in the presence of many spectators, while in others they were held in complete secret. The weapons could also be very diverse. (website)

Psychology of duelists

An interesting thing: if two people get together and punch each other, this is considered undignified behavior. And if two fighters have a duel, this speaks of their honor and dignity. Of course, some people thought that duelists were just bullies who set a bad example, but many people believed that this is how real men should behave.

Over time, duels became the main way to resolve private conflicts, which is why many people died. In a number of countries, duels were prohibited by law, but were still carried out. There were even rules for conducting them. For example, in 1836 In France, a special code for duelists was issued, although duels themselves were already officially prohibited here. And this code was successfully adopted not only in France, but also in many other countries of the world, for example, in Russia.

The rules strictly regulated the behavior of combatants, who previously could trip the enemy, hit him in the back, and even finish off the wounded. Also, according to the rules, when challenged to a duel, the offender should be hit in the face or a white glove thrown at his feet. After this, the “scene of action” was chosen, a doctor and two seconds were invited, one of whom was appointed as the manager. Duelists were allowed to be no more than fifteen minutes late for the duel. When everyone was in place, the manager traditionally turned to the opponents with a proposal to make peace. If they refused, then a weapon was selected for the duel and the distance was measured. The fighters dispersed to the barriers and, after the manager’s command, shot at each other.

Before the duel, they also agreed on whether they would shoot simultaneously or alternately. Usually shooting was carried out from thirty steps. Sometimes both opponents were injured or even killed.

If they shot in turn, then the first shot was fired by the one who challenged the duel. The one who was called could discharge his weapon into the air. A wounded duelist was allowed to shoot while lying down. If both opponents remained alive and unharmed, they shook hands and dispersed.

In addition to firearms, duelists also used edged weapons - swords, sabers, knives. Some originals used axes, canes, razors, candelabra, and so on to sort out relationships. However, in such battles it was not easy for the seconds to monitor the actions of the fighters, and in addition, the strengths of the duelists often turned out to be unequal. Therefore, most rivals tried not to resort to this kind of weapon.

Prohibition of duels

Duels were banned in France in the 16th century. The reason for this was the death of thousands and thousands of aristocrats. Similar laws were also in force in other states, but everything was in vain...

If the authorities became aware of the duel, they roughly punished the duelists so that others would be discouraged. Cardinal Richelieu, for example, introduced the death penalty for them, which in rare cases was replaced by exile with complete confiscation of property. This applied not only to the duelists, but also to the seconds and spectators.

Under Peter the Great, Russia also introduced (for the first time) the death penalty for participating in a duel, and according to the decree of Catherine the Great, those guilty were either exiled to Siberia or imprisoned. Nicholas II sent duelists to war as privates.

However, it was all in vain. Moreover, in Russia they began to shoot without doctors, without seconds, from a distance of ten steps! Having fired once, the opponents did not disperse, but fought “until they hit.” It is clear that most duels ended in someone's death.

Women's duels

Surprisingly, among the duelists there were also women who fought even more severely and more sophisticated than men: women’s fights much more often ended in death. Often they turned into a real massacre with the participation of seconds and fellow spectators. If they fought with swords, the tip of the weapon was often moistened with poison, but if they shot, then until they were seriously wounded or someone died.

The famous opera singer Julie d'Aubigny fought many duels with ladies and even men. Once at a ball she competed against three opponents and managed to injure them. To avoid execution, Julie had to spend several years outside of France.

The stories are well known and quite funny. For example, the one that happened because of the composer Franz Liszt between his beloved Marie d'Agu and the loving French writer George Sand. These determined ladies chose... their long nails as a weapon. The duel took place in Liszt’s house, and the composer himself was holed up in his office at that time. "Duel on Nails" ended in a draw; Having yelled and pretty much scratched each other, the ladies went their separate ways. After this, George Sand no longer sought Liszt's favor.

How about this fact: the Empress Catherine II we mentioned, who prohibited duels in Russia, in her youth (before her accession to the throne) participated in an armed duel and more than once served as a second for other ladies.

The most famous men's duels

A.S. Pushkin participated in more than a hundred duels. Many were his opponents famous people of that time (for example, Kuchelbecker), but the last for the poet was a duel with Dantes, who spread evil jokes about Pushkin and his family. Having received a mortal wound, the Russian genius died two days later.

The Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who lived during the Renaissance, once fought with swords with a relative who managed to cut off part of his nose. Brahe spent his entire subsequent life with a silver prosthetic nose...

Lermontov and Martynov were considered friends, which, however, did not save them from the fatal duel. The reason for the confrontation was the jokes that the poet made about Martynov. The result of all this turned out to be far from humorous: the bullet pierced Lermontov’s heart and lungs...

Two English gentlemen - Member of Parliament Humphrey Howarth and nobleman Earl Barrymore - quarreled in a pub and decided to duel. Howarth, a former army surgeon, showed up completely naked, although he was no joker, much less a pervert. It’s just that, as a physician, he knew that the wounded die, as a rule, not from the wounds themselves, but from an infection contracted from their clothing. Seeing his opponent in this form, Count Barrymore burst out laughing and announced that he would not shoot at a naked man, and also did not want to be killed by him. The duel, therefore, did not take place.

Alexandre Dumas took part in a rather peculiar duel: the loser by lot had to kill himself. The famous writer was unlucky. Dumas went into another room and fired into the air, after which he returned and announced that he was aiming for the temple, but missed.

The seventh American president, Andrew Jackson, fought a duel as a young man with a man who insulted his wife. Andrew was shot in the chest and surgeons were unable to remove the bullet. She stayed with Jackson for the rest of her life...

A fairly well-known duel between the minions (close associates of the French king Henry III) and the Guizars (supporters of the Duke of Guise), in which four participants were killed and two were seriously wounded. By order of the king, a marble monument was erected on the grave of the victims.

A French aristocrat, also a handsome man and a womanizer, Comte de Boutville fought duels twenty times, and this despite the fact that Cardinal Richelieu banned them in the country under penalty of death. Of course, Richelieu knew about all these fights of his favorite and constantly forgave him. However, for the twentieth time, Boutville crossed all boundaries, staging a showdown in broad daylight, and in front of a large crowd of Parisians. The cardinal simply could not forgive this without damaging his reputation. And the count's head was publicly cut off.

The first German chancellor, Bismarck, also fought duels; in twenty-seven duels, he lost only two battles, receiving minor injuries. By the way, in Germany at that time only duels with a fatal outcome were prohibited, but those that resulted in minor injuries were not.

But the most remarkable duel in the world took place in 1808, it took place in hot air balloons. The young people did not share the lady and decided to sort things out in such an original way. The winner in this fight was not the most accurate, but the most cunning shooter, who shot at the ball - and his opponent simply crashed.

And in the end, it is worth saying that in many countries of Latin America, fights were banned only at the turn of the millennium, that is, quite recently, but in Paraguay they are still allowed to this day...

On November 24, 1817, on Volkovo Field, in northern Palmyra, a duel took place between Count Alexander Zavadovsky and the officer of the Cavalry Regiment Vasily Sheremetev. They fought over the 18-year-old brilliant ballerina Avdotya Istomina. This duel, which went down in history as a “duel of four,” ended with the death of Sheremetyev and a duel of seconds - the future Decembrist cornet Alexander Yakubovich and an official of the College of Foreign Affairs, poet Alexander Griboyedov. However, Russia also knew not such dueling vicissitudes.

Tsar's decrees did not save Russia from duels

The first strict laws against duels, which provided for punishment up to the death penalty, appeared in Russia under Peter I. However, these laws were not applied in practice, and duels in Russia were quite rare until the end of the 18th century. Duels became widespread among the young nobles under Catherine II, who was even forced to publish the “Manifesto on Duels,” which provided for lifelong exile to Siberia for a bloodless duel, and murder and wounds were equated to a criminal offense. Nicholas I also had a great aversion to duels. Under him, duelists were sent to serve in the Caucasus, and in case of death they were deprived of their officer rank.

But laws against duels in Russia turned out to be ineffective. Moreover, Russian duels were particularly cruel: the distance between barriers did not exceed 10 meters (usually 7); often duels took place without doctors or seconds, so the fights ended tragically.

"Duel of Four" over a brilliant ballerina

The name of Avdotya Istomina was immortalized by the great Pushkin in the poem “Eugene Onegin”:
Brilliant, half-airy,
I obey the magic bow,
Surrounded by a crowd of nymphs,
Worth Istomin; she,
One foot touching the floor,
The other slowly circles,
And suddenly he jumps, and suddenly he flies,
Flies like feathers from the lips of Aeolus;
Now the camp will sow, then it will develop,
And with a quick foot he hits the leg.
The famous Avdotya Istomina, the daughter of a drunken policeman, the same age and friend of Pushkin and the beloved of the Cavalry Regiment officer Vasily Sheremetev, once quarreled with her beau. Upset, she accepted Alexander Griboyedov’s invitation and went with him to tea with the chamber cadet Alexander Zavadovsky. The tea party lasted for 2 days. Sheremetyev, incited by cornet Alexander Yakubovich, challenged Zavadsky to a duel, as a result of which Sheremetyev was mortally wounded and died the next day. His grave is located at the Lazarevskoye cemetery of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra.

But this duel continued. There was also a quarrel between the seconds, which resulted in a challenge to a duel. Due to the investigation into the Sheremetyev case, the duel had to be postponed, and it took place a year later in Georgia. They shot in a ravine near the Tatar grave in the vicinity of Tiflis. Yakubovich managed to shoot Griboedov’s little finger on his left hand. It was by this sign that the mutilated body of the author of “Woe from Wit” and the Russian ambassador was identified when a crowd of religious fanatics dealt with him in Tehran.

The most famous love match

One of the most famous Russian duels is the duel that took place on September 14, 1825 on the northern outskirts of St. Petersburg between lieutenant of the Semenovsky regiment Konstantin Chernov and adjutant Vladimir Novosiltsev. The reason for the duel was Novosiltsev’s refusal to marry Chernov’s sister due to the resistance of his mother, the heir to Count Orlov’s huge fortune. She idolized her son, and marriage with the poor and humble girl Chernova was not at all to her liking. Novosiltsev's mother made every effort to upset her son's marriage, and she succeeded.

The offended brother of the bride challenged Vladimir Novosiltsev to a duel, which took place on the outskirts of Forest Park. Chernov’s second was his cousin K.F. Ryleev, who was a member of the Northern secret society"Decembrists". Both duelists were mortally wounded, and Ryleev did everything to turn Chernov’s funeral into a demonstration.

Novosiltsev’s mother, having learned about the duel, still managed to find her son alive and promised the famous doctor Arendt 1000 rubles for saving her son, but all the efforts of the doctors were in vain.

The inconsolable woman spent about 1 million rubles to purchase the inn where her son was shot, and built the Novosiltsevsky charitable institution and the Prince Vladimir Church on this site. The places where the duelists fired from a distance of eight steps were marked by two tables.

Pushkin - the most famous St. Petersburg duelist

Ekaterina Karamzina, a contemporary of the great Russian poet, stated in one of her letters: “ Pushkin has duels every day" And Ivan Liprandi, famous duelist, left a note in his diary: “ I knew Alexander Sergeevich to be hot-tempered, sometimes to the point of frenzy; but in a moment of danger, when he came face to face with death, when a person reveals himself completely, Pushkin possessed highest degree equanimity. When it came to the barrier, he appeared to him as cold as ice».

In his first duel, Pushkin fought with his lyceum comrade Kuchelbecker. The reason was a kind of review of Pushkin’s epigrams. By lot, Küchlya shot first, and when he began to aim, Pushkin shouted to his second Delvig: “Take my place, it’s safer here!” Kuchelbecker lost his temper, his hand trembled, and he actually hit the cap on Delvig’s head. The comic nature of the situation reconciled the opponents.

It is also known about Pushkin’s duel with Colonel Starov, who was a famous sniper. The duel took place on January 6, 1822. According to eyewitnesses, on that day there was such a strong snowstorm that nothing could be seen a few steps away. Both duelists missed. Subsequently, Pushkin’s friends did everything. So that the duel does not resume.

But already in the spring in St. Petersburg they were discussing a new duel between the poet and General Staff officer Zubov. Zubov missed, and Pushkin, who was calmly eating cherries while the enemy was aiming at him, abandoned his shot. “Are you satisfied?” he asked Zubov, and when he tried to hug Pushkin, he restrainedly remarked: “This is unnecessary.”

A duel with Georges de Heckern (Dantes), which took place on February 8, 1837 in the Black River area on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, became fatal for Pushkin. Pushkin himself insisted on conditions that left virtually no chance of survival. The distance between opponents was 20 steps, the barrier was set at 10 steps, and you could shoot at any time. Already with the first shot of Dantes, Pushkin was wounded in the stomach. 2 days later Pushkin died. For the duel, Dantes was sentenced to death. He hastily left Russia, lived to an old age and made a successful career in politics.

The witty Lermontov provoked a duel in which he died

The official reason for the duel, in which Lieutenant Lermontov died from Major Martynov’s bullet, was the witticisms and barbs that the poet regularly made towards the officer. Martynov's patience was overflowing when Lermontov called him “a highlander with a big dagger.” Although it was rumored that the reason for Lermontov’s behavior was rivalry over a lady.

On July 15, 1841, the duelists met at an agreed upon location on Mount Mashuk. What the conditions of the duel were are no longer known today. Lermontov was mortally wounded by his opponent in the chest and died on the spot, not having time to fire his shot. To confirm that Lermontov's pistol was loaded, a shot was fired into the air.

Russian anarchist challenged the founder of Marxism to a duel

The anarchist revolutionary Bakunin challenged the author of Capital, Karl Marx, to a duel. The reason was the fact that Marx allowed himself a disparaging review of the Russian army. Bakunin, although he was an anarchist and an opponent of any regular army, decided to stand up for the honor of the Russian uniform, since in his youth he was an ensign-artilleryman. Marx, who fought with swords more than once as a student and was very proud of the scars on his face, did not accept Bakunin’s challenge. He declared that his life now belonged not to him, but to the proletariat.

Tolstoy wanted to shoot with Turgenev, and Voloshin with Gumilyov

Many famous people were duelists. It is known that the young Leo Tolstoy threw down the gauntlet to Ivan Turgenev. The duel, fortunately, did not take place. The last known duel was the duel between the poets Lev Gumilyov and Maximilian Voloshin that took place before the revolution. Gumilyov was offended by the joke. Then the offender fired into the air, but Gumilyov missed.

However, weapons can be used for very peaceful purposes, and this is proof of this.