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THE
HISTORY OF DUELLING:
INCLUDING,
NARRATIVES
OF THE MOST
REMARKABLE PERSONAL ENCOUNTERS
THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD
TO THE PRESENT TIME.
BY
J. G. MILLINGEN, M.D. F.R.S.
AUTHOR OF “CURIOSITIES OF MEDICAL EXPERIENCE,” ETC.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,
Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.
1841.
LONDON:
PRINTED BY SAMUEL BENTLEY,
Bangor House, Shoe Lane.
CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.
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
the History of Duelling on the Manners and Constitutions
of Society at different periods.--Introduction into the British
Isles.--Advantages to be derived from chronicling the hideous
details Page 1
CHAPTER II.
ON DUELLING AMONG THE ANCIENTS, AND IN OLDEN TIMES.
The practice of Duelling unknown to the Ancients.--Personal
conflicts of their Warriors.--Wrestlers in the Pancration.--Introduction
of the Cæstus.--Female Pugilists.--Gladiators.--National
conflicts.--Battle of the Thirty.--Onset between
Bembrough and Beaumanoir.--Combat between Seven French
and Seven English Knights.--Challenges between Sovereigns.--Francis
the First and Charles the Fifth.--Edward the Third
and Philip de Valois.--Christian the Fourth of Denmark and
Charles the Ninth of Sweden.--Sully’s description of Duellists Page 9
Chapter III.
THE ORIGIN OF DUELLING.
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
Century.--Universal militarism.--Decision of Differences by
brute force.--Establishment of Ordeals.--Judicial Combats.--Law
of Gundebald, King of the Burgundians.--Mode of conducting
these Judicial Combats.--A Burgundian Conflict described.--Lady
Spectatresses.--Duel between Baron des
Guerres and the Sieur de Faudilles.--Mode of conducting Ordeals
and Judicial Combats.--The Weapons.--Form of Denial.--The
Gage.--Duels by Proxy.--Bravoes, or Champions.--Trial
by Hot Iron.--Trial by Hot and Cold Water.--Ordeal
of the Cross.--Ordeal by Balance.--Ordeal by Poison.--Ordeal
by Hot Oil.--Antiquity of the practice of Ordeals.--First Fire
Ordeal.--Story of Simplicius Bishop of Autun.--Account of a
Trial by Hot Water 21
CHAPTER IV.
CELEBRATED JUDICIAL DUELS.
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 Queen.--Between Gontran and Ingelgerius,
Count of Anjou.--Ecclesiastical trials by battle.--Singular
Trial by Battle at Toledo.--Judicial trials instituted by
French Parliaments.--Edicts prohibiting Duels.--The Saviour’s
truce.--Account of the celebrated Duel between Jarnac and
De la Chasteneraye.--Combat between Albert de Luignes
and Panier.--Maugerel the King’s Killer.--Abolition of the
Trial by Ordeal in England.--Ordeal of the heated Ploughshares.--Combat
between Edward Ironside and Canute.--Introduction
of Duelling into England.--Law of Alfred.--Laws
of Edmund.--Price of Wounds and Injuries regulated.--Decision
of the Cross.--Ordeal by the Consecrated Bread and Cheese,
or Corsned.--Settlement of Feuds by Pecuniary Compensation.--Combat
between William Count d’Eu and Godefroi
Baynard--Between Henry de Essex and Robert de Montfort.--Institution
of the Grand Assizes, or Trial by Jury, by
Henry the Second.--Trial of Battle before the Court of Common
Pleas 44
CHAPTER V.
INSTITUTION OF CHIVALRY AND DUELS.
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 Tournaments.--Increase
of Duelling.--Degrading results of Chivalry.--Desperate
pranks of the Crusaders.--Massacre of the Albigenses.--Knighthood
becomes instrumental to Clerical or Military
Ambition.--The Dog of Our Lady.--Francis the First’s
Principle of Honour.--Giving the Lie.--First Chivalric Meeting.--Rules
and Regulations for the Management of Tournaments.--Tournaments
forbidden by the Clergy.--Edward the
First challenged by the Count de Chalons.--His joust with the
French Knights.--The petty Battle of Chalons.--Fatal Encounter
of Henry the Second of France with Count Montgomery.--Ferocity
and absurdity of these “Points of Honour.”--Deadly
Combat between two Spanish Captains at Ferrara.--“Beau
Combat” between M. de Bayard and Don Alonzo de
Soto Mayor.--Punctiliousness in taking Offence.--Object of
Tilts and Tournaments.--Injunction of the Dame des Belles
Cousines to Little Jean de Saintré.--“Love par Amours.”--Influence
of the Clergy.--Origin of the “Truce of God.”--The
Crusades under Godefroi de Bouillon.--Advantages held
out to the Crusaders.--Revolution in Property produced by the
Crusades.--Discovery of the Pandects of Justinian.--Introduction
of Civil Law 66
CHAPTER VI.
EARLY DUELLING IN FRANCE.
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
and button-hole Badges.--The Badge of Love.--Choice of
Arms.--Ancient modes of Fighting.--Fighting with sharp-pointed
daggers in front of the Helmet.--Fighting in Steel
Collars with pointed blades.--Privilege of the Offended to
choose his Arms.--Fighting in Armour.--State of Society in
France during the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries.--Introduction
of the Pistol 94
CHAPTER VII.
DUELLING IN FRANCE DURING THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
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.
André and M. Matas.--Between a Roman Gentleman and the
Chevalier De Refuge.--Exploits of Baron de Vitaux, the Paragon
of France.--His Duel with Baron de Mittaud.--His Death.--Duel
between Caylus and D’Entragues.--Between Riberac
and Maugerin.--Between Schomberg and Livaret.--Introduction
of the custom of Seconds fighting with each other.--Murderous
Contests of Antoine de Clarmont.--Contest of six
against six 109
CHAPTER VIII.
DUELLING IN FRANCE DURING THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.
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
Valoise and Bazanez.--Battle of the Hats.--Pardons
for duelling.--Endeavours of Sully to check the practice.--Edict
of Blois.--“The point of honour.”--Refusal of M. de
Reuly to fight a duel 123
CHAPTER IX.
DUELLING DURING THE REIGN OF LOUIS THE THIRTEENTH.
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.--Anecdotes
by Lord Herbert of Cherbury.--Case of M. Mennon.--“C’est
Monsieur Balaguy!”--Quarrels for top-knots and
ribands.--Duel between the Prince de Chalais and the Count
of Pont Gibaut.--Excesses of “the golden youth of France.”--Conflict
between Boutteville and the Marquis de Beuvron.--Boutteville’s
execution 133
CHAPTER X.
DUELLING IN FRANCE DURING THE REIGN OF LOUIS THE
FOURTEENTH.
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 a Poem against Duelling.--Ecclesiastical frays.--Fighting
with Crucifixes, Prayer-books, and Missals.--Private
Outrages in high life.--The great Condé and the
Comte des Rièux.--Duel between the Duke of Beaufort and
the Duke de Nemours.--Between the Comte de Coligny and
the Duke de Guise.--Between the Comte de Rochefort and
the desperado Bréauté.--A singular Challenge.--Duel between
La Frette and De Chalais.--Case of the Marquis de la Donze,
Duel between the Counts de Brionne and d’Hautefort.--Quarrel
of the Dukes de Luxembourg and Richelieu--And of
the Prince de Conti and the Grand Prior of Vendôme.--A gambling
duel.--Meeting between La Fontaine and an Officer.--Association
for the Abolition of Duelling.--Its decline traced
in the progress of Civilization.--The Point of Honour.--Coustard
de Massis.--Defence of Duelling.--Frequency of Duels in
the United States of America accounted for.--Montesquieu’s
recapitulation of the grounds on which the erroneous views of
the Point of Honour were based 151
CHAPTER XI.
DUELLING IN FRANCE DURING THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
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 the
Abbé D’Aydie and a clerk.--Between Contades and Brissac.--Efforts
of Louis the Fifteenth to check duelling.--Duel between the
Duke de Richelieu and the Count de Gacé.--Between Richelieu
and the Count Albani.--Between Richelieu and the Prince de
Lixen.--Between Du Vighan and the Count de Meulan.--“La botte de
St. Evremont.”--Exploits of St. Foix.--Duel between Bricqueville
and La Maugerie.--Rousseau’s denunciation of duelling.--Notions of
honour that prevailed at Versailles and the Tuilerie 183
CHAPTER XII.
DUELLING IN FRANCE DURING THE REIGN OF LOUIS THE
SIXTEENTH.
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
Condé and Vicomte d’Agout.--Exploits of the Chevalier d’Eon.--And
of the Chevalier St. George.--Efforts of Louis to reform
his court.--“Le beau de Tilly.”--His observations on
duelling.--Humorous duels.--Between Ney and a fencing-master.--De
Tilly’s description of the Court of Honour.--Outbreak
of the Revolution.--Duel between Charles Lameth and
De Castries.--Resolution of the municipal body of Paris
against duelling.--Proceedings in the National Assembly
against duelling.--Speech of Camille Desmoulins.--Cause of
the hatred in which duels were held at this time 205
CHAPTER XIII.
DUELLING IN FRANCE DURING THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Duelling, under the Directory, again becomes fashionable.--Numerous
meetings in the Bois de Boulogne.--Duel between
Generals Destaing and Reynier.--A diplomatic duel.--Napoleon’s
dislike of duelling, and distrust of duellists.--Infrequency
of duelling during his reign.--Effect of the restoration of the
Bourbons upon society.--Duels occasioned by parliamentary
speeches and paper wars.--St Marcellin killed in a duel by
his bosom friend Fayau.--Duel between Beaupoil de St. Aulaire
and M. de Pierrebourg.--Between M. de Ségur and General
Gourgaud.--Between two novel writers--Between M. Raynouard
and M. Garnerey, the artist.--Between Treins and Damarzil.--Prosecutions
of survivors.--Duel between Roque-plaine
and Durré.--Singular duel at Bourdeaux.--Strictures on
the conduct of the seconds.--Military duels.--Challenges between
newspaper editors.--Mania for duelling after the revolution
of July.--Singular duel between M. Lethuillier and
M. Wattebaut.--Between General Bugeaud and M. Dulong.--Fatal
duel fought in public.--Challenge of a general Officer to
Marshal Soult Page 237
CHAPTER XIV.
DUELS BETWEEN FRENCH WOMEN 270
CHAPTER XV.
CODE OF DUELLING ESTABLISHED IN FRANCE 274
CHAPTER XVI.
FRENCH VIEWS OF THE CHARACTER AND DUTIES OF
A SECOND, AND OF THE EXPEDIENCY OF DUELLING 294
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
CHAPTER XVIII.
DUELLING IN SPAIN.
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.--Loyola’s
Challenge to a Moor for denying the Divinity of
the Saviour.--Challenges to Bishops or Canons prohibited.--Duelling
punished in Portugal with Transportation.--Rarity
of Duelling in Portugal.--Bombastic Challenge sent by General
O’Donnel to the Christino Brigadier Lopez. 329
CHAPTER XIX.
DUELLING IN GERMANY AND THE NORTH OF EUROPE.
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 Gustavus the Second.--Romantic Trial by Ordeal
in the Case of Maria of Aragon.--Edict of Frederick the
Second against Duelling.--Edicts issued in Bavaria and the
Austrian States.--Joseph the Second’s Sentiments on Duelling.--Anecdotes
of Charles the Twelfth.--Duels among German
Officers--and the Students at Jena.--A romantic Duel.--Madame
de Staël’s observations on duelling in Germany.--Russian
laws against Duelling.--Anecdotes.--Judicial Combats
in Poland.--Frequency of Duelling among the Exiled
Poles. 337
CHAPTER XX.
DUELLING IN BELGIUM AND HOLLAND.
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’Egmont and his son.--Between M. Rogier and M.
Gendebien.--Between M. Eenens and M. Pariset.--Order for
punishing duellists in the Belgian army 361
CHAPTER XXI.
DUELLING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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,
a senator, by General Wilkinson.--Duel between Viscount de
Noailles and Alexandre de Tilly.--Between General Hamilton
and Colonel Burr.--Between Stephen Price and Captain Wilson.--Duelling
in the West Indies.--Duel in Jamaica between
M. d’Egville and Captain Stewart.--Between two planters.--Duelling
in Martinique.--Duels amongst people of colour 371
CHAPTER XXII.
DUELLING IN THE EAST 394
HISTORY OF DUELLING.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.
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 which prides itself upon
its boasted high state of civilization.
The details of ancient duels and single combats, which in fact were
little better than qualified murders, may be revolting from their
barbarous excesses; yet no study will tend more effectually to rub off
from the pictorial romance of history its deceptive varnish, than that
of duelling, its progress, and its occasional comparative disappearance
when it ceased to be fashionable, or resorted to by the upper classes
of society.
The very origin of duelling should make us blush at its
permanency,--springing from the darkest eras of barbarism, when
scarcely a vestige was left, in the wreck of empires, of ancient
glory, and of those arts, sciences, and polite accomplishments that
had distinguished preceding ages, and of which the scattered ruins and
tradition alone remained, fearful records of the vanity of earthly
grandeur and mortal fame.
The martial and independent spirit of Rome was extinct. Sybarite
luxury had succeeded its days of iron; and civilization, degraded by
over refinement into effeminacy, had built palaces, but overthrown
the barriers against invasion. This weakness was felt, tried,
and overwhelmed. Swarms of barbarians overran that once great
dominion,--the torrent swept all before it, and famine and pestilence
marched in the train of the savage invaders; every institution that
policy had laboured to establish was overthrown; and, for centuries,
scarcely a vestige was to be traced of law, justice, or reason. The
right of the sword was the only authority recognised; and a feudal
system divided mankind into lords and slaves. Turbulence, oppression,
and rapine were called government. The Deity was supposed to be
propitiated by deeds of blood; while religion became a useful mask
for the hypocrite, and was confined to the observance of external
ceremonies.
It was during this dark period that the practice of trials by
ordeal,[1] duelling, and single combat reigned paramount; and, when we
consider the state of society into which mankind were brutalized, we
cannot wonder at this mode of deciding differences being considered the
wisest and most just. This epoch cannot be better described than in the
fitting passage of Robertson:
“To repel injuries and to revenge wrongs, is no less natural to man,
than to cultivate friendships; and, while society remains in its
most simple state, the former is considered as a personal right no
less inalienable than the latter. Nor do men in this situation deem
that they have a title to redress their own wrongs alone; they are
touched with the injuries done to those with whom they are connected,
or in whose honour they are interested, and are no less prompt to
avenge them. The savage, how imperfectly soever he may comprehend the
principle of political union, feels warmly the sentiments of social
affection, and the obligations arising from the ties of blood. On the
appearance of an injury or an affront offered to his family or tribe,
he kindles into rage, and pursues the author of it with the keenest
resentment. He considers it as cowardly to expect redress from any
arm but his own, and as infamous to give up to another the right of
determining what reparation he should accept, or with what vengeance he
should be satisfied.”
Here we find the ground-work of duelling,--and it is to be lamented,
that man, even in a progressive state of civilization, differs little
from the savage in his thirst for gratifying the degrading indulgence
of revenge.
Let us strip the romantic days of chivalry of their fantastic and
glittering panoply,--the hall of wassail of its pomp and beauty,--the
troubadour’s fond theme of its florid attractions,--and the feats of
knighthood in the cause of the ladies loved _par amours_ of their
Quixotic devotion,--and what shall we behold? Treachery and ferocity
of the blackest die,--profligacy and debauchery of the most revolting
nature,--vice clad by a morbid imagination in the most fascinating garb
of virtue,--and a murderer’s brow laurelled by beauty’s hand, instead
of falling under the headsman’s axe!
Balzac has truly said that we might travel to the world’s end upon _a
word_. If we could but define certain _words_, and make that definition
recognized by society, which is drawn by reason, instead of fashion
and prejudice, how much more happy might we not be! Then should we
know the real meaning of the words, “liberty, glory, honour, love,
courage,”--now fantastic idols, at whose shrine so much blood has
been vainly shed!--while, by a strange perversion of human intellect,
_satisfaction_ has been considered to consist in the probable
aggravation of our own sufferings, and the misery of all those whom we
hold dear.
It would be anticipating further observations on this important point,
to dwell longer upon it in this place. In the following pages are
recorded the most celebrated duels of various ages, and of different
countries. In their perusal we may shudder at the atrocity of the
details, and flatter ourselves with the idea that the present times are
more civilized, but reflection will convince us that we are in error;
the causes and the effects of the evil continue the same,--the one
equally frivolous, the other equally disgraceful, and equally criminal.
Not only will the history of duelling throw considerable light on
the history of the times, but it will materially tend to illustrate
the manners and the institutions of society at the different periods
of its progression towards a more humanized condition; at the same
time we shall see what has been the effect of example in sanctioning
or discouraging the practice. In the history of duelling we read the
history of mankind in the developement of our evil passions, and the
occasional display of some redeeming qualities. It is a reflective
mirror stained with blood, and we must wipe off the clotted gore of
ages to contemplate truth in all its bearings, to feel what miserable
creatures we are!--the occasional foot-balls of vanity and pride, or
the tools of ambition and hypocrisy, but always the victims of ideal
pursuits and visionary joys! Worldly pomp and all its attractions--its
honours and its glories--remind one of the vain youth who embraces the
career of arms, to sport a dazzling uniform. Behold him now moving
in a galaxy of military splendour; soon after, alas! stretched upon
the battle-field, alone, abandoned; wounded and faint, not a drop of
water to moisten his burning lips, not a friendly hand to raise him
from the ground, while, thinking on the home that he has left, and the
friends whom he shall never see more, he gazes on the embroidery of his
lacerated costume! The dream is passed! sad reality ushers in despair!
As it was from France that the practice of duelling was introduced
into the British isles, I shall first follow the history of the
practice during the several reigns of that monarchy, and bring it up
progressively through the revolutionary era to the present day; I shall
then trace the progress of single combat in the other countries of
Europe; and finally illustrate this execrable relict of barbarism as at
different periods it prevailed in our own country.
The advantage that may arise from thus chronicling, in all their
hideous details, such scenes of blood and turbulence, may be
questionable, yet one result seems to be obvious: if the records
of noble deeds are calculated to produce a praiseworthy emulation
in youthful minds,--to inspire generous feelings and justifiable
ambition,--may not the annals of what may be called honourable
aberrations lead us to come to a just conclusion on a subject so long
mooted and advocated (as we shall see in another part of this history)
by as many eloquent men as it has been condemned by others of an
equally persuasive authority? It is no doubt true, that the perusal
of the Newgate Calendar has seldom or never deterred a youthful tyro
in guilt from the commission of further offences; but a relation of
absurdities (for such must be considered the origin of most duels) is,
perhaps, more likely to prove beneficial than tales of terror. Such
is the force of prejudice, that ridicule is more dreaded than merited
contumely. A man of the world prefers the charge of murder to the
ignominious brand of cowardice.
The difficulty of suppressing duelling has been but too generally
admitted, and it is therefore considered an unavoidable evil. To
mitigate it by such regulations as are most likely to render it less
fatal, and afford a more equal chance to the parties unfortunately
compelled to submit to society’s capricious laws, has, therefore,
been a task which various experienced duellists have undertaken,
more especially in France. In the following pages will be found three
several codes, if such they may be called, an observance of which may
prevent many fatal rencontres, and, when they do take place, much
effusion of blood and frequent loss of life.