ON DUELLING IN SPAIN.
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 requesting the aid of the Moors,
Spain would not have been for eight centuries under the yoke of the
infidels. At this period of the peninsular history duelling was
unknown, although it is to the Arabs that some writers have attributed
the institution of chivalry; and, most unquestionably, the poem of
Antar may be considered a recital of chivalric deeds and adventures, as
romantic as any record of knight-errantry or tournament. This curious
work was the production of Asmaï the grammarian, reader to the famed
Kalif Aroun-al-Raschid, and appears to have been written about the year
800. The hero of this romance always fights on horseback; his steed is
named _Abjer_, his resistless sword _Dhamy_; and the loves of _Khaled_
and _Djaïda_ are certainly as whimsical and adventurous as those of
any couple in the palmy days of chivalry. It is more than probable
that many more chivalric tales would have been found amongst the Moors,
had not Cardinal Ximenes ordered all their religious works to be
burnt, after the taking of Cordova, when the soldiery destroyed every
MS. they could find. Few of these valuable documents were preserved;
and those that are now in the Escurial relate chiefly to grammar,
astrology, and theology. Florian has given the following opinion of
the Moors:--“A gallantry, delicate and refined, rendered the Moors of
Grenada celebrated over Europe, and formed a strange contrast with
the natural ferocity of the African races. These Mussulmans, who in
the battle prided themselves on their dexterity in cutting off heads,
which they suspended at their saddle-bows, to exhibit them afterwards
at the gates of their palaces, were the most tender, impassioned, and
devoted lovers. Their wives, although in a servile condition, became
absolute sovereigns when they were beloved. It was to please them that
they sought for glory, and exposed their lives, rivalling each other
in the magnificence of their festivals and their deeds of valour. Was
this strange anomaly of mildness and ferocity, of delicate feelings
and cruelty, transmitted from the Spaniards to the Moors, or did the
former imbibe these mingled sentiments from their infidel invaders?
This is uncertain: one can only remark, that such a mixed character
was unknown in Asia, the birth-place of these Arabs, and is still less
observed in Africa, where their conquests naturalized them. From this
circumstance I am disposed to think that it was due to the Spaniards.
In fact, subsequent to the Moorish invasion, the court of the Kings of
the Goths exhibited various instances of this disposition. After this
period, we see the knights of Leon, of Navarre, and of Castile, as
renowned for the ardour of their love, as for their deeds of arms; and
the name of the Cid must recall vivid recollections of tenderness and
of valour.”
The celebrated combat between four Spanish knights and four Arabs of
the tribe of Zegris, the implacable foes of the Abencerrages, has
been the subject both of poetical fiction and historical record. This
meeting was to vindicate the honour of the Sultana Zoraide, accused by
the Zegris of an adulterous intercourse with Aben Hamet. The indignant
husband had decapitated the offender, and exiled the Abencerrages.
Zoraide was condemned to the stake, unless some champion came forward
to maintain her innocence. Juan Chacon, of Carthagena, answered the
appeal of honour, and, accompanied by three other knights, appeared in
the square of Grenada in front of the Alhambra, and in presence of the
whole court. The beautiful princess was covered with a black veil, and
placed on a scaffold, round which were heaped the faggots that were to
consume her, in the event of her champions being conquered; but they,
fortunately for her, overthrew their infidel antagonists, and proved
her innocence.
In 1491 a young Spaniard fought and killed a Moor, when Ferdinand, as a
reward of his valour, authorised him to bear as his motto the letters
of the _Ave Maria_; and Roderic Telles, grand master of Calatrava, was
renowned for his many combats with the infidels. The annals of Spanish
valour abound with instances of duelling, which was sanctioned and even
encouraged by various laws, more especially in Castile and Aragon.
It appears that in 1165 the King and council of Aragon abolished the
practice; yet, in 1519, we find it to have been so frequent, that
Charles V. issued an edict to forbid it. Nor can we be surprised at
the state of barbarism in which Spain was involved: the continued
incursions of the Moors, the undisciplined state of the troops, without
pay or provisions, and the incessant feuds, not only between the nobles
and their sovereigns, but amongst each other and their vassals, must
have occasioned constant tumult and discord. Society was not secured
by any pact; and rude passions alone dictated the actions of these
unruly barbarians, for such, despite their affectation of gallantry,
they must be called. The unfortunate inhabitants, exposed to these
continued depredations, were obliged to incorporate themselves into
military bodies, to protect life and property; and we find in 1260 they
had assembled in a brotherhood, under the protection of their saints,
forming what was called the _Santa Hermandada_, a corps which gradually
dwindled into a paid police force, resembling the _maréchaussée_
and _gendarmerie_ of France. The immortal author of Don Quixote
often refers to this military jurisdiction, which in reality mainly
contributed to put an end to the atrocities that were daily committed;
and it was chiefly during the reign of Ferdinand the Catholic that
these excesses were restrained.
Not unfrequently was religion mixed up with these ferocious broils; and
we find the founder of the order of the Jesuits, Loyola, offering to
fight a Moor who denied the Divinity of the Saviour. In the council of
Pennafiel, in 1302, it had been found necessary to prohibit challenges
being sent to bishops or canons; a prohibition renewed in 1669. In
Portugal duelling was punished by transportation to Africa, with
confiscation of goods and chattels; and in that country duels to the
present day are very rare, and considered a deadly sin. Subjects of
dispute are carried before a competent tribunal, and the complaint
is called _querelar_; when the parties are ordered to enter into
security for keeping the peace, and are bound _bene vivere_. Not long
since, when the Portuguese court was at Brazil, the Count Linhares
had offended in a ball-room the Marquis de Lavradro, who sent him a
message; but Linhares having fallen from his horse, the offended party
felt satisfied and withdrew the challenge. Gaston de Camara, since
Count Paypa, had offended in a sonnet Castello Branco, son of the
Marquis de Bellari: a meeting took place, and the poet was wounded;
but such meetings, both in Spain and Portugal, are very uncommon. In
the late disastrous conflict between Carlists and Christinos, the
challenge sent by General O’Donnel to the Christino Brigadier Lopez was
considered a singular event. The chivalric bombast of this challenge is
worthy of record, and highly illustrative of the Spanish character:--
“The cavalry of Don Carlos ardently desires to measure itself with
that of Donna Christina; but, as the results of battles are uncertain
from position, or from the number of the combatants, let us, chiefs
of party, imitate the knights of old, and select an equal number of
warriors who, sword in hand, will decide the question by their sheer
valour. On my side, I swear upon my honour not to bring into the field
a greater number of combatants than shall be agreed upon. Trusting
that my enemy will follow my example, I salute all my numerous friends
and former companions who now serve in the Christino ranks, wishing
them every prosperity, excepting in battle, for I know no enemy save
those I meet in the field.”
This challenge was accepted by the Christino general, who issued the
following order of the day:--“I merely wait to know the appointed
ground, to lead you into the conflict. Death is a noble reward to all
those who feel Spanish blood flowing in their veins; and you will find
your commander at the head of this romantic duel.” It is needless to
add, that this gasconading did not even end in smoke.
Notwithstanding the barbarous nature of duels, they are rarely resorted
to by ferocious nations, who prefer the more certain revenge that
assassination affords. There is a civilization and an honourable
bearing in a duel, foreign to the Spanish character; and it cannot be
expected that men capable of murdering women can meet a brave adversary
in single combat, governed by the laws of honour. What can be thought
of a nation whose generals issued orders to put any surgeon to death
who had been known to dress the wounds of an enemy? It is painful to
reflect, that after the events of June in 1833, the French police
issued an order nearly as barbarous to all medical men, to send in the
names of the wounded they had been called upon to dress. Frederic the
Great had also issued an edict in which surgeons were prohibited from
attending any person wounded in a duel!