The tradition of the duel originated in modern times among the Western European aristocracy. Such fights had strict rules. It was defined by a code - a set of generally accepted rules. The duel in Russia was adopted in its classic European form. The state fought against this custom for a long time, declaring it illegal and persecuting those who, despite the prohibitions, went to shoot themselves or fight with the enemy with knives.
Code
The generally accepted code established the causes and causes of fights, their types, the procedure for conducting, rejecting and accepting a challenge. Every duel in Russia followed these rules. If a person violated these installations, he could be dishonored. There were several national codes. The differences between them were insignificant.
The French document of 1836 can be considered the first dueling code. It was published by the Comte de Chateauviller. On the basis of this code, analogues were built in other countries, including Russia. Another important pan-European set of rules was the collection, which in 1879 was published by Count Verger. The most famous domestic document of this kind was the Durasovsky Code of 1912. According to the rules from which it was composed, duels were organized in Russia. 19th centurybecame a period of generalization of these traditions. Therefore, the code was known to every nobleman and officer even before the appearance of its Duras edition. The 1912 edition was only a set of recommendations reinforcing commonly known practices.
The tradition of the classic duel of the New Age is considered the successor to the Western jousting tournaments of the Middle Ages. In both cases, the battle was considered a matter of honor with a certain ritual, from which none of the opponents departed. Knightly tournaments were abolished in the 16th century due to the fact that the usual equipment of opponents was outdated and ineffective. It was then that the foot duel was born, reaching the pinnacle of its evolution in the 19th century.
Weapons
Initially, duels in Russia, as in other countries, were fought exclusively with melee weapons. These were the blades that aristocrats or soldiers used to carry with them. Such types of weapons were swords, sabers, rapiers, swords, daggers. If it was a judicial duel (common only in the Middle Ages), then the choice depended on the decision of the court. He was influenced, among other things, by the class of opponents. In the case when the opponents did not belong to the "noble" strata of society, they could even fight with axes or clubs.
Dugs and shields ceased to be used in the 17th century. At that time, the technique of fencing was developing rapidly. Attack speed began to play a large role in combat. As a result, a massive transition to rapiers began, which were already exclusively piercing, not chopping weapons.
In the 18th century, when duels in Russiagradually became a widespread tradition in the army, single-shot trigger pistols began to spread more and more. The use of firearms has changed a lot in the tradition of tete-a-tete fights. Now the result of the battle was not affected by the physical fitness or age of its participants. Melee weapons required more skills. If one duelist was distinguished by skillful swordsmanship and defended himself better, he risked almost nothing. In a fight with pistols, on the contrary, everything was decided by almost blind chance. Even a bad shooter could kill his opponent with more luck.
Canonical and exotic
Many duels in 19th century Russia were deliberately fought with an identical pair of pistols (specially made and similar in every detail). All these factors maximally equalized the chances of opponents. The only difference between these pistols could be the serial numbers on the trunks. Today, the duel in Russia is remembered only as a foot battle. However, such a format did not appear immediately. Previously, gun duels were popular, in which opponents sat on horseback.
Fights where rifles, shotguns or carbines were used were more rare. Nevertheless, cases of the use of long-barreled weapons have also been recorded. Some of the fights were even more exotic. A duel is known in Russia, when the opponents (headquarters captain Zhegalov and bailiff Tsitovich) used copper candelabra, since one of the participants could neither fence nor shoot.
Challenge
Traditionally duelstarted with a challenge. The reason for it was an insult, when a person believed that he had the right to challenge his offender to a duel. This custom was associated with the concept of honor. It was quite broad, and its interpretation depended on the specific case. At the same time, material disputes about property or money were resolved in the courts among the nobility. If the victim filed an official complaint against his offender, he no longer had the right to challenge him to a duel. The rest of the fights were arranged due to public ridicule, revenge, jealousy, etc.
It is also important that, according to the concepts of that era, only an equal in social status could insult a person. That is why duels were held in narrow circles: between nobles, military men, etc., but it was impossible to imagine a battle between a tradesman and an aristocrat. If a junior officer challenged his superior to a duel, the latter could reject the challenge without damage to his honor, although there are cases when such battles were nevertheless organized. Basically, when the dispute concerned people from different social strata, their lawsuit was resolved exclusively in court.
In the event of an insult, the code recommended calmly demanding an apology from the offender. In case of refusal, a notification followed that seconds would arrive at the enemy. The challenge could be written (cartel) or oral. It was considered good form to turn to the offender during the first day after the insult. Call delay was frowned upon.
There were often cases when a person insulted several people at once. Dueling rules in 19th century RussiaIn this case, it was established that only one of them could challenge the offender to a duel (if there were several calls, only one of their choice was satisfied). This custom ruled out the possibility of reprisals against the offender by the efforts of many people.
Types of insults
The Code divided insults into three types according to severity. Ordinary insults were caused by words and hurt only the vanity of a nobleman. They did not concern reputation or good name. These could be caustic statements, public attacks against appearance, manners of dressing, etc. Grave insults were inflicted with an indecent gesture or word. They affected reputation and honor. This could be an accusation of deceit or foul language. Such acts usually led to duels to the point of injury or first blood.
Finally, the code regulated insults of the third degree. Aggressive actions were classified as such: throws with objects, slaps, blows. Such insults, carried out or incomplete for some reason, were equally regarded. They also included the betrayal of his wife. If the offended responded with a similar insult towards his offender, he did not lose his right to call a duel. However, there were nuances. If the offended responded with a more serious insult (for example, gave a slap in response to a slight mockery), then the offender became the offended party, who received the right to set a duel.
Characters
Only the duelists themselves, their seconds, and the doctor could attend the duel in Russia. 19th century, whose rules were based ongenerally accepted principles, is considered the heyday of this tradition. The later code forbade challenging the next of kin to a duel. For example, it was impossible to fight with a brother, but it was possible with a cousin. Duels between debtors and creditors were also prohibited.
Women, as well as men with serious injuries or illnesses, could not become participants in the battle. There was also an age limit. Calls from older people over 60 were not welcome, although there were exceptions. If a person who was not able or did not have the right to participate in a duel was insulted, he could be replaced by a "patron". As a rule, the next of kin became such people.
The honor of a woman could theoretically be defended with a weapon in the hands of any man who volunteered, especially if the insult was inflicted on her in a public place. When a wife was unfaithful to her husband, her lover turned out to be in a duel. If the husband cheated, he could be called by a relative of the girl or any other man who wished.
Seconds
The classic rules of pistol dueling assumed that between the challenge and the fight itself, the offender and the offended should not communicate and meet with each other. Seconds were appointed to conduct negotiations, who organized the preparations for the duel. As them, the code recommended choosing people with a spotless reputation and equal social status. The seconds vouched with their honor that the duel would comply with the norms of the code and be organized under equal conditions for rivals.
It was considered wrong when forthe organization of the duel was taken by an interested person. That is why duels in Russia, the rules of which were binding on all parties, forbade the appointment of a close relative as a second. The powers of the "right hand" were determined by those who participated in the duel. The duelist could allow the second to act completely at his own discretion, or even accept peace from the second of the person who offended him. As a rule, assistants only transmitted messages, acting as couriers.
If the confidants failed to agree on peace, discussions began on the technical details of the upcoming clash. It depended on their agreement whether the duel would be deadly or only to first blood, what would be the barrier distance (if these were pistol duels). In Russia, the code allowed to turn to a person respected on both sides so that he could be an arbitrator if the seconds could not agree on the terms of the duel. The decisions of such a person were accepted by the opponents without objection. One of the two seconds took on another important function. He gave orders at the duel itself (gave the command to shoot, etc.). A doctor was needed at the duel, firstly, to ascertain injuries or death, and secondly, to help those who were injured.
Progress of the battle
As a rule, duels took place in secluded places and early in the morning. The time of arrival of the opponents was strictly defined. If a participant was late for more than 15 minutes, his opponent could leave the place of the duel, and the one who was late in this case was recognized as deviant and deprived of honor.
BAt the beginning of the duel, the seconds once again offered to end the conflict amicably. In case of refusal, they announced the prearranged rules of the duel. Apologies to the last barrier were banned in Russia. Anyone who began to hesitate when the manager had already announced the start of the duel was recognized as a coward. Opponents fired or attacked each other with cold weapons after the command of one of the seconds. He declared the duel over. The duel ended after the use of pistols, injury or death (depending on the agreements) of one of the participants from a stabbing weapon.
If the duelists survived in the end, they would shake hands at the end. The perpetrator apologized at the same time. Such a gesture did not humiliate him in any way, since the honor was restored by a duel. Apologies after the fight were considered only a tribute to tradition and the norm of the code. Even when duels in Russia were distinguished by cruelty, the seconds after the end of the battle necessarily drew up a detailed protocol of what had happened. It was certified by two signatures. The document was necessary to confirm that the duel took place in full accordance with the norms of the code.
Melee dueling
Standard options for duels were established in the aristocratic environment by the 19th century. First of all, the nature of the duel was determined by the weapon used. Duels in Russia in the 18th century were carried out with swords, sabers and rapiers. In the future, this generally accepted set was preserved and became a classic. Most often, identical weapons were used, but with the consent of the parties, each opponent could use his own blade.
Melee duels could be moving or stationary. In the first version, the seconds marked out a long area or path, on which the free movement of fighters was allowed. Retreats, detours and other fencing techniques were allowed. A motionless duel assumed that the opponents were placed at striking distance, and the battle was fought by the duelists who stood in their places.
The weapon was held in one hand, and the other remained behind. It was impossible to beat the enemy with their own limbs. It was also forbidden to capture an enemy blade. The fight started after the signal given by the second-manager. Only this person had the right to immediately stop the battle at the first request. This principle was one of the most important for any duel in Russia. The 19th century, whose rules seem amazing today, laid the concept of honor in people, and it was they who forbade disobeying the manager, even if he was the enemy's second.
In the case when the opponent dropped his weapon, his counterpart stopped the fight and waited for the blade to be raised. Duels to wound or to first blood stopped after the first hit. Then the doctor spoke. If he concluded that the wound was too severe to continue the fight, the duel ended.
Pistol fights
In the 19th century, a pair of pistols was always kept in the house of every noble family. He held on for a very specific purpose. Firearms were given after being challenged to a duel. These pistols were single-shot. At the same time, they usedonly those that have not yet been used and were considered unfired. This rule was necessary in order not to give any of the opponents a noticeable advantage.
The familiar gun immediately gave the shooter a certain head start. It was all the more powerful because in the 19th century, firearms were mostly made individually, and each copy had unique characteristics. The use of twin pistols solved this problem. Participants arrived at the place of the fight with their untouched pair sets. The rules for dueling pistols in Russia stated that the choice between sets was made by lot.
According to a common tradition, duelists using firearms fired only one shot at a time. Quite often, as a result of such volleys, no one died or was even injured. Even in this case, the duel was considered over, and honor restored. Opponents were not at all eager to deal with each other. At the same time, a deliberate (or even demonstrative) shot past the target could generally be regarded as an insult. There are cases when such gestures led to a new duel.
The practice was less often used, in which the seconds agreed on a duel before the first injury. In this case, if the shots did not hit anyone, the pistols were loaded again until someone hit the opponent. With a new attempt, the seconds could reduce the distance between the opponents and thereby increase the risk for the duelists.
Types of gun duels
Like the rules for dueling with melee weapons, the rules forgunshot suggested the possibility of a motionless duel. In this case, the opponents stood at a distance of 15-20 steps from each other. Shots could be fired simultaneously at the command of the steward or in turn, determined by a random draw.
The most common in Russia was a mobile duel with barriers. In this case, a special path was marked between the opponents. Its boundaries were marked by obstacles, which could be any large objects. After the command of the steward, the rivals began to converge, moving towards each other. Stopping at the barrier, the duelist fired a shot.
A distance of 15 steps in Russia was considered "peaceful". At this distance, the arrows rarely hit the target. It was a "noble distance". However, despite his imaginary safety, the poet Alexander Pushkin died 20 steps away. Blind duels were also practiced. In such a duel, men fired shots over their shoulders, standing with their backs to each other.
Some duels were arranged according to the principle of Russian roulette. It was resorted to in case of irreconcilable hostility between the arrows. Opponents stood at a distance of 5-7 steps. Of the two pistols, only one was loaded. Weapons were distributed by lot. Thus, the rivals maximized the risk and randomness of the outcome. The lot gave equal chances, and it was on this principle that the rules of dueling with pistols were based. The code also included a barrel-to-mouth duel. The difference with the previous one was only that both pistols were loaded. Similarshowdowns often ended in the death of both shooters.
The most brutal duels made Western Europeans perceive Russian duels of the 19th century as "legalized murder". In fact, the state struggled with this tradition for a long time. Duelists often lost their ranks and fell into exile.
