Duellists

Duellists are individuals who engage in a duel, a pre-arranged combat between two parties to settle a grievance or defend honor under a formal code. Historically, dueling used weapons such as swords—rapiers or sabers—and, in later centuries, pistols. The procedure was governed by codes of honour, with challenges issued through seconds and observers, and terms such as location, time, and number of passes negotiated in advance. The Code Duello and similar regulations structured many Western duels from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Duelling arose in medieval and early modern Europe and spread to North America and other regions, becoming a social practice among nobles, military officers, and gentlemen. While it served as a means to restore reputation, it also caused many injuries and deaths. Increasing legal prohibitions, religious objections, and social condemnation led most jurisdictions to outlaw or restrict duelling in the 19th century, though informal challenges persisted in some places for longer.

Notable historical duellists include figures from politics and the military who participated in formal challenges. The most famous modern case is the 1804 duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, which left Hamilton dead. Other documented instances appear in period memoirs and national histories, illustrating how personal honour and political culture intersected with the practice.

Today, duelling as an accepted practice is largely obsolete in most countries. The term survives in historical descriptions and fiction, and some enthusiasts study or stage historical reenactments. In contemporary usage, a duelist may also refer to practitioners of modern sport fencing, where safety rules and separate forms of competition govern the activity.