duelling

Dueling is a formalized combat between two individuals, conducted to settle disputes over insults or offenses, and framed as a test of personal honor. Duels were governed by codes of conduct and typically involved the participation of seconds and often third-party observers. The purpose was to determine honor rather than to punish, with the outcome understood as resolving the dispute between the combatants.

Historically, duels originated in medieval Europe and evolved into a ceremonial practice among aristocrats in early modern Europe and the Atlantic world. Weapons shifted from swords in earlier centuries to pistols in the 16th through 19th centuries. Duels spread through colonial societies and were influenced by local codes and customs that prescribed challenges, preparation, and acceptable behavior during combat.

Duelling codes, such as the Code Duello, provided rules on how challenges were issued, how weapons were chosen, the distance or number of shots, and procedures for handling injuries or withdrawal. Seconds often negotiated terms and ensured fair play, while witnesses safeguarded the procedure's legitimacy. Duels were typically conducted in private or at designated venues and were limited to participants and their associates.

In many jurisdictions, dueling was banned by the late 19th century as legal systems expanded authority and social attitudes shifted toward resolving disputes through law. Today dueling is illegal in most places, though it remains a powerful motif in literature and film. Notable real-world examples include the 1804 duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, often cited as emblematic of the era.