duello

Duello is the term used in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese for a duel, a private armed combat between two opponents conducted under an agreed set of rules. In English, the corresponding term is typically duel. Historically, duelli or duellos described the practice of settling questions of honor or reputation through combat, usually between gentlemen or warriors.

Duels emerged in medieval and early modern Europe and evolved into largely codified procedures. They often involved seconds who negotiated terms, witnesses to attest to the challenge and its fulfillment, and formal choices of weaponry and timing. The practice encompassed various weapon traditions, including swords such as rapiers and longswords, and later pistols in the early modern period. Codes or manuals of duelling supplied rules for challenges, terms of engagement, and penalties for violations or deceit, aiming to regulate and legitimize the process even as it remained inherently violent.

Despite the codifications, fatalities were common and public authorities increasingly regarded duels as a threat to public order and the rule of law. From the 18th century onward, many jurisdictions enacted legal prohibitions or strict regulations on duelling, and social attitudes toward honor-based violence shifted. The practice declined through the 19th and into the 20th century, though it persisted in certain regions and within ceremonial or sport contexts.

Today, duello remains primarily a historical subject in literature, film, and cultural studies. It is used to illuminate concepts of honor, conflict resolution, and the development of legal norms concerning violence.