Dueling has a rich reputation in pop culture history. The real-life scenarios of such duels, however, are quite different from the audience’s expectations. While there are episodes of noticeable mercy, compassion, and fair-play, the ones of unscrupulous deceit, duplicity, and underhanded behavior exist as well. The pragmatic reality lies somewhere in between.
The Roman Gladiator Duels
The Roman Gladiator Duels didn’t really happen. Training a gladiator was hard and expensive work. Gladiators were important for wars as the Emperor’s attack group. Therefore, it would be unrealistic to use these warriors to fight to the death against each other. Historians document that these duels were actually pigs vs. the gladiators hunting spectacles.
The legendary sniper duel
The legendary sniper duel of “Konig vs. Zaitsev” during World War II was also a myth. Although fabricates, the duel was extremely potent for the sake of Soviet propaganda. Realistically, the average soldiers were not snipers and definitely not snipers with a legendary reputation. Additionally, there was no place for a covert sniping standoff during a melee confrontation. Many historians have theorized that “Konig” didn’t even exist.
The last sword duel
The last documented
sword duel in history took place between French politicians Gaston Defferre and Rene Ribiere in 1967. An épée (the largest type of swords in fencing) was the weapon of choice. The duel ended after drawing of second blood.
Petticoat duels
While it is a common conception that duels are only fought among noblemen or men of the court, it is not true. On certain occasions, duels with pistols or swords were fought between women whenever an insult to their honor was registered. Additionally, commoners, as well as nobles in different parts of Europe, fought both official and ad hoc duels.
Sword blocking in duels
The edge-blocking of swords is a popular pop culture myth. In actuality when swords hit too many hard things, they stop being sharp. These photogenic parries quickly turn razor-sharp blades into puffed up crowbars. The experts suggest catching a blow on the cross guard of the hilt or on the broad side of the blade rather than the edges.
Long fights
While movies show long riposte and parry duels, reality begs to differ. Sword fights last more than 10 seconds only when both participants are wearing head to toe armor and commence the duel in several short rounds. Real-life sword or gun single-combats both last for only two to three strikes.
Time and Place
Because dueling was frequently forbidden throughout history (though that depended on where and when), duels were often fought on a field of honor. This was usually a completely isolated area, to avoid witnesses. In the West, they were usually fought at dawn for the same reason. Formal fights of honor were the preferred means of settling fights in the Renaissance.
Chivalry and Courtliness
Another myth exists that Medieval knightly combat was always chivalrous and courteous. Reality is different. Personal armed combat at this time was a violent and bloody business with little room for false etiquette. A dueler was free to use any weapon in his arsenal. The historical record of judicial combats, streetfights, and duels firmly establishes this myth of chivalry to be false.
