![]() ![]() “A coward, a man incapable either of defending or of revenging himself, wants one of the most essential parts of the character of a man.” Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nationsĭueling began in ancient Europe as “trial by combat,” a form of “justice” in which two disputants battled it out whoever lost was assumed to be the guilty party. As warfare evolved, single combat became increasingly less prevalent, but the ethos of the contest would lend inspiration to the gentlemen’s duel. ![]() This contest would sometimes settle the matter, or would serve only as a prelude to the ensuing battle, a sign to which side the gods favored. Prominent single combat battles have made their way into the records of history and legend, such as the battle between David and Goliath in the Valley of Elah and Achilles’ clashes with both Ajax and Hector in Homer’s Iliad. In the ancient tradition of single combat, each side would send out their “champion” as the representative of their respective armies, and the two men would fight to the death. How did this violent way to prove one’s manhood evolve? Let’s take a look at the history of the affair of honor and the code duello which governed it. In such a society, the courts could offer a gentleman no real justice the matter had to be resolved with the shedding of blood. Duels, which were sometimes attended by hundreds of people, were a way for men to publicly prove their courage and manliness. ![]() A man’s honor was the most central aspect of his identity, and thus its reputation had to be kept untarnished by any means necessary. While dueling may seem barbaric to modern men, it was a ritual that made sense in a society in which the preservation of male honor was absolutely paramount. “A man may shoot the man who invades his character, as he may shoot him who attempts to break into his house.” -Samuel Johnson In our modern age, solving a problem by asking a dude to step outside is generally considered an immature, low class thing to do.īut for many centuries, challenging another man to a duel was not only considered a pinnacle of honor, but was a practice reserved for the upper-classes, those deemed by society to be true gentlemen. Editor’s note: This post was co-written by Chris Hutcheson and Brett McKay. ![]()
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