The history of women's duels

Duel is considered to be the domain of men, but this opinion is erroneous. Women were also not averse to battle each other, more than that - a duel between the two were not so rare and, for the most part, much bloodier and more sophisticated.





Duel of women. Husepe de Ribera.



The most legendary female duel is why it is considered a duel between the Marquise de Nesle and the Countess de Polignac in autumn 1624. Do not share the favor of the Duke of Richelieu, who later became a cardinal, ladies, armed with swords and inviting sekundantok, went to the Bois de Boulogne, where he fought.
The duel ended with the victory of the Countess, which wounded his opponent's ear. This fight was not some special, but because of Richelieu, which is mentioned in the notes of this case, and memories themselves duelists, he left his mark in history.
Counting the chronicles of female duels could lead to the ancient times when reigned matriarchy, women take a more active stance. But as the documentary sources of that period, we can say no, then the time will advance further.
The first reliable information about female duels belong to the XVI century, and they are, by the way, dispel the myth that the pioneers in this case were French.
So, in the chronicle of Milanese convent of St. Benedicta mentioned that May 27, 1571 the monastery came two notable senorita. They asked permission to prioress for her prayer room. Permission was granted. But locked in the room, senorita instead start praying, they drew their daggers and rushed at each other. When the noise frightened nun burst into the room, opened it in front of them horrifying picture: on the floor were two bloody ladies, one of whom was dead and the other dying

Duel in the meadow. Charles Cros.



The peak of fashion ladies' duel was in the middle of the XVII century. In France, Italy, England and Germany women crossed swords or guns almost threw up on any occasion. Same dress, lovers, sidelong glance - only a part of what was the reason for the fight.
Women like crazy. And the cruelty displayed by them in duels, shocking. Of the ten duels between women were 8 deaths (for comparison, men duel ended with the murder of four cases).
Women's duel, in fact, had no rules. In the course of fighting a duel to the rivals and often joined sekundantki; duelyantki greased tips of swords irritating compounds that each injury caused terrible pain, deryas with pistols, fired up opponent until one of them is killed or seriously injured ...
Russian women also know a lot about duels. Moreover, Russia is actively cultivated this kind of showdown. It all began, what is most interesting, in far-away Germany. In June 1744 the German princess Sophie Frederica August of Anhalt-Zerbst receives a call to a duel by his second cousin, Princess Anne Ludwiga Anhalt. It is not known, which is not shared by the two fifteen-year girl, but locked in the bedroom first, they started on swords to prove his innocence.
Luckily, the princess did not have the heart to bring the case before the slaughter, but it would never see Russia Catherine II, means the passage of time was Sophia Frederica.

Portrait of Catherine II. Eriksen Vigilius.



And so it is with the accession to the throne of this great Queen and Russia began a boom of female duels. Russian ladies fought with gusto, only in 1765 was 20 duels, 8 of which she was the queen sekundantkoy.
By the way, despite the propaganda of armed fights between women, Catherine was a tough opponent deaths. Its slogan was: "Before the first blood!", And therefore at the time of her reign there were only three cases of death of duelists.
In 1770, the Princess Catherine Dashkova happened not very nice story. It happened in London, in the home of Countess Pushkina, the wife of the Russian ambassador. On a visit to the Countess came Fokson Duchess, considered one of the most educated women in England. The reason for her visit was the desire to talk with Dashkova, and if possible to debate with her. After a half-hour conversation between the ladies got into a heated argument. Rivals were worthy of each other, so the situation quickly escalated.

Duel journalists. Illustrated novel "The Twentieth Century" Albert Robida.



The conversation went on a raised voice and an English woman, in the heat of a dispute broke insulting remarks opponentki. There was an ominous silence.
The princess got up slowly and gestured to stand duchess. When she followed the request, Dashkova came close to oskorbitelnitse and gave her a slap in the face. The Duchess, without thinking twice, gave change. Countess Pushkin came to herself only as rival demanded swords. After unsuccessful attempts to reconcile the women, she still gave them weapons and ran into the garden. The fight did not last long and ended Dashkovoj wound in the shoulder.
After the era of Catherine II women's duel in Russia has undergone great changes. Russian women liked the duel. Hospice also women armed fights become ladies' salons. Particularly successful in this society ladies of St. Petersburg. Thus, in the salon of Madame Vostrouhovoy (unfortunately, detailed information about this woman is not) only in 1823 on 17 (!) Duels.

French postcard "La rencontre".



The notes of a French marquis de Morten, who often raided this place, said: "Russian ladies love to sort things out between themselves with weapons. Their duel do not carry no grace that can be seen in French women, but only blind rage aimed at the destruction of rivals ".
Marquis, like many of her compatriots, in his notes to exaggerate. In contrast to French women, Russian ladies are rarely brought the fight to slaughter, and relative grace is debatable. The fact is that in those years in France in vogue duel in which women fought half-naked, and in a consequence and completely naked. Whether it adds elegance - a moot point, but, according to all that the Marquise de Morten, fights gained poignancy.
In general, information about what happened in the first half of the XIX century in the field of women's duel in Russia is very scarce and often falsified, but something can be found.
"- Ladies, to the barrier" - said a stout woman, looking at the rivals, who looked with interest pistols, which they have just given. Five minutes later, one of them was lying with no signs of life.

Duel mistresses.



In Austria, where the girls hot blood-rival mistress army captain,
devyatnadtsvtiletnyaya Mann dvadtsatiodnoletny Fraulein Fraulein Reuter, decided to shoot.
As a result, the captain had only one friend.
Thus ended the life of a young actress Anastasia Malevsky Mariinsky Theatre. Absurd death at the hands of no less young person, who was passing through St. Petersburg, whose name no one even remembered. The reason for the duel was a young man, which was not indifferent Malewska, and next to it had the misfortune to be a stranger. The minute flash of jealousy, verbal skirmish - and that same evening the girls aim at each other with pistols.
Duels of men among women were particularly violent, just wounded did not satisfy any of the competitors. Only death could clear the way to the heart of the elect. If death did not satisfy any of the parties, then resorted to sophisticated techniques.

Portrait of George Sand. Francois Theodore Roshar.



Friendship famous French writer George Sand, with the great composer Liszt led to her brutal fight. Marie d'Agoult, mistress of the composer him jealous Sand and caused her to a duel, choosing as a weapon sharp nails. Rivals met in the home of Liszt, who locked himself in his office and left only when the woman calmed down.
Victory in this battle is not won no one but George Sand decided to leave the path of temperamental Countess.

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