American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-04-24
ROYAL DUELS.

Author of John Halifax, Gentleman" ia
Haypr's Weekly.
ROYAL DUELS.
Although dueling in some form had
previously been practiced in England, it
Q said that the Judicial Duel, or Wager
of Battle, was unknown there until the
Norman Conquest, when it became a
branch of the jurisprudence of that
country. In the reign of Edward the
Third it was a favorite form of legal
procedure. In the time of Elizabeth it
became substantially obsolete, but as
his glove in accordance with ancient Gus
tom" A case SO remarkable in the
nineteenth century, of course, attracted
universal attention. 1t was carried be-
fore the highest courts of law, and the
right OF Thornton was affirmed. His ad-
versary, however, declined the challenge.
A few months later the judicial duel was
abolished by Parliament.
The period from which the modern
duel dates is not known with certainty.
1t was probably in 1927, when the King
of France challenged the Emperor of
Germany, that it first received the sane
ton of society. The judicial duel, &C.
cording to Blackstone, was authorized in
the laws of Gundebald, A. D. sol. For
. while it was confined to certain classes
In Germany; but we find that it has been
practiced under all European monarch
les. Its motto was that "a brave man
did not deserve to suffer, and a coward
did not deserve to live" In civil cases
also this form of combat was the chose n
arbiter between claimants to landed es-
tates and personal property; while in
"suits commenced before the tribunals,
. party dissatisfied with the proceedings
might challenge q Judge to defend him
self In the field" Under this code gen.
tlemen would sometimes appear as cham
pionsin behalf of their sovereigns. Near
tho close of the twelfth century a
Frenchman went over to England to en-
gage with certain persons who had as
serted that his King Philip had done
an injustice to King John of England.
The last judicial duel recognized by law
in France took place in 1547.
The origin of duels in general is un-
known. The combat between David and
Goliath and the strifes of Homer's heroes
are sometimes classed as duels. Among
the Arabs duels occurred certainly as
early - the seventh century. As late as
1899 dueling was allowed bylaw in
Malta, and it was the custom there to
mark with . cross the spot where a duel
ist fell.
Among the royal duelists of England
Edward the Third may be specially men,
toned. In 1349, while he was in France
pushing his claims by force of arms, he
challenged . French Knight on the field
of battle The monarch was "twice
beaten to the ground" The combat,
however, was desperate, and the Knight
finally was obliged to yield. Edward. ad-
miring his bravery, placed q string of
without ransom. He had previously Tin
134N challenged Philip of Valois, King
of France. This challenge was declined.
In 1897 Henry, afterward the Fourth,
but at that time Duke of Hereford, en-
gagged In an affair of honor with the Earl
Marshal of England They had arranged
to settle q personal difficulty according
to the code; More than 10000 persons
had assembled upon the ground, when
King Richard the Second appeared, and,
putting An end to the proceedings, SEN
fenced the combatants to Punishment
Two years later Hereford succeeded to
the title OF Duke of Lancaster. He re-
turned to England, and driving Richard
from the throne was himself crowned
King. In 1402 Henry was challenged by
the Duke of Orleans. He replied: Il
example of q crowned King entering the
lists to fight q duel with a subject, how
ever high the rank of that subject might
be-"
Richard the First Occur de Lion) chal-
lenRed the Emperor Of Cyprus while in
battle. His challenge dismayed the foe,
who fed and left the field to Richard.
Richard was CHALLENGED by Philip the
Second of France. Both Kings, at the
beginning of their quarrel, were engaged
in the Crusade. The English monarch
accepted conditionally, but Philip OBJ
jected to the terms desired. At the
time of this challenge war had been de-
clared between the two nations.
Richard the Second, at the time he
claimed the crown of France, offered to
engage King Charles as a means of ter.
minating their controversy.
1t was ON the famous field of Bosworth
that Richard the Third engaged in single
combat with the Earl of Richmond. 1t
is regarded as. perhaps, fortunate fol
the Earl that in the midst of the duel q
body of troops appeared and put an end
to the life of the King. His adversary
succeeded him as Henry the Seventh.
1t was in 1414 that Henry the Fifth, OF
England, claimed the French crown anC
challenged the Dauphin, who ridiculed
the offer. The Dauphin seems to have
acted very much IN this matter as die
King Philip, of France, 10 1195, wher
Prince John, who afterward became
King of England, importuned him t.
fight.
Henry the FOurth, OF England, AT tn'
time he invaded Scotland, also treated
with contempt = similar proposal from
the Duke of ROthsay.
Going back again to 1866, it appear
that William the Conquerer was a duel
list. Before the battle of Hastings h
offered to fight with Harold. The SaxOl
replied: " The God Of battles will sool
be the arbiter of all our differences.
But In the conflict the Norman trium pied
and the last Saxon King was slain. Tn
Conqueror, later in life, engaged in singh
combat with his own son. The duel, i
such it may be called, took place on tn
field where the two had met at the hea,
of contending armies. The father wa
dismounted and wounded.
Among other "affairs of honor" i
which national rulers have been involve
it may be mentioned that 555 Z. c. tn
King of Persia sought to end a quarre
between himself and the King of A.
syria by means OF a duel
1t was in the eighty seventh year {
Rome, during a war with the Adams, that
proposition was made to refer the destin
Of both peoples to a duel to he fougl
with three combatants on a side. tt
plan was carried out. On the Roma
side were " the three Horatii." Horati,
was the only survivor, and he save
Rome. His sister was in love with OF
Of the Curiatii. She expressed SUI
grief at his death that, in a iii of indi