The history of women's duels

The duel is considered a prerogative of men, but this view is mistaken. Women, too, were not averse to fighting each other, moreover, the duel between them was not so rare and for the most part, much more bloody and sophisticated.

Duel women. Husepe de Ribera

The duel ended with the victory of the Countess who shot her rival in the ear. This fight was not something special, but, thanks to Richelieu, in the notes which mentions this event, and the memories themselves duelyantok, he left a mark in history.

The countdown also Chronicles women's duels could lead to ancient times, when reigned matriarchy and women have taken a more active stance. But as the documentary sources of the period, we can say, no, I'll move time forward.

Thus, in the chronicle of Milan's convent of St. Benedicts is mentioned that on may 27, 1571 in the monastery arrived two noble ladies. They asked the mother superior permits room for her prayer. The permission was given. But locked in my room, ladies, instead start praying, drew his daggers and rushed at each other. When a noise frightened nuns rushed into the room, then they opened a terrible picture: on the floor lay two blood-soaked ladies, one of whom was dead and the other dying.

A duel in the meadow. Charles CROs

Women like crazy. And the cruelty exhibited by them in the duels, shocking. From ten duels between women, eight had a fatal outcome (for comparison: male duel ended with murder in four cases out of ten).

Women's duel, in fact, had no rules. In the course of the duel by fighting rivals often joined by their secondand; gualandi smeared the tips of the swords irritating compositions to a wound caused terrible pain; brawling and fighting with pistols, the two rivals shot up to as long as one of them was killed or seriously wounded...

Russian women also know a lot about duels. Moreover, Russia actively cultivated this kind of relationship. It all began, what is most interesting in long Germany. In June 1744 a German Princess Sophie Frederica August of Anhalt-Zerbst receives a challenge to a duel from his second cousin, Princess Anna of Anhalt these two series. It is not known that is not shared by these two fifteen year old girls, but locked in the bedroom of Sophia, they began with swords to prove his innocence.

Fortunately, the Princess didn't have the guts to bring the matter to the slaughter, but it would not see the Russia of Catherine II, which at the time was Sophia Frederick.

Portrait of Catherine II. The Virgilius Eriksen

By the way, despite the propaganda of the armed fights between the women, Ekaterina was a tough opponent for the deaths. Her slogan was: "Until first blood!" and therefore, during her reign there were only three cases of death of duelyantok.

Duel journalists. Illustrated novel, "the Twentieth century" albert Robida

The Princess slowly rose and motioned to stand the Duchess. When she followed the request, Dashkova came close to osterbitterna and slapped her. The Duchess without thinking twice fought back. Countess Pushkin came to his senses only when competitors demanded swords. After unsuccessful attempts to reconcile the women, she still gave them weapons and held in the garden. The fight lasted long, and ended with Dashkova wound in the shoulder.

After the era of Catherine II women's duel in Russia underwent drastic changes. Russian women fell in love with duel. The same women's shelter armed fights are the ladies ' parlors. Especially successful in St. Petersburg society lady. So, in the salon of Mrs. Ostrouhova (unfortunately, detailed information about this woman is not) only in 1823 took place on 17 (!) of duels.

French postcard La rencontre

Duel mistresses In Austria, where the girls are hot blood of her rival mistresses, army captain, 19-year-old fräulein manna and 21-year-old Fraulein Reuther, decided to shoot. As a result, the captain was left with only one friend.

"Ladies, to the barrier!" said a portly woman by looking at opponents, which with interest examined the pistols, they just gave. In five minutes one of them lay without signs of life.

So ended the life of a young actress of the Mariinsky theatre Anastasia Malewski. Absurd death from the hands of no less a young person who was in St. Petersburg, passing through, whose name no one even remembered. The cause of the duel was a young man, who was caring Malewska and near which had the misfortune to be a stranger. A momentary flash of jealousy, verbal fight and that same night the girls take aim at each other with pistols.

Duel for men between women were particularly violent, just injured did not satisfy either one of the rivals. Only death could clear the way to the heart of the elect. If death did not suit any of the parties, then resorted to sophisticated techniques.

Portrait Of George Sand. Francois Theodore Roshar

Victory in this battle is not won by anybody, but George sand decided to get away from the path of temperamental Countess.