Duels once stood as the ultimate expression of aristocratic honor, a formal way for the privileged to resolve disputes. Yet, not every duel followed the classic script of pistols or swords. The following ten episodes—each more outlandish than the last—show how 10 history 8217 is peppered with contests that defy expectations, some of which never even happened.

Why 10 History 8217 Loves Odd Duels

10. Billiard Balls

Sometimes a gentleman’s disagreement escalates into a formal duel, but other times it spirals into something that feels more like a reckless fraternity challenge. On a quiet September day in 1843, a heated argument erupted over a billiards match in Maisonfort, France. The two players, Melfant and Lenfant, could not settle their dispute through words, so they elected to duel—ironically choosing billiard balls as their weapons because the quarrel stemmed from the game itself.

They drew lots to decide who would throw first; Melfant won. Following the customary twelve‑pace distance, he shouted, “I will kill you with my first throw!” and hurled the ball. It struck Lenfant squarely on the forehead, killing him instantly. Though Melfant technically won, his victory was short‑lived; authorities deemed the duel unlawful, leading to his arrest, trial, and conviction for manslaughter.

The episode remains a stark reminder that even seemingly harmless objects can become deadly when honor is at stake, and that the law of the time did not always view such improvised duels as respectable.

9. Abraham Lincoln’s Near Duel

If you think trolling is a modern invention, think again—Abraham Lincoln proved otherwise. In 1842, Illinois State Auditor James Shields advocated closing the financially troubled Illinois State Bank. Lincoln, disagreeing vehemently, chose not to argue directly but to launch a satirical campaign. He penned a scathing letter to the Sangamo Journal under the pseudonym “Rebecca,” mocking Shields’ ego and even joking about his inability to marry women.

Shields, incensed by the personal attacks, demanded a duel to restore his honor. As the challenged party, Lincoln was allowed to set the terms. He selected massive cavalry broadswords, giving his 6‑foot‑4‑inch frame a clear advantage over Shields’ 5‑foot‑9‑inch stature. The two met on Missouri’s Bloody Island, but the duel ended abruptly when Lincoln chopped down an overhead branch, prompting Shields to call a truce and walk away.

Lincoln’s choice of weapon and his clever deflection turned a potentially lethal encounter into a whimsical footnote in his early career, illustrating how wit could sometimes outweigh steel.

8. Proust Duels His Critic

Literary critic Jean Lorrain launched a vicious assault on Marcel Proust, labeling him “one of those small‑time fops in literary heat” and insinuating a scandalous homosexual liaison with Lucien Daudet. Lorrain’s reputation for sensationalist attacks made his accusations all the more poisonous, and Proust, unwilling to let his reputation be tarnished, issued a challenge to a duel.

The two met in the forest of Meudon, exchanging pistol fire. Neither sustained injuries, and the duel concluded with the matter declared settled. This confrontation offers a tantalizing glimpse into the personal stakes behind Proust’s later work, especially the ambiguous sexuality of the protagonist in Swann’s Way, which scholars have linked to the author’s own hidden struggles.

Thus, a literary disagreement escalated into a literal showdown, underscoring how personal honor could spill over from the page to the battlefield in 10 history 8217.

7. The South’s Dramatic Duelist

Dueling was intended as a gentleman’s method of dispute resolution, yet some individuals took it to obsessive extremes. Kentucky’s notorious duelist Alexander Keith McClung, dubbed the “Black Knight of the South,” challenged opponents for no discernible reason—often simply because he could. His reputation for reckless dueling spread across the United States and even into Uruguay, where he is believed to have killed more than ten men.

McClung’s self‑destructive reputation spiraled: each duel amplified his notoriety, leading to heavier drinking and a shorter fuse. Social circles began to avoid him, and a Southern society lady chronicled his morbid fascination with cemeteries and his eventual suicide in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1855.

The tragic arc of McClung’s life illustrates how the culture of dueling could become a vortex of violence and despair, consuming even the most flamboyant of its participants.

6. Ben Jonson

Ben Jonson, the celebrated playwright and occasional actor of Shakespeare’s era, enjoyed a career riddled with controversy. While his first play, Every Man In His Humor, featured Shakespeare, Jonson’s later work, The Isle of Dogs, landed him in trouble for allegedly inciting rebellion, resulting in his imprisonment for sedition.

The details of his duel remain murky, but it ended with the death of fellow actor Gabriel Spencer, a leading man in their troupe. Jonson faced serious charges, yet he escaped severe punishment by invoking the “benefit of clergy”—a legal loophole that allowed literate individuals to receive leniency. He proved his literacy in Latin, securing only a brief two‑week jail stint, though he later endured incarceration in Newgate Prison where he converted to Catholicism.

Jonson’s brush with the law highlights the precarious balance between artistic expression and the strict moral codes of his time, a theme that resonates throughout 10 history 8217’s most eccentric confrontations.

5. George Frideric Handel

George Frideric Handel, revered for masterpieces like the Messiah, almost lost his life to a duel over a seemingly trivial dispute. While living in Hamburg, he shared a residence with fellow composer Johann Mattheson. Their rivalry intensified during a joint performance of Mattheson’s opera Cleopatra, where Mattheson juggled conducting and acting while Handel played harpsichord.

When it was time for Mattheson to take the reins, Handel refused to hand over the baton, sparking a heated confrontation that spilled into the street. Spectators, ever eager for drama, heckled the two musicians until they agreed to settle matters with swords. The duel ended in a stalemate, and Mattheson later claimed his blade broke upon striking one of Handel’s coat buttons, sparing his opponent from a fatal blow.

Despite the near‑fatal clash, the two reconciled and maintained a lifelong correspondence, reminding us that even the most celebrated artists of 10 history 8217 could be prone to impulsive, sword‑wielding tempers.

4. The Duel Over The Donner Party

After the tragic fate of the Donner Party, California Secretary of State James Denver announced a bill promising aid to travelers crossing the Sierra Nevada, explicitly mentioning the remaining Donner members. When a supply convoy set out, the Daily Alta California editor Edward Gilbert accused Denver of exploiting the disaster for political gain, using language deemed “unmistakably discourteous.”

Incensed, Gilbert challenged Denver to a duel. The first exchange saw Gilbert survive, but he fell in the second round, succumbing to a shot from the general. Denver attempted to halt further bloodshed, but Gilbert stubbornly refused reconciliation, forcing Denver to defend his honor. The duel cemented the practice’s lingering respect in the 1850s and propelled Denver later to the governorship of Kansas Territory, lending his name to Denver, Colorado.

This episode demonstrates how personal vendettas could intertwine with public policy, turning a humanitarian initiative into a lethal showdown within 10 history 8217.

3. The Legend Of Mark Twain’s Duel

Mark Twain famously declared, “I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him.” This paradoxical stance reflects his own tangled relationship with dueling folklore. While working for the Territorial Enterprise, Twain became embroiled in a heated exchange of insults with editor James Laird, culminating in a challenge that remains shrouded in mystery.

Twain, notoriously poor with a firearm, practiced with his second, aware of his own inability to hit a barn door. His second, however, was a sharpshooter. When they claimed Twain had decapitated a bird, Laird accepted the story and called off the duel, sparing both men from bloodshed.

The gun Twain once used now resides in the Nevada Historical Society, which continues to investigate the authenticity of this anecdote, adding another layer to the mythic tapestry of 10 history 8217’s most curious confrontations.

2. The Court‑Ordered Medieval Duel

In 1386, the Parisian courts resorted to a duel to resolve a high‑stakes legal dispute, marking the final instance a French court mandated such a trial by combat. Sir Jean de Carrouges, a knight away on overseas duty, returned to find his wife allegedly assaulted by squire Jacques Le Gris, a favored court official. Le Gris instructed the lady to stay silent, promising disbelief if she spoke.

When Carrouges pressed charges, the court, unable to ascertain truth, ordered a duel before the king’s return. The loser faced execution, and if Carrouges lost, his wife would be burned. The duel concluded with Le Gris falling to a wounded knight’s blade; he was later hanged, sealing the case.

This dramatic resolution underscores the brutal legal customs of medieval France and provides a vivid illustration of how honor and law intersected in 10 history 8217.

1. The Princess And The Countess

Dueling was not solely a male domain; a 1892 showdown between Princess Pauline Metternich and Countess Kielmannsegg proved otherwise. While debating floral arrangements for a musical exhibition, their disagreement escalated to a sword duel, overseen by Baroness Lubinska, a medically trained woman who suggested the combatants fight topless to avoid infection from potential cuts.

The two women partially disrobed and clashed. The princess drew first blood with a facial wound, but her shock caused her to ignore the next strike, leaving her forearm pierced. Their seconds fainted at the sight of blood, while Lubinska tended to their injuries.

The sensational image of two aristocratic women dueling in the nude spread rapidly, inspiring numerous paintings that celebrated these “emancipating duels,” cementing their place in the annals of 10 history 8217’s most unconventional confrontations.

When you think of duels, the mental picture is usually a gentleman in a frock coat, pistol in hand, staring down an opponent at high noon. But the world of combat also has its own roster of daring dames who swapped pistols, swords, and even jousting lances to settle scores. This top 10 female list dives into the most unforgettable clashes where women took the stage, proving that honor and rivalry were not just a man’s game.

Why the top 10 female duels matter

10 Petticoat Duel

The so‑called “Petticoat Duel” erupted in 1792 when Mrs. Elphinstone jabbed Lady Almeria Braddock with a snide remark about her age, implying she was older than she liked to admit. Lady Braddock, feeling her reputation bruised, issued a challenge that led the two women to Hyde Park for a showdown.

They began with pistols, but the exchange left no one wounded—except for Lady Braddock’s hat, which took a direct hit. When the guns proved harmless, the combatants switched to swords. This time Mrs. Elphinstone suffered a cut on her arm. The injury prompted an apology, and the two women reconciled, putting their feud behind them.

9 Duelo De Mujeres

In the romantic backdrop of 16th‑century Italy, two Neapolitan beauties—Isabella de Carazzi and Diambra de Pettinella—found themselves vying for the affection of the dashing Fabio de Zeresola. Unable to share his heart, they agreed to settle the matter with a public duel.

The outcome of the fight remains a mystery, yet the spectacle earned a place in art history. Spanish painter José de Ribera captured the dramatic scene in his 1636 masterpiece titled Duelo de Mujeres, which translates to “women’s duel.”

8 Pauline Metternich And Anastasia Kielmannsegg

In 1892, two Austrian aristocrats—Princess Pauline Metternich and Countess Anastasia Kielmannsegg—found themselves locked in a clash over floral arrangements at a social function in Vaduz. Metternich, the wife of an Austrian ambassador to Paris under Napoleon III, treated every detail of the event with utmost seriousness.

The duel ended inconclusively. Both women emerged with injuries: Metternich sustained a cut on her nose, while Kielmannsegg received a slash on her arm. Safety measures were observed; among them, Baroness Lubinska, a medically trained noblewoman, acted as a referee. Oddly enough, the participants even chose to duel without clothing, fearing that fabric could trap debris and cause infection. Lubinska allegedly warned the surrounding men, “Avert your eyes, you lustful wretches!”

7 Agnes Hotot

Agnes Hotot’s duel took the form of a joust rather than a typical sword fight. Born in 14th‑century England as the daughter of the Earl of Dudley, she stepped into the arena when her father fell ill shortly before a scheduled jousting contest with a rival gentleman.

Determined to defend her family’s honor, Agnes donned her father’s armor, concealed her gender, and entered the tilt. Not only did she triumph over her opponent, but she also dramatically removed her helmet after the victory, revealing her true identity. In an era where a woman besting a man in combat was virtually unthinkable, her feat was both shocking and celebrated.

6 Madame De Polignac And Madame De Nesle

This 18th‑century French encounter revolved around the heart of the Duke of Richelieu. Madame de Nesle, feeling threatened by Madame de Polignac’s allure, formally challenged her rival to a duel for the duke’s affection.

The duel’s rules were simple: the combatants could approach no farther than the length of a scarf and could fire at any moment. Madame de Nesle drew first but missed, while Madame de Polignac’s shot struck de Nesle’s shoulder. Despite the bloodshed, neither woman secured the duke’s love.

5 Miss Shelby And Madame Astie De Valsayre

Among the list, this duel stands out for its political stakes rather than petty grievances. In 19th‑century France, American feminist Miss Shelby clashed with French activist Madame Marie‑Rose Astie de Valsayre over which nation boasted superior female physicians.

The argument escalated to a blade‑to‑blade confrontation on the fields of Waterloo, scheduled fifteen days after their heated debate. Madame de Valsayre claimed the delay gave Miss Shelby time to practice, but the preparation proved futile; Shelby suffered a shoulder wound, conceding defeat.

4 Comtesse De Saint‑Belmont

Madame de Saint‑Belmont’s story mirrors Agnes Hotot’s daring cross‑dressing. While managing her French estate during her husband’s captivity, an uninvited gentleman took up residence as if the manor were an inn. After polite letters asking him to leave were ignored, Madame de Saint‑Belmont penned a challenge in her husband’s name—“Le Chevalier de Saint‑Belmont”—and sent it to the interloper.

The man accepted, only to discover his opponent was a woman disguised as a knight. In the duel, she disarmed him, then revealed her true identity, humiliating the intruder and forcing his departure.

3 Julie D’Aubigny

Julie d’Aubigny, a flamboyant 17th‑century French opera singer, mistress, and swordswoman, lived a life as colorful as her wardrobe. At a lavish ball, she attended dressed as a man—not to hide her gender, but to flaunt it.

During the festivities, she spotted a striking young woman, kissed her passionately, and attracted the ire of three suitors vying for the same lady’s affection. The aggrieved men challenged d’Aubigny to a duel. At midnight, the quartet met outside, and one by one, d’Aubigny bested each opponent with skill and flair.

2 Mademoiselle De Guignes And Mademoiselle d’Aiguillon

These two Parisian aristocrats of the 18th century found themselves at odds during a soirée, each insisting she held greater importance in society. The dispute spilled into the garden, where they settled it with knives rather than pistols or swords.

The outcome remains ambiguous; both women sustained injuries. Mademoiselle de Guignes received a wound to her arm, while Mademoiselle d’Aiguillon suffered a cut to the neck. Their encounter illustrates that, though rare, dueling among women did occur in high‑society circles of the era.

1 Marta Duran And Juana Luna

The most recent clash on our list unfolded in 1900 Mexico. Marta Duran attended a ball with the charming Rafael Riquelme, whose attentions soon turned toward Juana Luna. The rivalry ignited a bitter feud between the two women.

The following morning, swords were drawn. After several rounds, Duran was seriously wounded in the second round, and by the third, exhausted from blood loss, she was further injured when Luna struck her sword‑bearing arm. Luna emerged victorious, yet both women ultimately abandoned Riquelme and reconciled. Tragically, Duran’s injuries required a surgeon’s care—a procedure illegal without government permission—leading to additional complications for those involved.

Dueling was supposed to be the final, grim recourse when a gentleman’s honor was bruised beyond repair. In theory, a man of refinement would first attempt a civil resolution, but the strict 17th‑ and 18th‑century code of conduct left little wiggle room: fail to obey, and you were stripped of your gentlemanly status forever^[1]. That loss was considered worse than death, and it birthed a parade of absurd confrontations that still make us chuckle.

Why 10 ridiculous gentleman duels still fascinate us

The allure lies in the sheer pettiness of the provocations—an insult about age, a whispered rumor of infidelity, a political disagreement over a bill—yet the participants treated each slight with the gravitas of a life‑or‑death showdown. Below, we rank the most outlandish of these face‑to‑face feuds, from political titans to ballroom scandals, each a reminder that honor can be both noble and nonsensical.

10 Alexander Hamilton And Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, two of the United States’ founding architects, shared more than a revolutionary résumé. While Burr climbed to the vice‑presidency, Hamilton became the inaugural Treasury Secretary. Their rivalry, however, simmered beneath the surface, fueled by personal slights: Burr’s triumph over Hamilton’s father‑in‑law in a Senate contest, Hamilton’s dazzling public acclaim that eclipsed Burr’s, and a whispered, scathing remark Hamilton allegedly made about Burr at a dinner gathering.

By 1804, the tension boiled over. Hamilton refused to apologise for the alleged insult, prompting Burr to demand satisfaction. The two met for a duel—historical accounts differ, but a popular theory suggests Hamilton, adhering to the gentlemanly custom of deliberately missing, let his pistol fly harmlessly. Burr, whether by design or accident, fired a lethal shot that pierced Hamilton’s abdomen, shredding organs and leaving him paralyzed. Hamilton succumbed thirty‑six hours later. Burr fled to evade murder charges, returned to finish his vice‑presidential term once the accusations were dropped, but his political trajectory never recovered.

9 Lady Almeria Braddock And Mrs. Elphinstone

Dueling was not an exclusively masculine pastime; the genteel salons of the late 18th century occasionally witnessed fierce confrontations among women. In 1792, the Carlton House Magazine recorded a scandalous tea‑time clash between Lady Almeria Braddock and Mrs. Elphinstone. The latter dared to claim that Lady Braddock “had been” a beautiful woman—a subtle jab implying that her beauty was a thing of the past.

Lady Braddock, affronted not only by the past‑tense insinuation but also by Mrs. Elphinstone’s audacious speculation about her age—suggesting she was nearer sixty than thirty—demanded satisfaction. Mrs. Elphinstone retorted, “Name your weapons. Swords or pistols?” to which Lady Braddock replied, “Both!”^[3]

The morning of the duel saw Mrs. Elphinstone discharge a shot that pierced Lady Braddock’s hat, inflaming the dispute further. The two women then engaged with swords; Mrs. Elphinstone sustained a blow to her arm before both parties deemed the matter settled and called a truce.

8 Alexander Pushkin And Georges D’Anthes

In 1834, Russia’s most celebrated poet, Alexander Pushkin, received a scandal‑laden letter announcing his election to “The Most Serene Order of Cuckolds.” In plain English, the note alleged that his wife, Natalya, was engaged in an affair with the dashing Frenchman Georges d’Anthes. While the rumors never proved definitive, they struck a nerve; Pushkin, already accustomed to duels, could not ignore a suggestion that his honor was besmirched.

Earlier, Pushkin had endured unsubstantiated accusations of an affair with Tsar Nicholas—an impossible challenge, as dueling a reigning monarch was forbidden. However, a mere captain was a permissible target. The taunts festered, and Pushkin finally challenged d’Anthes. Though the duel was initially averted when d’Anthes married elsewhere, the tension lingered, culminating in a January 1837 pistol showdown.

The encounter proved fatal for Pushkin: he was mortally wounded and died two days later. D’Anthes, stripped of his rank, was ordered to leave Russia permanently, his reputation forever tarnished by the tragic outcome.

7 Ben Jonson And Gabriel Spenser

Ben Jonson, the eminent Elizabethan playwright, rose from humble laborer to celebrated poet‑dramatist, mastering both the stage and the scholarly world. His ascent, however, collided with tragedy when his leading actor, Gabriel Spenser, became embroiled in a bitter dispute after one of Jonson’s satirical plays landed both men in jail.

Spenser, notorious for violent outbursts—including a chilling episode in which he stabbed a man through the eye—proved a dangerous foil. In September 1598, the two crossed paths by chance, and Spenser issued a challenge. He wielded a sword ten inches longer than Jonson’s, using it to flamboyantly display his advantage. Jonson, refusing to be intimidated, struck decisively, slashing Spenser dead on the spot.

Jonson’s victory landed him in legal trouble; he was arrested for murder. Yet, a loophole known as the “benefit of clergy” saved him—by reciting a Latin psalm, he proved his literacy, granting him clerical immunity. He was released from Newgate Prison with an X branded on his thumb, a marker to prevent future abuse of the exemption.

6 Andrew Jackson And Charles Dickinson

In 1806, a heated dispute erupted between future President Andrew Jackson and attorney Charles Dickinson. The conflict originated over a wager involving Dickinson’s father‑in‑law, but quickly escalated when Dickinson publicly insulted Jackson’s wife and branded Jackson a “poltroon and a coward” in the Nashville Review.

Incensed by the affront, Jackson issued a challenge. Dickinson, a seasoned duelist and one of Tennessee’s finest marksmen, elected pistols as the weapon of choice—a privilege granted to the challenged party. In the duel, Dickinson fired first, shattering two of Jackson’s ribs and lodging a bullet a mere two inches from his heart. Jackson’s seconds claimed his gun misfired, allowing him a moment to recover before he returned fire, killing Dickinson.

Although the duel technically violated the code—each participant should fire simultaneously, and a premature shot warranted an intentional miss—Jackson faced no murder charges. The wound haunted him for life, yet his political career flourished, culminating in his election as the seventh President of the United States.

5 The Duke Of Wellington And The Earl Of Winchilsea

Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, while serving as British Prime Minister, entered a duel in 1829 with the Earl of Winchilsea over the contentious Catholic Relief Bill, which permitted Catholics to sit in Parliament. The Earl, a staunch Protestant, accused Wellington of an “insidious design” to infiltrate the state with “Popery.”

In contemporary terms, the accusation sounds mild, yet Wellington perceived a direct insult to his honor and issued a challenge. After considerable clandestine maneuvering by both parties’ seconds to locate a secluded venue, the duel unfolded with both men deliberately missing their shots, aiming wide as a show of controlled restraint.

Winchilsea subsequently offered an apology, and the two gentlemen returned home, their weapons unused. The entire episode, steeped in pomp and ceremony, ultimately resulted in no bloodshed—a dramatic, yet anticlimactic, episode in dueling history.

4 Francois Fournier And Pierre Dupont

In 1794, during the turbulent era of the French Revolutionary Wars, messenger Pierre Dupont was tasked with delivering an unwelcome communiqué to Francois Fournier. Little did Dupont know that this errand would ignite a nineteen‑year saga of duels. Fournier, notorious for his fiery temperament, was a fervent duelist despite Napoleon’s explicit ban on the practice within the French army.

Fournier took umbrage at the message and, adhering to the code, “shot the messenger”—though in this case he drew a sword. Their first encounter left Fournier wounded, prompting a demand for further satisfaction. Subsequent meetings saw Dupont wounded, then both men inflicting injuries on each other, leading to a stalemate. They eventually formalized a contract: whenever they came within 160 kilometres of one another, a duel would ensue.

Over the next 27 confrontations, they wielded swords, pistols, sabers, rapiers, and even lances—fighting on foot and horseback. The feud climaxed in 1813 when Dupont, during a sword bout, stabbed Fournier through the neck. As Dupont announced his impending marriage, he urged an end to the violence. The pair agreed to a final pistol duel; Dupont tricked Fournier into firing wide, then closed in with a loaded pistol. Recognising the futility, Fournier finally conceded, bringing the protracted duel to a close.

3 Lucius Marshall Walker And John Sapington Marmaduke

During the American Civil War, two Confederate brigadier generals—Lucius Marshall Walker and John S. Marmaduke—found themselves at odds over battlefield tactics. Both West Point graduates, they were stationed in Arkansas when Walker’s maneuvers allegedly exposed Marmaduke’s troops to unnecessary enemy fire. Marmaduke questioned Walker’s bravery, and a heated exchange of letters ensued.

The dispute escalated when each general’s messenger took it upon themselves to act as seconds, arranging a duel without higher authorization. In September 1863, the two met near Little Rock, firing from fifteen paces. Their first shots missed. On the second exchange, Marmaduke’s bullet struck Walker fatally, though the wound may have been accidental. Marmaduke rushed to Walker’s side, inquiring about his condition and even providing a personal ambulance.

Walker succumbed to his injuries the following day. The episode underscores a stark lesson: entrusting others to settle personal grievances can lead to fatal consequences, especially amidst the chaos of war.

2 Baron Mohun And The Duke Of Hamilton

In 1712, after a decade of litigation over an inheritance, Baron Mohun challenged the Duke of Hamilton to a duel. Both men’s wives descended from the 1st Earl of Macclesfield, and upon the 3rd Earl’s death without an heir in 1702, each claimed the family estate. Mohun, already named heir to the 2nd Earl, was no stranger to dueling; he had previously faced murder charges twice and emerged acquitted.

The November 1712 encounter was a fierce sword duel. Both combatants sustained grave injuries and ultimately died. Controversy swirled around the Duke’s death: while Mohun was the obvious opponent, many accounts suggest the fatal blow came from Mohun’s second, Lieutenant‑General MacCartney, who allegedly thrust his sword into the Duke’s chest—a clear breach of dueling etiquette.

MacCartney fled the country, was tried in absentia for murder, stripped of his army rank, and declared no longer a gentleman. The tragedy highlights how even the most carefully observed codes could be shattered by a rogue second.

1 Monsieur Granpree And Monsieur Le Pique

When Monsieur Granpree discovered his ballerina mistress tangled with Monsieur Le Pique, he was, unsurprisingly, incensed. Determined to defend his honor, Granpree challenged Le Pique to a duel—yet, in a twist befitting the absurdity of the era, the combatants elected to duel from hot‑air balloons.

Both men spent a month training before meeting in a Parisian field in May 1808. Accompanied by their seconds and armed with blunderbusses, they ascended into the sky at nine o’clock, their balloons rising above a gathered crowd. They maneuvered to achieve the proper distance, and Le Pique fired first, his shot missing the target entirely.

Granpree returned fire, and his bullet tore through the silk of Le Pique’s balloon, causing it to plunge rapidly. Le Pique and his second were “dashed to pieces” against the roof of a nearby house. Granpree, in a triumphant yet whimsical gesture, let his balloon drift higher, only to drift uncontrollably and finally descend some thirty‑nine kilometres from the original site.

These ten outlandish duels remind us that the code of honor, while earnest, often produced spectacles that were as comedic as they were tragic.