TIL that the last sword duel in France took place in 1967, between the mayor of Marseilles and the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party.
TIL that the last sword duel in France took place in 1967, between the mayor of Marseilles and the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party.
You would think that dueling was an outdated ritual consigned to the 19th century, something that no longer had a place in the modern world. However, well into the 20th-century official duels were …
If you were wondering, the mayor won the duel
What happened to the other guy? Was this a duel to the death?
It was a just a regular duel, the point isn't to kill but basically "touch" the other guy like in a fencing match. The other guy got hit twice and survived but had to go to his wedding the next day.
He lived
The first touch was against Ribière in the arm, but he called for the resumption of the duel. After a second touch in the arm against Ribière, the duel was stopped by Lipkowskiin. Just how considerable an effect Ribière’s dueling injuries had on his wedding night, however, history has not recorded.
Ridley Scott lied to me.