Throughout history, pride, honor, and reputation often carried more weight than law or logic. When words failed, people, especially those of nobility or military status, resorted to duels to settle their differences. But not all historical duels followed the serious and somber rules we associate with pistol showdowns at dawn. Some were so creative and downright ridiculous that they still baffle historians and entertain the internet today.
Whether driven by ego, love, or pure pettiness, these duels reveal the extreme (and often absurd) lengths people once went to defend their status. From sky-high battles in hot air balloons to fencing matches in the nude, these confrontations defied expectations and sometimes common sense.
In this list, we’re diving into 8 bizarre historical duels that ended in the strangest ways.
8. Duke of Wellington vs. Lord Winchilsea (1829)
The Duke of Wellington challenged Lord Winchilsea to a duel over political disagreements. At the dueling ground, Wellington fired and missed, while Winchilsea fired into the air, a practice known as deloping that avoids further conflict. This act preserved both men’s honor without bloodshed.
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7. General Barbier-Dufai vs. Royal Guard Raoul
In post-Napoleonic France, General Barbier-Dufai and Royal Guard Raoul took their duel inside a moving carriage. With their left arms tied together, they fought with daggers until Barbier-Dufai emerged victorious. This confined and unusually close setting made it one of the most unusual historical duels.
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6. Abraham Lincoln vs. James Shields (1842)
Before his presidency, Abraham Lincoln was challenged to a duel by James Shields over a satirical letter. Lincoln chose broadswords as weapons because of his height advantage. At the dueling ground, Lincoln demonstrated his reach by slicing a branch above Shields’ head, leading to a peaceful resolution without further combat.
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5. Alexander Pushkin vs. Georges d’Anthès (1837)
Renowned Russian poet Alexander Pushkin engaged in a fatal duel with Georges d’Anthès, who was rumored to have been courting Pushkin’s wife. The confrontation ended with Pushkin sustaining a mortal wound, leading to his death two days later.
4. Lady Almeria Braddock vs. Mrs. Elphinstone (1792)
In London, a social visit turned into a duel when Lady Almeria Braddock took offense at a comment made by Mrs. Elphinstone regarding her age. The two women first exchanged pistol shots, with Mrs. Elphinstone’s shot knocking off Braddock’s hat. They then engaged in swordplay, resulting in a minor injury to Elphinstone. The duel concluded with an apology letter, making it one of the most bizarre historical duels.
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3. Frenchmen in the Skies (1808)
In an interesting confrontation in the air, two Frenchmen decided to settle their dispute by dueling in hot air balloons over Paris. It occurred between Monsieur de Grandpré and Monsieur le Pique over a shared love interest, Mademoiselle Tirevit. Each ascended in their own balloon and attempted to shoot at the other’s balloon. One balloon was punctured, causing it to crash and resulting in the death of Grandpré.
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2. Otto von Bismarck vs. Rudolf Virchow (1865)
One of the most fascinating historical duels was when German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck challenged his political adversary, Rudolf Virchow, to a duel over disagreements in policy. As the challenged party, Virchow had the right to choose weapons and opted for two sausages, one cooked and safe, the other raw and potentially infected with trichinella larvae. Bismarck declined the challenge, and the duel was averted.
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1. Humphrey Howarth vs. Lord Barrymore (1806)
In one of the most unconventional historical duels, British member of Parliament and former surgeon Humphrey Howarth challenged Lord Barrymore to a duel. Understanding the medical risks of clothing fibers in gunshot wounds, Howarth arrived at the duel completely naked. His unexpected appearance led Barrymore to refuse the duel, and the matter was dropped without bloodshed.
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