German fencing students getting their dueling scars, circa 1900. Dueling scars have been seen as a “badge of honour” since as early as 1825. Known variously as “Mensur scars”, “the bragging scar”, “smite”, “Schmitte”, or “Renommierschmiss”, dueling scars were popular amongst upper class Germans and Austrians involved in academic fencing at the start of the 20th century. Being a practice amongst university students, it was seen as a mark of their class and honour, due to the status of dueling soc

When Londoners bet on the gender of a mysterious French diplomat in the 1770s, the Chevalier dÉon challenged them all to a fencing duel and won. 🤺 🇫🇷 The Chevalier dÉon lived an extraordinary life that spanned from 1728 to 1810, serving France as a diplomat, soldier, and spy during one of historys most turbulent periods. After distinguishing themselves in the Seven Years War, dÉon was awarded the prestigious Order of SaintLouis in 1763 for negotiating the Treaty of Paris, which ended the conf

Rocks vs. Club. The practice appears in the 1467 German fencing manual (Fechtbuch) attributed to Peter von Danzig. Under customary law, a wife could petition for separation on grounds of cruelty, infidelity, or abandonment. If her husband refused, the court granted a single judicial duel on neutral ground. To level the field, she was given three round stones and a sling, while he wielded a stout wooden club and stood in a shallow pit—his defensive posture compensating for her lighter weapon. Com