There are different versions of the origin of the duel as a means of defending one’s honor, life, and personal dignity during knightly combats and tournaments. Over time, people began to take up arms not only to defend tarnished honor or good name; often, the basis of deadly fights was personal material gain or the defense of one’s rights in a judicial duel. However, in one form or another, there was always a personal insult, wounded dignity, or an unfounded accusation involved. In any case, such an insult was believed to be immeasurable in monetary terms, leaving only one way — to wash away the inflicted insult with the blood of the offender. These duels became most widespread in France, which many consider the birthplace of the duel. In those years, even monarchs exercised their right to duel if their honor and dignity were challenged. A vivid example is the story of the personal conflict between Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire and King Francis I of France. In 1526, the emperor called the king a dishonorable man. In response, Francis I challenged the offender to a duel. The duel did not take place, but the authority of French duelists significantly increased. It is believed that it was during those years that the history of the duel as a fight in defense of honor and personal dignity began.
The right and possibility of dueling, as a matter of honor, strengthened the military spirit and helped cleanse the officer corps of servile mentality and servitude to those who treated officers with the principle “I will bend you like a ram’s horn!” For these insulting words, spoken at a regimental inspection, Captain Norov — a combat officer and recipient of many awards for bravery — demanded satisfaction from Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich, the heir to the throne. The duel did not take place. However, all the officers of the Life Guards Jäger Regiment resigned in protest. On another occasion, again Grand Duke Nikolai Pavlovich, the future Emperor Nicholas I, grabbed an officer by the uniform who displeased him with his drill posture. “Your Highness, I have a sword in my hand,” the officer calmly said, and the grand duke’s hand released the collar. At the same time, Nicholas I himself, aware of being the foremost nobleman in the Russian Empire, was quite liberal towards duelists, although, according to Alexandra Osipovna Smirnova-Rosset, Nicholas I said: “I hate duels; they are barbaric; in my opinion, there is nothing chivalrous about them.” But in practice, he hardly strictly adhered to these words and often yielded to public opinion. There is reason to believe that the emperor’s hatred was largely feigned. For example, the tsar was not at all upset when the Parisian gunsmith Devime presented him with a pair of dueling revolvers. The great duke Mikhail Pavlovich also had his own dueling pistols of Belgian manufacture. A curious case of a duel challenge to Nicholas I himself is known, as described by Eidelman. On one New Year’s Day, the tsar was informed of a received letter signed by someone named Alexander Syschikov. On January 1, 1836, a letter was sent to the tsar, whose author, sharply mocking autocracy, ended with these words: “I have insulted You and all that is Yours. You will, of course, demand satisfaction by the method known to You. But is it worth it? Many against one: not good for a knight and nobleman… Therefore, I propose the good old custom — a duel. There is much nastiness in dueling, but there is one thing that may outweigh all else — the right of a free man to settle his affairs himself, without any intermediaries. In Your country, there is a territory beyond Your control — my soul. One of two things: either recognize the freedom of this territory, its right to independence, or fight for Your rights, which I do not recognize. There is a third way: to give universal freedom to all — to You, to me, and to Russia (a project is attached to the letter). But You will not give it!
If You fight and lose, I dictate the terms; if You prevail, I am ready to recognize Your right over me because You have won it in an honest struggle, risking this right on par with me… To the barrier, Sovereign!” Alexander Syschikov.” Through the efforts of the Third Section, it was discovered that Alexander Syschikov was the real name of a Tambov nobleman. He was educated abroad and returned to the homeland, with, according to Nicholas I, “a spirit of criticism.” Syschikov was brought to the emperor. Nicholas I himself described this conversation in a letter to Paskevich-Erivansky. The duel, of course, did not take place. The tsar forgave the rebellious nobleman and released him. However, some time later, Syschikov was killed under suspicious circumstances in a duel by a certain Vasily Ivanov.
Later, dueling became impossible, but officers continued to defend their honor even at the cost of their own lives. For example, the future Emperor Alexander III, while heir to the throne, insulted an officer — Captain Karl Ivanovich Gunnius. As Peter Kropotkin writes in his “Memoirs of a Revolutionary”: “I knew an officer in Petersburg, of Swedish origin, who was sent to the United States to order rifles for the Russian army. During an audience, the tsesarevich gave full rein to his character and began to speak rudely to the officer. The officer probably responded with dignity. Then the grand duke became truly furious and cursed the officer with foul words. The officer belonged to that type of perfectly loyal subjects who nevertheless carry themselves with dignity, often found among Swedish nobles in Russia. He immediately left and sent a letter to the tsesarevich demanding that Alexander Alexandrovich apologize. The officer also wrote that if no apology came within twenty-four hours, he would shoot himself... Alexander Alexandrovich did not apologize, and the officer kept his word… I saw this officer at my close friend’s place that day. He was expecting an apology every minute. The next day he was no longer alive. Alexander II, angry at his son, ordered him to follow the officer’s coffin. It seems that these character traits of Alexander III primarily influenced his relations with those dependent on him. Therefore, he did not take the officer’s threat seriously. The tsesarevich apparently had already become accustomed at that time to different notions of honor and dignity in his circle.” All male members of the royal family traditionally served in the military and well understood the meaning and value of honor and noble dignity of a Russian army officer.
Sources:
https://topwar.ru/146184-dujel-v-russkoj-imperatorskoj-armii-chast-2.html
Katsura Alexander Vasilievich "Duel in the History of Russia"
http://www.svdeti.ru/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5950:duel-v-russkoi-armii&Itemid=96&tmpl=component&print=1
https://nvo.ng.ru/history/2016-05-13/9_oficer.html
