In 1643 Henri de la Tour was on the verge of great things. He was on Cardinal Richelieu's short list to become Marshal of Italy. But Henri took a break to attend the opera L'incoronazion di Poppea and unfortunately he ended up exchanging insults with an Italian gentleman also in attendance. Honor was questioned and a duel was arranged. Henri's entourage was scandalized - a person of Henri's position should not allow himself to be drawn into a duel. Worse - the Italian gentleman had a bad reputation and was known to be a poor swordsman. Worse still - the duel was to be fought with pistols and not with proper swords!
At the appointed time both men entered the field of honor. Shots were exchanged. The Italian gentlemen was unharmed. Henri de la Tour took a bullet to the stomach and died four agonizing days later.
Scandal!
Cardinal Richelieu was furious. Duels were already illegal, but now harsher laws were written against any duel involving a firearm. King Louis himself declared that, while guns may be necessary in warfare, there was simply no honor in employing them in personal matters.
The great writer Milton was in Italy at the time and was influenced by the turmoil. He wrote several popular poems concerning honor . . . and the dishonor of the gun. Milton's friend Hugo Grotis was also in Italy at the time and agreed with Milton. Grotis wrote on Natural Law and was influential throughout Europe. In his opinion, a firearm's use in a duel defied the Natural Law of appropriate use of force.
Italians were shamed and embarrassed. The upper class all condemned the use of guns in duels. The Italian gentleman in question was dishonored, disowned by his family, and forced to flee the peninsula. He eventually died in poverty and disgrace.
Throughout Europe and England, from that time forward, only swords would be used in duels.
At the appointed time both men entered the field of honor. Shots were exchanged. The Italian gentlemen was unharmed. Henri de la Tour took a bullet to the stomach and died four agonizing days later.
Scandal!
Cardinal Richelieu was furious. Duels were already illegal, but now harsher laws were written against any duel involving a firearm. King Louis himself declared that, while guns may be necessary in warfare, there was simply no honor in employing them in personal matters.
The great writer Milton was in Italy at the time and was influenced by the turmoil. He wrote several popular poems concerning honor . . . and the dishonor of the gun. Milton's friend Hugo Grotis was also in Italy at the time and agreed with Milton. Grotis wrote on Natural Law and was influential throughout Europe. In his opinion, a firearm's use in a duel defied the Natural Law of appropriate use of force.
Italians were shamed and embarrassed. The upper class all condemned the use of guns in duels. The Italian gentleman in question was dishonored, disowned by his family, and forced to flee the peninsula. He eventually died in poverty and disgrace.
Throughout Europe and England, from that time forward, only swords would be used in duels.
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