As Charles Dickens once wrote:
It is worth standing for a few minutes on a bright, quiet morning when the heath is almost deserted and try to picture the various scenes enacted here in history.
(A LONDON SUBURB. All the year round; Dec 17, 1887; 41, 994; pg. 533)
An Extremely Brief Précis of a Very Long History
Duelling has a rather extensive history, originating around the start of the first millennium (1000 BC to 1 BC) as a ‘judicial duel’ or ‘trial by combat’. These conflicts were used to adjudicate justice based on the belief that God would ensure the victory of the righteous. The defeated accomplice, if spared or at the mercy of an incompetent swordsman, frequently faced further repercussions depending on their crime, such as amputation or execution by hanging. Not really ‘spared’, then.
In the Middle Ages, a different type of duelling started trending, the ‘duel of chivalry’, a sport among knights and nobles.
Unlike battles fought to the death, these duels were more akin to a competitive sport, governed by a strict code of honour and chivalry. Knights donned elaborate armour, sometimes with family crests, and fought with swords, lances, or maces in carefully orchestrated bouts meant to showcase bravery, skill, and loyalty to their lords or ladies. These duels were often part of tournaments, where the combatants sought fame and prestige rather than conquest, and they underscored the ideals of the chivalric code that was heavily valued. These events drew spectators from all social classes and even royalty, becoming popular entertainments as well as displays of martial prowess.
Feudalism in England gradually faded away due to various economic, social, and legal changes, which meant that the rise of centralised monarchies shifted the power dynamics. Knights, who were once the elite warrior class, found their role waning as professional armies became more common. The ideals of chivalry, which emphasised honour, bravery, and martial prowess, began to be seen as outdated.
For a while, the love of wielding stabby swords for the sake of honour declined, but not for long, and certainly not for long enough.
The single-combat duels re-emerged in the sixteenth century as a way to settle matters of pride across various European nations, and in the 1570s, the trend started up again in England’s green and pleasant land. This upsurge of swordplay and an increase of nobles popping their clogs in the middle of random parks or fields led to efforts by James I to curb their occurrence.
In 1614, King James issued an edict that explicitly banned duels. He also instructed his Solicitor General, Francis Bacon, to prosecute anyone involved in them. These measures were part of James I’s broader efforts to enforce law and order and reduce violent disputes among the nobility.
The problem for James was that no one really listened to him. For starters, duelling was deeply ingrained in the culture of the nobility and gentry as a way to settle disputes and defend honour. Changing these long-standing traditions was challenging. The enforcement of the anti-duelling laws was inconsistent. While some cases were prosecuted, many went unpunished, especially if the individuals involved were influential or well-connected. James also had a strained relationship with Parliament, and his focus on other political matters meant that the anti-duelling laws didn’t receive the sustained attention and enforcement needed to be fully effective.
For another short period, the act of duelling declined during the reign of Charles I (he may well have had a forewarning of sharp, shiny objects) and then again during the Commonwealth (but then Cromwell banned Christmas celebrations in 1657, which caused the Plum Pudding Riots in Canterbury, so grown men lethally jabbing each other didn’t stand a chance).
Being the tenacious pesky sport of honour and reputation, duelling made yet another comeback during the Restoration period.
Records of duels fought in Britain and by Britons overseas from 1785 to 1850 show that the number peaked in the 1790s before, yet again, gradually losing favour as a way to demonstrate an indignant reaction to a perceived insult.
Before the final decline of this honourable stabby activity, however, the dawn of the 1760s saw the rise of pistols and the redundancy of swords.
No longer was it fashionable to ‘stick them with the pointy end’. (Arya, The Game of Thrones).
For some unexplainable reason, this ultimately led to a marked decline in fatalities after 1785. Guns versus swords. Perhaps the intention was never really to kill an adversary but rather to get a pat on the back for looking like an honourable hero.
Blackheath: The Perfect Backdrop
Blackheath, often shrouded in haunting mist and windswept vistas, was not just a beautiful landscape in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries; it served as a backdrop for dramatic events, secret encounters, and duels that resolved issues of life, death, and honour.
In this once secluded patch of heathland, noblemen would face off with swords, pistols, and occasionally, the sharp wit of their ‘seconds’ (representatives in a duel responsible for ensuring the duel was fair and honourable). Like the generations of men before them, these gentlemen hoped to restore their honour by spilling their rival’s blood on the dewy grass of our wonderful Heath. Whether it was the foggy morning air, the isolated surroundings, or the hint of danger, Blackheath offered the perfect stage for duels and secretive encounters.
As London expanded, Blackheath provided a quiet, spacious, and suitably removed environment for gentlemen to settle their disputes out of sight of the law, the neighbours, or, worse still, the gossiping public. Accessible yet hidden enough to deter prying eyes, the Heath lay just close enough to the city to be reached in a short ride but far enough away that the partakers could avoid the immediate intervention of the ‘ello ‘ello local bobbies and peelers (police to you and me).
Blackheath’s eeriness wasn’t just legendary; it was also part of its appeal. The large, open Heath, often wrapped in early morning mist and damp fog, created a natural sense of suspense and drama. Contemporary accounts from the period frequently mention the thick fog and the isolated quiet, as if even nature conspired to keep Blackheath’s secrets as men stood across from each other, faintly outlined against the rising sun, guns drawn and hearts racing, unsure if they were about to strike down their foe or be struck themselves.
Not forgetting, of course, the name Blackheath (derived from the dark soil rather than the more popular association with the Black Death) lent an ominous undertone to the activities that took place there.
The Code Duello and Pistols at Dawn (because nothing says ‘settle this like gentlemen’ quite like shooting at each other before breakfast).
In the eighteenth century, the British aristocracy and gentry adhered to a specific code of honour known as the ‘Code Duello’, which was initially imported from the Italian and French nobility. The earliest recorded Code Duello dates back to the Renaissance with Fiore dei Liberi’s Flos Duellatorum in Armis from Italy, around 1410.
The most prominent code, particularly influential in English-speaking regions, was the Irish Code Duello, known as ‘The 26 commandments’, released in 1777. This code was crafted by gentlemen delegates to oversee matters of honour that occurred outside legal boundaries. Gentlemen were required to keep a copy in their pistol cases to prevent claims of ignorance. For a full list of the rules, all twenty-six of them, click here.
The ‘Seconds’ mentioned earlier served not only as negotiators and, ideally, as peacekeepers but also as enforcers of the codes. Primarily, though, they set out to encourage the duellists to reconcile before pulling the trigger or crossing swords, but often, the thought of leaving with a bruised ego rather than dead was simply intolerable.
So, gentlemen of the time would meet in the pre-dawn hours, pistols at ten paces, to defend their honour against insults both real and imagined. These duels were often conducted under strict protocols and were rarely lethal – intentionally, at least.
A Legendary Tale
Blackheath had a strong reputation for duels of all sorts, from feuds over romantic entanglements to disputes over political slights. As many participants were aristocrats and wealthy gentlemen, the events were often hushed up, adding an air of mystery and secrecy to the location’s history.
Legend has it that one of the more notorious tales from Blackheath involves a duel between two passionate suitors who met their tragic fate on the fog-shrouded Heath. In the most dramatic versions of this tale, both duellists ended up mortally wounded, leaving their fates intertwined forever in local lore. This story became so entrenched in local ghost tales that even today, some visitors claim to hear the faint echoes of pistols or see mysterious figures in period dress standing silently in the mist, frozen in an eternal stand-off. That said, I’ve not been able to find any random visiting strangers to verify such spectral apparitions.
Famous Duels of Blackheath
Blackheath’s reputation as a duelling ground attracted many historical figures and members of the upper classes, who specifically sought out the Heath for their vexed undertakings. One particularly famous duel is recorded as having taken place on July 19, 1791.
The London Chronicle, July 12, 1791, reported the event as follows.
An unfortunate recontre took place this morning upon Blackheath between Mr Graham, an eminent special pleader of the Temple, and Mr Julius, a pupil in the office of Messrs Grahams, Attorneys of Lincolns, who are brothers of the former.
The parties had dined together at the house of Mr Black, the surveyor, upon Epping Forest on Sunday, and after dinner, having drunk freely, the latter expressing some free opinions concerning religion, much abrupt language passed between them. They were reconciled however on that day and returned to town in the same carriage.
On Monday, they met again, after dinner, at the Chambers of Mr Graham, the brother of the deceased, when the dispute was unfortunately resumed, though apparently without malignity. No challenge was given that night, but on the ensuing morning, the deceased called upon Mr Julius for an apology for some expressions, which being refused they went out together, Mr Graham attended by Mr Ellis and Mr Julius by Mr Maxwell.
A pupil of an eminent surgeon accompanied them to Blackheath, where Mr Graham fell by a shot which had almost passed through the lower part of his belly. He was brought to town in a Post Chaise, and the exertions of the most eminent of the faculty were in vain used for his relief. The ball, having laid open the femoral artery and it being impossible to stop the discharge of blood, he expired in the afternoon of the next day.
Mr. Graham was a gentleman of considerable eminence in his profession and of an esteemed character in private life.
Mr Julius is the son of a very respectable attorney at St. Kitts and is said not to have been the least to blame in this quarrel’.
Blackheath’s ‘Have I Got News for You’
There are numerous records of the duels that took place on the Heath, so after all of the covert endeavours to avoid detection on the once secluded misty Heath, the duellists got their fifteen minutes of fame in a contemporary viral way, although with fewer followers than TikTok.
Myths, Legends, and Ghosts
Another notable story (but I can find no evidence, so I will add the disclaimer that it’s entertaining but unlikely to be true) involves a particularly strange duel held in the 1800s between two duellists, one of whom arrived wearing a suit of armour. This controversial choice led to a lengthy argument and considerable ridicule. The armoured duellist apparently claimed it was for ‘self-preservation’, to which his opponent purportedly responded, ‘Then sir, you may as well bring the whole Tower of London’. ~ Magnanimous witticism in such an hour of imminent infliction or mortality.
Naturally, as we saw above in ‘A Legendary Tale’, the tradition of duelling on Blackheath gave rise to countless ghost stories. For instance, some locals speak of the ‘Vanished Duellists’, a pair of spirits said to be doomed to repeat their fatal encounter on the Heath for eternity. According to legend, on misty mornings, locals have reported seeing two shadowy figures facing off in the early dawn. Others claim to have heard the faint sound of gunfire, followed by a chilling silence. According to local lore, these tales of ghostly duellists add a spooky charm to Blackheath, making it, apparently, one of London’s most haunted sites. (Dear Locals, please don’t get in touch if this has happened to you).
Legal Risks and the Decline of Blackheath as a Duelling Ground
Despite its popularity, duelling was banned in the army in 1844 via the Revised Articles of War, accelerating its demise throughout the kingdom. Although many sources claim it was illegal for the general population, no formal legislation addressed the issue. Instead, it became covered by other sources of English law, like murder.
The final duel in England – fought between two Frenchmen – occurred in 1852 (recorded by several newspapers, including The Times and The Morning Chronicle). The duel involved Emmanuel Barthelemy and Frederic Constant Courant. Barthelemy challenged Courant over political differences, and the duel resulted in Barthelemy’s death.
In 1859, Prince Albert proposed the idea of a ‘Court of Honour’ as a way to address breaches of honour and personal disputes among the nobility and gentry. The idea was to provide a formal legal framework for resolving such matters without resorting to duels. However, the proposal was declined because it faced significant opposition from those who believed that honour disputes should be settled privately and that a court would undermine traditional notions.
By the Victorian era, changing social norms and stricter legal consequences made duelling less common, and the Heath eventually lost its infamous reputation as a landscape perfect for the gentlemanly pursuit. Now, it’s the ideal landscape for flying kites, walking happy dogs, hosting the half-term circus, hosting the London Marathon, football on a Sunday, and summer picnics.
Ladies with Swords
As a side note, women were known to duel occasionally, too.
One of the most famous duels between women in England is known as the Petticoat Duel of 1792. It involved Mrs Elphinstone and Lady Almeria Braddock. The duel was sparked by a comment Mrs Elphinstone made about Lady Braddock’s age during a social visit. The two women met in Hyde Park, London, to settle their differences with swords. Lady Braddock wounded Mrs. Elphinstone in the arm, but the duel ended without further incident when Mrs. Elphinstone agreed to write a letter of apology.
In 1770, another remarkable duel took place between Princess Catherine Dashkova and a Duchess. While visiting London, Princess Dashkova and the Duchess had a disagreement that escalated into a duel, resulting in Dashkova being injured in the shoulder.
These duels highlight the lengths women would go to defend their honour, even if it meant engaging in physical combat.
Final Thought
Colonel Thomas McCarthy died in a duel with Lieutenant Patrick Leeson of the 79th Regiment of Foot. The duel took place in Margate, Kent, in 17901. A letter from Colonel Thomas, dated the evening before the duel in which his life was sacrificed, stated that he was:
Seriously opposed to duelling; it neither proved a man a gentleman nor brave; nor did it give satisfaction for insult; almost any man could raise physical courage enough to fight a duel, but few, alas! possessed sufficient moral courage to stem the tide of public scorn.
Sources:
A London Suburb. All the year round; Dec 17, 1887; 41, 994; pg. 533
British History Online: (https://www.british-history.ac.uk)
Lewisham Local History, Lewisham Council (https://lewisham.gov.uk//media/files/imported/blackheathlocalhist
S. A Banks, 'Polite Exchange of Bullets: The Duel and the English Gentleman', (1750-1850). Boydell & Brewer; 2010.
Ross Drake, Duel! Smithsonian Magazine (2004, March).
Ariel A. Roth, The Dishonor of Dueling. Origins, (1989) 16(1), pp. 3-7.
R. B Shoemaker, The Taming of the Duel: Masculinity, Honor, and Ritual Violence in London, 1660-1800. (2002). The History Journal, 525-545.
Lawrence Stone, 'The Crisis of the Aristocracy, 1558-1641'. (1965) Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Jennie C Meade, The Duel, A look back at a once legal method of resolving disputes. GW Law School. (2005). Retrieved from http://www.gwu.edu/~magazine/archive/2005_law_fall/docs/feat_duel.html
Hansard: https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1844/mar/14/duelling
Thomas Malory, 'Le morte d'Arthur'. Simon and Schuster. (2013).
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