2 – As a historical matter, dueling often went bloodless, as the simple act of ‘throwing down the gauntlet’ to challenge someone and two men facing each other across a field with pistols in hand was seen as sufficient, and each man would shoot into the air, essentially giving up their claim for vengeance.
In such cases, the matter was considered resolved, honorably.
“The duel was based on a code of honor. Duels were fought not so much to kill the opponent as to gain “satisfaction”, that is, to restore one’s honor by demonstrating a willingness to risk one’s life for it. As such, the tradition of dueling was originally reserved for the male members of nobility; however, in the modern era, it extended to those of the upper classes more generally."
2 – As a historical matter, dueling often went bloodless, as the simple act of ‘throwing down the gauntlet’ to challenge someone and two men facing each other across a field with pistols in hand was seen as sufficient, and each man would shoot into the air, essentially giving up their claim for vengeance.
In such cases, the matter was considered resolved, honorably.
“The duel was based on a code of honor. Duels were fought not so much to kill the opponent as to gain “satisfaction”, that is, to restore one’s honor by demonstrating a willingness to risk one’s life for it. As such, the tradition of dueling was originally reserved for the male members of nobility; however, in the modern era, it extended to those of the upper classes more generally."