We already spoke at the time of the longest duel in history but today's duel, between the French Monsieur de Grandpre and Monsieur de Pique , stands out, not for its duration, but for being high-flying... at about 600 meters high .
Monsieur de Grandpre and Monsieur de Pique, unknown to either of them, shared the favors, and the bed, of one of the most famous dancers in Paris, Miss Tirevit . That love triangle could not last long and one of the male components discovered it. As expected, they challenged each other to a duel. But since they were gentlemen of high rank or perhaps as a tribute to their compatriots Jacques Alexandre Charles and Nicolas-Louis Robert , for the first manned flight in a balloon, decided to put aside the vulgars duels on land and do it in a hot air balloon. The particular rules of that singular duel were set and they were located within a month, the time necessary to build two identical balloons, next to the Palace of the Tuileries (Paris).
On May 3, 1808, a crowd of Parisians gathered to watch the particular duel. According to the established rules, each one would carry a blunderbuss, which could only be fired when reaching 600 meters, and, in addition, they would be accompanied by another person who would be in charge of handling the balloon. At 9 in the morning the ascent began and when they reached the established height, separated both balloons by about 80 meters, Pique fired... but missed. Grandpre aimed, fired and hit… but not Pique but the balloon. The balloon deflated and crashed into the Parisian rooftops. Pique and his pilot – apparently collateral damage – died. Grandpre landed a few kilometers from where they had started and... I'm sorry, I can't tell you if they were happy and ate partridges .
Sources and image:The duel:a history of duelling – Robert Baldick, Curious Expeditions, PW Style