Coramage
A coramage (from the Latin coram , “in the face of, in the presence of”, with the French abstract ending –age ), including coramage , was part of the rules for conducting regulated duels (especially in the student sector) from the 18th century to the first decades of the 20th century a personal questioning of a possible offender.
Regulations for the Coramage
As a rule, after a defamation or insult and before a claim was submitted for a duel, the person who felt insulted or a so-called cartel carrier (formerly also " dispatch person ", plural: "dispatch people") questioned the suspected offender personally whether a defamation was intended. Only when this was confirmed could a claim be made.
In student comments , it was sometimes customary to list insults that were “commentary”, and when they were expressed an insulting intention could be unequivocally assumed. In such a case, it was not necessary to question the offender.
If the respondent denied an insulting intention at a coramage or expressed a revocation (withdrawal of the insult), which he could do without damaging his own honor, a demand could not be made. A deprecation ("apology", that is, apology) was not required from the suspected offender during a coramage. As a rule, an evasive answer was expressly forbidden.
The correct execution of these formalities had to be determined by a court of honor before it could give its approval to a duel.
The duty to coramage and the need for the approval of a duel by a court of honor should reduce honor disputes to a minimum and prevent abuse of the code of honor.
Coramage in fiction
In his views of the life of the cat Murr from 1821, ETA Hoffmann also processed memories of his student days in Königsberg around 1795, but he relocated the adventures to the world of cats and thereby alienated the events. In one chapter he describes the dispute with a former soldier over a young lady, which ultimately escalated into a duel. Previously it was "Koramiert", but not very commentary:
- Indeed, it did not take long before the motley came back defiantly and already from a distance measured me with contemptuous looks. I met him heartily and boldly; we passed each other so hard that our tails touched each other roughly. Immediately I stopped, turned around and said in a firm voice: "Mau!" - He also stopped, turned and replied defiantly: "Mau!" - Then everyone went their own way.
- "That was a trick," Muzius exclaimed angrily, "I'll coramate the brightly colored, defiant fellow tomorrow."
- Muzius went to him the next morning and asked him on my behalf whether he touched my tail. He made me reply that he had touched my tail. Then, if he touched my tail, I must take that for a trick. He said I could take it as I wanted. I take it for a fake. He replied that I was unable to judge what flourish was. I know that very well and better than he does. He replied that I was not the man to tell him to ink me. Then I do it again, but I take it for a trick. He said I was a stupid boy. Then I, to put myself in the avantage position, if I am a stupid boy, he would be a vile Spitz! - Then came the challenge.
- ETA Hoffmann, life views of the cat Murr , 1821
literature
- Martin Biastoch: Duel and scale in the Empire ( using the example of the Tübingen Corps Franconia, Rhenania, Suevia and Borussia between 1871 and 1895). SH-Verlag, Vierow 1995. p. 55 ISBN 3-89498-020-6
- Robert Paschke: Corps student dictionary. In: Handbook of the Kösener Corps student. Verband Alter Corpsstudenten eV Volume I. Würzburg 1985 (6th edition), p. 322
See also: Satisfaction , Burschenssprache
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ ETA Hoffmann: Views of the life of the cat Murr. In: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 26, 2018 (German).