second
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A second (from Latin secundus , "the second") is a person who represents the interests of one of the participants during a duel or a mensur and - if provided by the regulations - provides physical protection.
background
Main article: Duel
The introduction of the "regulated" duel, which is first documented in the 17th century, was decisive for the establishment of the second in Europe. The main thing here was no longer to injure or kill the opponent in any case in a personal conflict situation, but to demand or give satisfaction . This was based on the conviction that an insult would call into question the offender's membership of a socially privileged group. Fixing this situation was called satisfaction and could be done in two ways. The offender apologized or made himself available for a duel.
The weapons used were usually edged weapons ( e.g. sabers ) or the pistol .
Entering a duel and carrying it out in accordance with the rules could restore the honor for both opponents, i.e. confirm membership of the special social group. The decisive role was played by the delay-free appearance and the observance of the rules and less the combative result.
tasks
The second had to make sure that his duelist observed all the rules, but at the same time did not suffer any physical disadvantages from the fact that the other side violated the rules.
In duels with fencing weapons, the seconds stood at the side of their protégés, on the side opposite the fencing arm, since this side is the least protected. For this purpose, they were provided with special protective equipment. They carried the same weapon as the duelists, but with a blunt blade. This enabled them to prevent illegal actions by the other side by knocking out the blade upwards or to the side. "Stop" was shouted loudly. This process was called "falling in". When one second occurred, the other followed immediately to prevent a one-sided advantage. This interrupted the duel.
Infringements of the rules by the other side were determined by a request from the second to the referee and his decision.
When the scale developed from the duel with edged weapons in the middle of the 19th century , the device of the second was retained.
In a pistol duel, the seconds on the referee's side stood near the respective opponent and held a loaded pistol in their hand. According to the general rules of dueling, the seconds were authorized to shoot the counter-duel in the event of misconduct on the part of the opposing side. One misconduct could be, for example, that the agreed distance for shooting was not maintained or that the shooting was carried out outside the time window specified by commands. However, such an intervention by the seconds is not once documented in the literature.
Usage of the term today
Seconds are still used today in the student area for the courses, which are carried out by the student associations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland .
Some sports have supervisors called seconds, for example boxing and chess .
The term second is often still used today as a metaphor to designate a supportive person in a discussion or a sales negotiation.
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. ISBN 3-89498-020-6
- Leopold Maria Blasel, The rules of the duel , Vienna 1901
- Franz von Bolgár , The rules of the duel , 1st edition Budapest 1880, reprint 2005 ISBN 978-3-933892-93-5
- Felix Busson, Ritterlicher Ehrenschutz , 1st edition Graz 1907, 2nd edition Graz 1931, reprint of the 1st edition Vienna 1998
- Egon Eis: duel, history and stories of the duel. K. Desch, Munich 1971. ISBN 342004609X
- Norbert Elias: Civilization and Informalization. The satisfactory society. in: Michael Schröter (Ed.), Norbert Elias: Studies on the Germans. Power struggles and habitus development in the 19th and 20th centuries. Suhrkamp, Frankfurt a. M. 1989. ISBN 3518579983
- Michael Gierens: Honor, duel and scale, presentation and justification of Christian ethical views on honor and protection of honor, duel and scale based on a synthesis of historical, biblical, legal, canonical and philosophical knowledge. Published by the Academic Boniface Unification, Association for the Care of Religious Life in the Catholic Student Union, Paderborn 1928.
- W. Hammon: Student Fencing. Oderthal printing works, Duisburg 1957, Hammon, Essen approx. 1965. (Ms. printing)
- Peter Hauser, History of Saber Fencing , in Once and Now , 2005 yearbook of the Association for Corps Student History Research, Neustadt an der Aisch 2005
- Herbert Lüthy, Il Codice Cavalleresco Italiano. The "Italian Codex of Chivalry" by Jacopo Gelli from 1887 - Relations with the German cultural area , in Ein und Jetzt , 2005 yearbook of the Association for Corporate Student History Research, Neustadt an der Aisch 2005
- Hermann Rink : From student fencing to the scale. in: Handbook of the Kösener Corps student. Verband Alter Corpsstudenten eV Volume I. Würzburg 1985 (6th edition).
- Egbert Weiß, The pistol duels of the Leipzig Lusatians in the 19th century , in Once and Now , 2005 yearbook of the Association for Corps Student History Research, Neustadt an der Aisch 2005
