The most unusual duel in history took place in Paris in 1808, when two gentlemen, Monsieur LePique and Monsieur Grandpré, both fell in love with the same ballerina, Mademoiselle Tirevit. So, they did what anyone caught in a 19th century Parisian love triangle would do: they fought a duel. It was agreed that the duel be fought from identical hot air balloons, and that the weapon of should be a blunderbuss — a short, muzzle-loading firearm. One month after the arrangement, on June 22, 1808, a crowd gathered at the gardens of Tuileries to witness the duel. The ropes holding back the balloons were cut and they lifted into the air. There was very little wind, so the balloons stayed in sight of the onlookers, raising into the air, around 80 yards apart. When they reached a height of about half a mile above the earth, the signal was given. LePique fired first, aiming his gun at Grandpré’s balloon but missing entirely. Then it was Grandpré’s turn. He aimed and fired, puncturing LePique’s balloon. The balloon immediately deflated, plummeting to the ground and killing LePique. Unfortunately, history never recorded what happened to the relationship between Monsieur Grandpré and Mademoiselle Tirevit. As for LePique, it’s certain that no one in history has ever fallen harder for a woman.
