In 1865, Otto von Bismarck, Prussia's Iron Chancellor and Minister President, challenged liberal scientist and politician Rudolf Virchow to a duel after Virchow questioned Bismarck's honesty during a heated parliamentary debate over naval funding. The two men were bitter political rivals – Virchow opposed Bismarck's excessive military spending and conservative policies. As the challenged party, Virchow had the right to choose weapons, and he simply declined the challenge, arguing that dueling ha