The Role of Dueling

In the 1300s, duels were often fought to settle everyday arguments. However, the judicial duel was fought specifically to render justice to those accused of crimes and their victims. As a tradition, the battle had strict rituals and ceremonial order. The people of the time accepted that the judicial duel would definitively decide the truth.

The duels were fought at a time when people had strict religious beliefs. One belief was that God would control the outcome of the judicial duel, meaning the honorable person who was telling the truth would emerge victor and the other would pay with his life and his mortal soul in danger. The duel was mortal combat, meaning one of the combatants would die. If one of the men confessed to lying during the duel, he would then be executed immediately. If neither confessed, they would fight to the death...