An Example of European Honor

submitted by SoylentCapitalist from self.debatealtright

In 1351, 30 French knights challenged an equal number of English counterparts to a pre-arranged battle at Guillac in order to determine who would rule the Duchy of Brittany. The ensuing battle was called 'Le Combat des Trente' or the 'Combat of the Thirty'. I wish all disputes had been solved by heroes this way, so we could better honor the individuals that sacrificed their lives for the many they saved.

https://imgur.com/a/UfeeE7m

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[–]Nombre27 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That's super interesting, thank you.

[–]casparvoneverecBig tiddy respecter 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

That was not something unique to Europeans. The Arabs engaged in single combat before battles as well. The Turks also did this at times.

[–]Ethnosomniator 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

The most ancient surviving European epic, the Ilias, is full of individual challenges. The Nordic custom of Holmgang was also just that, an honorable way to end a dispute without needlessly feuding clans and an escalation of cruelties and trickery. An island was chosen to elevate the conflict from profane assault to sacred ritual. This tradition was kept in Germany for centuries after christianisation with more and more bizarre rulesets after the sacred ceded to iuris prudentia.

[–]send_nasty_stuffNational Socialist 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

So who won?

[–]angryturtle 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

The French. After they cheated lmao.

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[deleted]

    [–]angryturtle 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    Well from a quick reading of online sources it appears the battle became a stalemate until a Frenchman rode a horse into the English formation and broke it up. It seems as though this was seen as sketchy and breaking the spirit of the contest at the time, and possibly was outright cheating, but this isnt entirely clear.

    It's still overall a legit display of chivalry and courage.