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Traditionally, this is one of the [[Rule of Three|three]] basic ways of resolving a conflict or disagreement between two individuals or legal entities, the other two being Trial By Ordeal, and Trial by Arbitration, for which we have [[Crime and Punishment Tropes|plenty of]] [[Courtroom Antic|coverage]] [[The Courtroom Index|already]].
The idea behind
This works, supposedly, because [[Right Makes Might]]. Whichever side is in the right ''will'' win a fight, either because [[Good Hurts Evil]], or because of some kind of divine intervention. Naturally, this idea is passé now, and so the
Note that there is no need for either the accused or the accuser to fight for themselves. Just as often, they will choose a champion to fight on their behalf, which is good, because otherwise bullies could handily go around accusing pipsqueaks of crimes against them and beating them up for the recompense.
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Note also that these fights don't necessarily have to end in death, though they often do, especially if the accused is suspected of a capital crime.
If the trial takes place between representatives of opposing armies, you have a case of [[Combat
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* In ''[[Gundam Wing]]'', [[The Rival|Zechs Merquise]] is court martialed by OZ for disobeying orders and rebuilding the Wing Gundam. The sentence is death, but his friend Treize manages to propose
== [[Fanfic]] ==
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== [[Film]] ==
* In the film ''[[Excalibur (
* In ''The Canterville Ghost'' (the 1944 movie anyway) Sir Simon de Canterville runs away from a trial by combat fight (with [[Tor Johnson]]), becoming the eponymous ghost after his father walls up the door to his room to prove he isn't there.
* Occurs (unsurprisingly) in the 1964 film version of ''[[Prince Valiant]]''.
* Also occurs in the 1961 film ''El Cid''.
* ''[[Flash Gordon (
== [[Literature]] ==
* In Jim Butcher's ''[[Codex Alera]]'' series, there are at least two forms of this: the Marat have a different form of trial for each clan; the Gargant clan go by this method, calling it "Trial By Strength." Then there's the practice of ''juris macto'' among the Aleran people, which is a ritualized and legally binding form of [[Duel to
* By the same author, in ''[[The Dresden Files]]'' novel ''Changes'', the Harry and Susan are forced to fight one of these when they are pursued into {{spoiler|the Erlking's halls}} by vampires, and {{spoiler|the Erlking}} doesn't know who is right. Besides, he likes a good show.
** Jim Butcher really likes this trope. It also appears at the end of ''[[White Night]]'' when Harry and Ramirez challenge Vitto Malvora and Madrigal Raith to a duel. The challenge and duel are a long series of [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]], with a priceless [[Crowning Moment of Funny]] with heavy applications of [[Sarcasm Mode|sarcasm]] from the White King of all people when Madrigal and Lady Cesarina Malvora try to duck the challenge.
*** Harry later takes on Duchess Arianna, a severely badass vampire (one level down from and {{spoiler|aspiring to be}} the Lords of the Outer Night, [[Physical
* The climax of ''[[Ivanhoe]]'' culminates in trial-by-combat. Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe fights on behalf of Rebecca, the daughter of Isaac of York, who has been accused of witchcraft solely on the basis of her being Jewish. Wilfred's victory is seen as a sign from God that Rebecca is innocent. Of course, in the end she and her father are still exiled for the "crime" of being Jewish.
* Repeatedly used in ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'': to wit, Bronn against Ser Vardis over Tyrion's supposed murder of Jon Arynn; Oberyn Martell against Gregor Clegane over {{spoiler|Tyrion's supposed murder of Joffrey}}; and supposed to figure into [[Smug Snake|Cersei's]] plan {{spoiler|to have Margaery Tyrell accused of adultery and forced to be championed by an incompetent member of the Kingsguard, which has [[Hoist
* Occurs in ''[[
* Occurs in the ''Chanson de Roland'' (the ''Song of Roland''), when Thierry fights Pinabel to prove the guilt of Ganelon.
* ''[[Barsoom|Chessmen of Mars]]'': Captives in the city of Manator must play a life-sized version of [[wikipedia:Jetan|Jetan]], with each taking of a piece being a duel to the death. Captives, criminals and slaves can win their freedom by winning enough games.
* The Whitecloaks in [[The Wheel of Time]] use this as a way of settling disputes when there is no evidence, though it has fallen out of practice by the time of the books. However, the lawful-minded Galad uses the tradition to challenge the Commander for the suspected murder of his mother, killing him and winning [[You Kill It, You Bought It|command of the order]] as a side-bonus.
* [[
* Used in one [[
* Such a system is in place in the [[King Arthur]] legendarium. Every knight knows that Guinevere is cheating on Arthur with Lancelot, but an accusation without any proof can only be made by challenging the queen's champion- Lancelot himself. Since he's an invincible knight, no one dares asperse her loyalty out loud.
* Being based on [[King Arthur]] and other medieval literature, the country of Arendia in the ''[[Belgariad]]'' uses this system as well. It comes up in the second book when, because Garion is unable to prove that an ambassador is plotting to kill the king in order to foment war, the renowned and eminently honourable Mandorallan challenges the ambassador in order to prove his misdoings.
== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* In ''[[Star Trek:
** In "Arena", he had to face an alien captain in order to determine who was in the wrong over straying into the other's space.
* In the ''[[V (TV series)|V]]'' (1980's) episode "Trial By Combat", Diana and Lydia fight one to decide whether Lydia is guilty of killing Charles.
== [[Opera]] ==
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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* The Clans of ''[[
* Trial by combat is still practiced in certain rural areas of the empire in ''[[Warhammer Fantasy]]''. ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]]'' even has a class, the Judicial Champion, who represents the local courts.
== [[Video Games]] ==
* In ''[[Twilight Princess]]'', Gorons won't let you into their mine until you defeat their leader in a sumo match.
* In ''
* In ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]'', you have to sit through a mostly pointless trial by judge. Pointless because whichever way the judge rules, the losing party will invoke the right of Trial by Combat to give you a [[Boss Battle]].
** Of course, there are advantages to winning (you're legally exonerated for the crime for which you were framed), and losing (you basically admit that you did it). People react appropriately.
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== [[Real Life]] ==
* This was used during the Medieval Era as a way to determine "God's Judgement", because (the thinking went) the winner would obviously have been chosen by God to win. Generally, it was easier than the one where you got thrown in the river to see if God wants you to survive.
* In ''The Last Duel'' by Eric Jager, the author describes the last legally sanctioned ([[Duel to
* Notch, creator of ''[[Minecraft]]'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20130820202141/http://notch.tumblr.com/post/9038258448/hey-bethesda-lets-settle-this challenged Bethesda] to a 3 vs 3 game of ''[[
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Dueling Tropes]]
[[Category:Combat Tropes]]
▲[[Category:Trial by Combat]]
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