Champion warfare refers to a type of battle, most commonly found in theepic poetry andmyth of ancient history, in which the outcome of the conflict is determined bysingle combat, an individualduel between the best soldiers ("champions") from each opposing army. Champion warfare can also refer to a battle in which armies actually engage, but champions within the armies fight so effectively as to single-handedly carry the sway of battle, such as in theIliad.
Numerous instances of champion warfare can be observed inHomer'sIliad, most notably the climactic battle betweenAchilles andHector, although there are many more.[1]
Champion warfare has numerous examples inFerdowsi'sShahnameh (Book of Kings).
Champion warfare is a common theme in the early books ofLivy'shistory of RomeAb Urbe Condita (From the Founding of the City), including the story of the famous triplets of theHoratii and Curiatii families and the great championHoratius Cocles.
TheCombat of the Thirty in 1351 between competing French lineages was held as a model and pinnacle of chivalric combat.
Champion warfare is a common occurrence in Indian epics such as theMahabharata and theRamayana. The latter's fate is decisively determined byRama, and his nemesisRavana
In theBible, the battle betweenDavid and Goliath is an example of champion warfare. Group champion combat, where a certain number of champions from each side battle, also existed, as shown in the Battle of Gibeon, where General Abner, loyal to King Ish-bosheth, had twelve champions duel twelve warriors chosen from the ranks of King David's army by General Joab. (2 Samuel 2:12–17 describes the duels themselves.)
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