History Main / TrialByCombat

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'', this is how [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons handle any debate or disagreement]]. Because dragons are [[ProudWarriorRace ferocious and prideful creatures]] [[InTheBlood with an innate desire to rule and dominate]], and [[MakeMeWannaShout their language and voices]] are literal [[RealityWarper reality-warping magic]], they do not have any distinction between debate and combat, and [[MightMakesRight might literally makes right]].

[[folder:Ballads]]
* In the Literature/{{Child Ballad|s}} ''Literature/SirAldingar'', the queen demands this as her right, to defend herself against MaliciousSlander
* Hammerfall's metal ballad "The Champion" has this theme.
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* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has one such duel a minor plot point early in the ''Heavensward'' expansion. The fight is between two knights of the, well, [[TitleDrop Heavens' Ward]], and the accused -- Alphinaud, [[TookALevelInBadass who starts throwing spells around for the first time since his introduction]] and Tataru, who names the player character as her champion.

** While there are Klingon lawyers, trial by combat is a means of resolving legal disputes for the Klingons. For example, in the ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E03TheHouseOfQuark The House of Quark]]", Quark has the information to show that a Klingon used dishonorable finical manipulations to undermine a rival house, but even with his proof, he's forced into a Trial by Combat over the accusation. [[spoiler:Quark throws his weapon down in the fight. When the rival moves to strike Quark down, it shows that the rival truly is dishonorable.]]

If the trial takes place between representatives of opposing armies, you have a case of CombatByChampion. If the two are fighting over an insult, it's going to be a DuelToTheDeath, with all of the ThrowingDownTheGauntlet, etc. Be aware of the difference between this and DuelToTheDeath. Although they are similar and in many cases overlap, the trial is always sanctioned by the pervading culture whereas a duel is sometimes illicit. Also, the way of engaging a trial is different. Whereas a duel can be arranged entirely between the conflicting parties, a trial must be instigated at the behest of some authority figure (who will preside over the fight like a referee and may him/herself serve as champion, especially if he/she is of a {{Proud Warrior Race|Guy}}), and there have to be witnesses to verify how things went down.
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* ''VideoGame/HorizonForbiddenWest'': In the backstory, Fashav, a Carja soldier trying to stop the worst of his people's atrocities, ended up captured by the [[ProudWarriorRace Tenakth]]. He heard them speak of a ceremony called the "kolrut," which he assumed was some primitive trial by combat. He demanded the right to the kolrut, fought [[MachineLifeforms machines]] in the arena, won... [[SubvertedTrope at which point he discovered]] that the kolrut was actually the entry test for the elite peacekeepers of the tribe, serving directly under the chief. By all accounts, everyone took this surprisingly well, and by the time of the game Fashav is one of the most respected Marshals.

* ''VideoGame/HorizonForbiddenWest'': In the backstory, Fashav, a Carja soldier trying to stop the worst of his people's atrocities, ended up captured by the [[ProudWarriorRace Tenakth]]. He heard them speak of a ceremony called the "kolrut," which he assumed was some primitive trial by combat. He demanded the right to the kolrut, fought [[MachineLifeforms machines]] in the arena, won... at which point he discovered that the kolrut was actually the entry test for the elite peacekeepers of the tribe, serving directly under the chief. By all accounts, everyone took this surprisingly well, and by the time of the game Fashav is one of the most respected Marshals.

* ''Manga/TimeStopBrave'': Death row prisoners have to fight in a gladiator arena. If they beat their opponent, they are freed.

* As [[{{Pegasus}} Pegasus Service]] messengers [[AmoralAfrikaner Rebecka Smith-Rhodes]] and [[UsefulNotes/{{Cossacks}} Alexandra Mumorovka]] discover in ''Fanfic/ThePriceOfFlight'', in the remote Discworld/{{Literature}} nation of [[UsefulNotes/{{Iceland}} Island]], Trial By Combat is considered an innovative and modern method of settling disputes. As Witches, they are sworn into the legal process and attend court as Expert Witnesses.

* The Grandees of the South in ''VideoGame/KingOfTheCastle'' are firm believers in the virtues of allowing accused criminals to "demonstrate" their innocence in arena fights, and several potential story events revolve around a randomly chosen Grandee demanding their right to trial by combat after they are implicated in a crime. The King can refuse, risking a spike in Defiance, or accept and nominate a champion to face the accused (or even do so themself).