The Last Duel: A True Story of Crime, Scandal, and Trial by Combat in Medieval France

The Last Duel begins by describing a duel being held at a monastery in Paris “a few days after Christmas in 1386” (1). Watching the duel is a crowd, including the king and a young woman in black surrounded by guards. Depending on the outcome of the duel, this woman may be put to death.

Besides setting up a mystery to interest the reader, the prologue draws attention to two elements that will be important throughout the book. The first is the duel itself. It is not simply a duel, but since it is a trial by combat it is a duel with spiritual and legal significance. The combatants “would fight without quarter, and without any chance of escape, until one killed the other, thus proving his charges and revealing God’s verdict on their quarrel” (1).

The second key point is represented by the woman: She is essentially a prisoner. Also, if her champion loses, “she would pay with her life for having sworn a false oath” (2). Throughout The Last Duel, Eric Jager will use this woman’s life and experiences to explore the ways women were restricted and controlled in medieval Europe.