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

When a marriage took place, it was customary for the wife to bring with her into the marriage a payment and/or a share of land from her family. For example, when Jean de Carrouges IV’s sister Jeanne married, a portion of her father’s land was given to her and her new husband (14).

Judicial duels were a custom spread across much of medieval Europe, allowing a duel to settle an accusation of a crime. If the accuser won, it proved the defendant guilty, but if the defendant won, it proved they were innocent and that the accuser had lied. It was believed that God determined the outcome of such duels, proving guilt or innocence. By Jean de Carrouges IV’s lifetime, judicial duels were much less common and were heavily regulated and formalized under law.

The Parlement of Paris, also known as the king’s court, was one of various parliaments or parlements across France. Since it was located in the capital of Paris, it was considered the highest court of the land. Unlike the British Parliament of today, which is a legislative body, the Parlement of Paris was more like a supreme court by modern standards. It had jurisdiction over various legal matters, including judicial duels. It was the Parlement of Paris that had to hold the inquiry into whether Jean de Carrouges should be allowed to have a judicial duel with Jacques Le Gris (103). It consisted of 32 magistrates, and its meetings were held at the Palais de Justice in Paris.

Rouiters, also known as the “’scourge of God,’” were robbers who came in the aftermath of a battle in France during the Hundred Years War. They “roamed the countryside looting towns and villages and extorting tribute from the terrorized people” (7).