Divorce by Combat
The Middle age practice of settling marriage disputes with trial by combat
Source: Public Domain
Many believe that divorce is a modern 19th-century phenomenon. However, there is significant historical evidence to prove otherwise.
As it turns out, settling marriage differences through marital combat was a common practice, it was definitely cheaper than hiring a marriage counselor!
In 1467, a German fencing master, Hans Talhoffer wrote Fechtbuch which literally means ‘Fencing book’. The book, complete with illustrations depicts trial techniques when husbands and wives can no longer get along. He was also an adviser at court in regard to judicial duels.
Married couples took ‘till death do us part’ quite literally.
Source: Public domain
Given the obvious physical advantage of the husband over the wife, the wife was given certain concessions. Talhoffer presents his instructions and advice to both combatants. He gives two different versions of a fight, one with the man victorious, one with the woman winning.
As per the instructions, the husband was put up to his waist in a…
