THE SCENE: King Louis VI of France may have been nicknamed “Louis the Fat”, but he must have been large and in charge, as is demonstrated by this passage where he challenges King Henry I of England (and Normandy) to single combat on a rickety bridge.
THE TEXT: The French again dispatched messengers to prove their case. Refuting exaggerated words by the law of the duel, they would reveal by fighting on which side justice lay. But when the Normans did not accept the offer or reject it in a suitable way, the high-spirited King Louis decided to rely upon his own stoutness of heart and body. He quickly dispatched emissaries who enjoined King Henry either to destroy the castle of Gisors or to defend himself in person against him for having faithlessly broken with sworn word.
“Come now,” he said. “The one who fights hardest in combat should gain the glory given by truth and victory.” Having come to as fair a decision as possible about the dueling place, he continued, “Let their host draw back from the bank of the river until we are able to cross, for a more secure position will make each side feel safer. Or, if he prefers, let each side take hostages from the most noble men of the entire host as a guarantee that we will fight in single combat. But he must permit us to cross the river safely after we have pulled back our own forces; otherwise no crossing will be possible.” Some of them shouted out and jokingly suggested that the kings do battle on that flimsy bridge which would immediately tumble down; and being both reckless and brave, King Louis was eager to do this.
But the king of the English replied, “It would mean nothing to me were I needlessly to lose a reowned and very useful castle because of remarks like these.” Scorning these and other reproaches, he said, “When I see the lord king in a place where I may defend myself, I will not run away,” and so he refused the offer of a fight in an untenable spot.
– The Deeds of Louis the Fat, Suger, 12th Century AD
