340 BCE

by Kathleen Ní Bhriain

The Celts were fond of settling conflicts by means of single combat (each side picks a hero) rather than with armies going to battle. Diodorus stated,

"And when someone accepts their challange to battle, they proudly recite the deeds of valour of their ancestors and proclaim their own valorous quality, at the same time abusing and making little of their opponent and generally attempting to rob him beforehand of his fighting spirit."

A few military disputes with Roman forces were settled in this manner, but in 340 BCE a decree was handed down by Titus Manlius Imperiosus Torquatus that this was no longer acceptable. Ironically, Torquatus himself earned this name by defeating a Celtic hero in single handed combat and making off with his torq.

Sources:

The Celtic Empire, Peter Berrisford Ellis, Carolina Acedemic Press, 1990, (c)1994,ISBN 0-89089-457-4

prepared by Kathleen Ní Bhriain

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