User:Dowd1996/Champion warfare

Examples of champion warfare through history
Champion warfare was an integral part of military conquest in numerous cultures in the past, serving to preserve manpower and quickly resolve disputes without requiring a protracted engagement. Champion warfare eventually fell out of favour with the creation of more professional military forces, where troops were not focused on individual honor and glory and instead began to be viewed as a tool of the state or ruling class. Examples of champion warfare in military engagements used by various groups throughout history include the following:


 * Before Shaka Zulu's assent to power in 1816, the manner of fighting between tribal nations in South Africa relied heavily on champion warfare. Opposing tribes would meet in the field, and would send forward chosen champions who would compete in ritualized performances, usually without direct confrontation or loss of life. Whichever side lost this formal bout would be considered the loser and would withdraw from the field. This method of warfare fell out of favour when Shaka implemented the Ibutho military system, which focused on disciplined large-scale combat.
 * in 349 BC, long before the adoption of the Marian reforms, the story of Valerius "The Raven" provides a useful example of Roman views on champion warfare. Challenged by the chief of a local band of Gauls, Tribune Marcus Valerius dueled the man and succeeded in defeating him, supposedly assisted by a raven. The Gallic host, bereft of its leader, as then routed. The exact details of the duel are most likely exaggerated, as Roman writers tended to exaggerate the victories of the state, however the event shows that the concept of battlefield duels existed prominently in the minds of the Roman people at that time.
 * Champion warfare was often used by competing parties of migrating peoples as a method to settle disagreements or secure authority without expending precious manpower. In 406 A.D. The Vandal s and the Suebi, two Germanic tribes who had invaded what is now Spain, came into conflict over territory. The king of the Suebi proposed that their dispute be resolved via a duel between two champions, so as to avoid the death of their peoples. The Vandals accepted, and lost, after which their army withdrew from the contested region.
 * In early Muslim warfare, the use of champion warfare was commonplace, both due to its history of use in Arabic warfare and as a means to preserve manpower. The Battle of Badr was opened wit h a series of duels between Muhammed's followers and their Quraishi opponents, which eventually lead to the Quraishi being routed from the field. This was largely attributed to their losses during the pre-battle duels, as they lost several champions and became demoralized upon the loss of their leadership.
 * In medieval Japanese warfare, champion warfare featured prominently among the warrior class of the Samurai, or Bushi. Samurai were expected to collect as many heads as possible to increase their merit in battle, and so sought out other samurai on the field to engage in 1-on-1 duels. While there were exceptions to this, the greatest value was placed on those warriors who participated and won in the most duels on the field. Honorable conduct was expected by both parties, however this practice was not extended to peasant troops known as Ashigaru, who made up the bulk of Japanese military forces at the time.