Legal Definitions - wager of battle

Definition: Wager of battle, also known as trial by combat, was a trial method used in Europe and England during the Middle Ages. It involved a personal battle between the disputants, where the person accused fought with the accuser. The idea behind this trial was that God would give victory to the person in the right.

This trial method was introduced into England by the Normans after 1066, but it was not widely accepted and was rarely used. It became obsolete several centuries before being formally abolished in 1818. It was replaced in practice by the grand assize and indictment.

Examples:

• A knight accused of stealing a horse could choose to prove his innocence through a wager of battle against the accuser.
• A nobleman accused of treason could challenge his accuser to a trial by combat to prove his innocence.

These examples illustrate how the wager of battle was used as a trial method in medieval times. It was a way for individuals to prove their innocence or guilt through physical combat, with the belief that God would grant victory to the righteous.