ABSTRACT
An armed encounter usually had two possible ends, disarm or death. A disarm could complete a duel, the victor retaining their honor while showing mercy on their opponent. Such an action would be common on a field of honor where both swordsmen are rational and in cold blood. The disarmed opponent could admit their fault, ending the fight without injury, or they could press the point. If the point were pressed, or if the encounter were impassioned and hot blooded, the fight could end by a thrust or cut with the sword. Even if the wound received was not itself fatal, the lack of proper medical techniques could allow infection to slowly take the swordsman's life. This could be one reason why over 40,000 French gentlemen died by the sword in single combats in a span of less than two hundred years.2
