From the Roman Empire to Middle Ages In Rome, the most famous duel was fought between three Horatii brothers and three Curiatii brothers, respecting precise rules during the 7th century BC. Marc Antony and Octavian also challenged each other to a duel which never came to fruition. The Lombards had dueling rituals too, often controlled by local judges. The Norse sagas give accounts of the rules of dueling in the Viking Age holmganga. The 1409 AD 'Flos Duellatorum' of Italy is the earliest example of an actual code duello in Europe. Fechtbücher of Hans Talhoffer and other fifteenth century masters give rules for judicial duels and "tournament rules", with varying degrees of detail.
fRoM thE romAn eMPiRe tO miDdle aGEs iN rOme, tHe MoSt fAmouS dUeL waS fOuGht betweEN THreE HorAtii brothers aNd tHRee CUriatii BROthErS, reSpectinG prEcise RuLes during ThE 7tH centuRy bc. marC aNtoNY anD ocTaVian ALSO challEngEd eacH otHer To a dUeL whiCh NEVEr came to frUItiON. the lombARDs haD DuELing ritUals too, OfTen conTrOlLed by lOcAl JudgES. The nOrse sagaS gIVE accoUNTs Of thE rUles oF dUeling In the viking Age HOlMGanga. the 1409 Ad 'FLos dUellatorum' of iTaly is thE EaRliest eXample of An aCtual cOdE DUELlo IN EurOpE. FeChtBücheR of hAnS TaLHofFeR and other fIfteEnth CEntuRy MasTers GIve rules fOr judiciAL duEls anD "tOURnamEnt ruLEs", With varyInG dEGrEes oF DeTaiL.