Challenge of Barletta Facts for Kids

Monument to the Challenge in Barletta.

The Challenge of Barletta (in Italian: Disfida di Barletta) was a famous duel fought in southern Italy. It happened on February 13, 1503, near the towns of Barletta, Trani, Corato, and Andria. This event took place during the Third Italian War.

What Was the Challenge of Barletta?
Knights Who Fought in the Challenge
Images for kids
See also

What Was the Challenge of Barletta?

This exciting event was a contest between knights. It started because a French knight, Charles de la Motte, made some rude comments about Italian soldiers. He questioned their bravery and skill. To settle this argument, a special tournament was arranged.

The Knights and Their Teams

The challenge was a mounted fight between 13 Italians and 13 French knights. The Italian knights were part of the Spanish army based in Barletta. The French knights were based in Canosa di Puglia. The most famous Italian knight was Ettore Fieramosca.

The Rules of the Duel

The French knight, Charles de la Motte, helped set the rules for the challenge. He chose 13 knights for each side. Some say he picked the number 13 hoping the Italians would refuse due to superstition. The winners would get the weapons and horses of the losing side. Each losing knight also had to pay a ransom of 100 ducats. This was a lot of money back then! Each army also had to provide two hostages as a promise.

Prospero Colonna and Fabrizio Colonna helped choose the Italian team. Ettore Fieramosca was chosen as their captain.

Who Won the Challenge?

The Italian knights bravely won the battle! The French knights had to pay the ransom. Because of this victory, Barletta is now known as Città della Disfida, which means "City of the Challenge."

Stories and Films Inspired by the Challenge

This historic event has inspired many stories. An Italian writer named Massimo D'Azeglio wrote a famous novel about it in 1833. It was called Ettore Fieramosca, or La disfida di Barletta. There's also a funny Italian movie from 1976 called Il Soldato di Ventura that shows a comedic version of the fight.

Knights Who Fought in the Challenge

Here are the brave knights who took part in this famous duel:

Italian Knights	Knights		French Knights
	Ettore Fieramosca	Charles de Torgues
	Francesco Salamone	Marc de Frigne
	Marco Corollario	Girout de Forses
	Riccio da Parma	Claude Grajan d'Aste †
	Guglielmo Albimonte	Martellin de Lambris
	Mariano Abignente	Pierre de Liaye
	Giovanni Capoccio	Jacques de la Fontaine
	Giovanni Brancaleone	Eliot de Baraut
	Ludovico Abenevoli	Jean de Landes
	Ettore Giovenale	Sacet de Sacet
	Fanfulla da Lodi	François de Pise
	Romanello da Forlì	Jacques de Guignes
	Miale da Troia	Naute de la Fraise