In 1351, France hosted the Breton War of Succession (1341 – 1365). This was a sub-war to the Hundred Years’ War. It was fought for control of the Duchy of Brittany. Jean de Beaumanoir, a prominent knight of the House of Blois, challenged Robert Bemborough, a captain of the House of Montfort, to single combat. The Blois were allied to the French king and the Montforts were on the side of the British. Bemborough, believing the more the merrier, suggested they each bring 29 knights and do a melee. The battle took place in a neutral area between opposition castles. On March 26, 1351, the combatants arrived, along with numerous spectators and refreshment stands. The battle opened with several hours of fighting using swords, daggers, lances, axes, and maces. This resulted in six dead. There was now a break for refreshments and wound binding. When the spectacle resumed, Bemborough was killed. The Montforts got into a tight formation for defense. The Blois tried hacking their way through with no success until a squire mounted a horse and bashed into the formation, breaking it up. Soon after, the Montforts gave up. They claimed that since the battle was on foot, the squire had violated the rules of chivalry. The Blois said “whatever”. In the end, 6 Blois and 9 Montforts were dead and everyone else was wounded. All for nothing, except for the chivalric extravaganza, because the battle changed nothing in the war.
https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/combat-thirty
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_of_the_Thirty
https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-important-events/combat-thirty-contest-finest-009774
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