Challenge of Barletta

The tournament was provoked by a French knight Charles de la Motte who, after drinking too much of the local wine, made disparaging remarks about the Italians.

The event inspired a historical novel by the Italian writer Massimo D'Azeglio, Ettore Fieramosca, or La disfida di Barletta, written in 1833.

A comedic version of the fight is also depicted in the 1976 Italian comedy film Il Soldato di Ventura.

On 15 January 1503 the French prisoners were invited to take part to a banquet during which la Motte questioned the valor and courage of Italian soldiers, then allied with the Spaniards.

For the two armies, the participants were as follows: The field judges for the Italian faction were: Francesco Zurolo (or Zurlo),[2] Diego Vela, Francesco Spinola, Alonzo Lopez, the French ones instead: Lionnet Du Breuil,[3] Monsieur de Murtibrach, Monsieur de Bruet and Etum Sutte.