The image of hundreds of bare-chested warriors descending on an enemy is one that Roman historians used time and time again. What they neglected to mention was the Celtic tradition of deciding battles through single combat. A brave champion would step from the ranks and present his challenge, boasting of his great deeds and those of his ancestors before him. Once two champions had done battle, the victor had won the war for his tribe and they would return home. However, the Romans did not hold to these traditions, and even if a Celtic champion beat a Roman in single combat, they would fall on the unsuspecting Celts to exact revenge for their fallen comrade.
