What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Last Duel
Film · 2021
If you loved The Last Duel, start with The Last Kingdom (Stephen Butchard, 2015) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Last Duel across media.
If The Last Duel captivated you, it is because you appreciate how historical power structures turn personal conflicts into epic, high-stakes confrontations.
Books on the same thread
The Last Battle
Clive Staples Lewis · Book · 1956
Explores: Good vs Evil, Faith, Sacrifice.
If The Last Duel hit, The Last Battle shares the thread.
The Mirror & the Light
Hilary Mantel · Book · 2021
Explores: Political Intrigue, Power Dynamics, Social Mobility.
Just as The Last Duel examines the dangerous intersection of court politics and individual reputation, this narrative masterfully navigates the lethal power dynamics inherent in Tudor-era court life.
The Chronicles of Narnia - the Last Battle
C. S. Lewis · Book · 2014
Shares a thread with The Last Duel: Betrayal.
If The Last Duel hit, The Chronicles of Narnia - the Last Battle shares the thread.
The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Victor Hugo · Book · 2001
Explores: social injustice, redemption, beauty vs. ugliness.
Much like the tragic social friction depicted in The Last Duel, this classic highlights how medieval institutions and rigid social hierarchies can lead to devastating personal injustice.
Series on the same thread
The Last Kingdom
Stephen Butchard · Series · 2015
Explores: warrior culture, identity crisis, cultural clash.
If you enjoyed the gritty medieval atmosphere of The Last Duel, this series offers a similar commitment to exploring how shifting loyalties and warrior codes shape individual destinies.
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with The Last Duel: Betrayal.
The Last Duel captures the tension of men bound by strict codes of honor, a theme echoed in this gripping exploration of political survival and cultural clash.
The Last Dance
Michael Tollin · Series · 2020
Explores: Team Dynamics, Leadership, Legacy.
If The Last Duel hit, The Last Dance shares the thread.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
George R. R. Martin · Series · 2026
Explores: Knight Errant, Master and Apprentice, Coming of Age.
While The Last Duel focuses on a brutal resolution to a dispute, this story provides a grounded look at the knightly code and the complex master-squire dynamic.
Podcasts on the same thread
You're Wrong About
Podcast
Explores: Misconceptions, Public Perception, Historical Analysis.
The Last Duel challenges the audience to question whose version of the truth is accurate, a revisionist approach that this podcast applies to historical figures miscast by history.
HISTORY This Week
The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios · Podcast · 2026
Explores: historical turning points, untold stories, biographical deep-dives.
The Last Duel demonstrates how a singular moment can define a legacy, and this podcast offers the same deep-dive perspective into the historical turning points that alter history.
Common questions
Is The Last Duel based on a real historical event?
The Last Duel depicts the historical account of King Charles VI ordering a judicial duel between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris to settle a formal dispute. The film centers on this specific confrontation as mandated by the King of France.
What is the primary conflict in The Last Duel?
The primary conflict in The Last Duel involves a dispute between the knight Jean de Carrouges and his squire, Jacques Le Gris. King Charles VI resolves this disagreement by declaring that the two men must settle the matter through a formal duel.
Who orders the trial by combat in The Last Duel?
In The Last Duel, it is King Charles VI who declares that the dispute between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris must be settled through a duel. This royal decree forces the two men to face each other in trial by combat.
Does The Last Duel focus on a legal dispute?
Yes, The Last Duel focuses on a legal and personal dispute between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris. The narrative follows the decision of King Charles VI to have this specific conflict resolved through a judicial duel between the two men.