Royal Challenge

The Amazon Royal Challenge is the ancient tradition of a fight to the death between the amazon Queen and the challenger. The challenge can only be issued by a fellow amazon. The amazon who issued the challenge is able to choose the weapons or her "champion" (in other words, someone else to fight for them, amazon or otherwise).

The challenge is also a compulsory punishment for those who have committed a second offence against the amazons.

Occasions

 * "Hooves and Harlots" - Gabrielle offered the royal challenge to Melosa and chose Xena as her champion, who chose for them to use a pair of chobos as her weapon. Xena won the fight, but refused to kill Melosa.
 * "The Quest" (Mentioned only) - Velasca offered the challenge to Melosa, who accepted. Velasca won and Melosa was killed.
 * "Kindred Spirits" - After Joxer was caught spying on the amazons whilst bathing and was later caught kissing Rhea (an amazon), he was forced to participate in the Royal Challenge with Gabrielle. Gabrielle once again chose Xena as her champion and she made it seem as if Joxer was dead, but in fact it was all an act to get Joxer off the hook.