After his defeat in Barcelona, Don Quixote must stop acts of chivalry for one year.
The victor is the Knight of the White Moon, who defeats Don Quixote on the beach at Barcelona. The knight is actually Samson Carrasco, a young man from Don Quixote’s home village who has previously tried to defeat him under another disguise. His purpose is to force Don Quixote to abandon his wandering and return home.
The terms of the combat require the defeated knight to obey the conqueror’s command. Don Quixote must lay down his arms and cease practicing knight-errantry for a year. The condition is especially painful because his identity and purpose depend on continuing to act as a knight seeking adventures.
The defeat marks the beginning of the novel’s final movement. On the journey home, Don Quixote considers becoming a shepherd, then falls ill and gradually returns to his former identity as Alonso Quixano. The period is one year—not three years or a shorter pause—and the command is connected directly to the Barcelona combat.