The contract of marriage : the maritagium from the eleventh to the thirteenth century
The maritagium, or marriage portion, was the gift of land or rents given by a father on the occasion of his daughter's marriage. Using the evidence of the surviving charters, printed and archival, which detail the terms and conditions of this grant, in combination with those charters made by the donees or their heirs which refer to the maritagium, and other evidence such as law suits and administrative records (again printed and manuscript), my thesis examined the actual grant and enjoyment of the maritagium in England. It will be shown that the custom of the maritagium was widespread, if not universal, and penetrated all ranks of society. Furthermore maritagia seem to have been given to more than one daughter, and even, on occasion to illegitimate daughters, when the family could afford to do so. This indicates that medieval society, in this period, did not concentrate its resources in the hands of one heir but distributed land within the family, in contrast to previous work which has emphasised the growing concentration of land in the hands of the male heir. The mechanism and method of granting the portion remained remarkably similar over time, varying only in the amount of land, or rent, given as a portion.
Trafford, Claire de
Portion; Gift of land; Charters
The contract of marriage : the maritagium from the eleventh to the thirteenth century. The maritagium, or marriage portion, was the gift of land or rents given by a father on the occasion of his daughter's marriage. Using the evidence of the surviving charters, printed and archival, which detail the terms and conditions of this grant, in combination with those charters made by the donees or their heirs which refer to the maritagium, and other evidence such as law suits and administrative records (again printed and manuscript), my thesis examined the actual grant and enjoyment of the maritagium in England. It will be shown that the custom of the maritagium was widespread, if not universal, and penetrated all ranks of society. Furthermore maritagia seem to have been given to more than one daughter, and even, on occasion to illegitimate daughters, when the family could afford to do so. This indicates that medieval society, in this period, did not concentrate its resources in the hands of one heir but distributed land within the family, in contrast to previous work which has emphasised the growing concentration of land in the hands of the male heir. The mechanism and method of granting the portion remained remarkably similar over time, varying only in the amount of land, or rent, given as a portion.
contract marriage eleventh marriage portion gift land rent give father occasion daughter marriage using evidence survive charter print archival detail term condition grant combination charter make heir refer evidence law suit administrative_record print_manuscript examine actual grant enjoyment england show custom widespread universal rank society furthermore seem give daughter even occasion illegitimate daughter family could afford indicates medieval_society period concentrate resource hand heir distribute land within family contrast_previous work emphasise grow concentration land hand male heir mechanism method grant portion remain remarkably_similar time vary amount land rent give portion