Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index


  • Record Number: 8462
  • Author(s)/Creator(s): Karras , Ruth Mazo
  • Contributor(s):
  • Title: Marriage, Concubinage, and the Law [The author analyzes the meaning of concubinage in the Middle Ages with some references to ancient Roman practices. In the later Middle Ages "concubine" came to have two separate meanings: 1) A woman who lived with a man in a domestic arrangement but was not married to him and 2) In a more technical sense "concubine" was used as a legal term for a status that accorded some rights but was inferior to that of wives. Includes a detailed look at a 15th century legal opinion as to whether a priest's concubine and son could receive legacies from the cleric. The suit was brought by the chief heir, the priest's brother. Title note supplied by Feminae.]
  • Source: Law and the Illicit in Medieval Europe.  Edited by Ruth Mazo Karras, Joel Kaye, and E. Ann Matter.  University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008.  Pages 117 - 129.
  • Description:
  • Article Type: Essay
  • Subject (See Also): Clergy- Sexual Behavior Concubines Gui Pape, Jurist Illegitimacy Inheritance Law Marriage
  • Award Note:
  • Geographic Area: General
  • Century: General
  • Primary Evidence:
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  • Author's Affiliation: University of Minnesota
  • Conference Info: - , -
  • Year of Publication: 2008.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN/ISBN: 0812240801