Married Life in the Middle Ages, 900-1300

Married Life in the Middle Ages,900-1300, by van Houts, explores the social and emotional life of married couples in Christian medieval Europe, focusing on the tension between patriarchal family strategies and individual freedom, the role of women, and the role of emotion.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Middle Ages, spanning from 900 to 1300, witnessed a unique era in the history of marriage. Married Life in the Middle Ages,900-1300 delves into the comprehensive analysis of the experiences of married life by both men and women in Christian medieval Europe. Rather than solely focusing on the institutional history of marriage, this study emphasizes the social and emotional aspects of married life. It is divided into three distinct parts:

Getting Married: This section explores the process of getting married and the joyous celebrations associated with it. It sheds light on the various customs, rituals, and traditions that characterized wedding ceremonies during this period.

Married Life: This part delves into the lives of lay couples and clergy, examining their sexuality, relationships, and experiences of remarriage. It sheds light on the challenges and complexities faced by married individuals, including the tension between patriarchal family strategies and individual freedom of choice.

Alternative Living: This section explores alternative living arrangements, such as concubinage and polygyny, as well as the single life in contrast to monogamous sexual unions. It examines the social and cultural attitudes towards these practices and their impact on the lives of individuals.

Within this volume, van Houts addresses four central themes:

The Tension Between Patriarchal Family Strategies and Individual Freedom of Choice: This theme explores the interplay between patriarchal family strategies and the individual's freedom to choose a spouse. It examines how the growing imposition of clerical celibacy impacted the married priesthood's quest for agency and self-determination.

The Role of the Married Priesthood: This theme highlights the role played by the married priesthood in their struggle for acceptance and recognition of their own lives. It explores how they sought to assert their individuality and autonomy in the face of the prevailing clerical celibacy norms.

The Role of Women in Shaping Married Life: This theme explores the significant contributions of women in shaping the norms and principles of married life. It examines how women played a crucial role in advocating for gender equality and self-determination in marriage, as well as in influencing the development of married life practices.

The Role of Emotion in Marriage and Married Life: This theme examines the emotional aspects of marriage and their significance in the medieval period. It explores how sexual and spiritual love played a central role in the establishment of marriage and the experiences of married individuals.

Married Life in the Middle Ages, 900-1300 provides a rich and detailed account of the social, emotional, and institutional aspects of married life during this transformative period. It sheds light on the complex dynamics between individuals, families, and society, offering valuable insights into the lives of married people in medieval Europe.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192856371