Medieval Marriage: Two Models from Twelfth-Century France

Translated by Elborg Forster. Originally presented in French as lectures at Johns Hopkins University, Apr. 12, 13, and 15, 1977. Eminent French social historian Georges Duby identifies the twelfth century as a crucial turning point in the development of the institution of marriage in Western civilization. His study of medieval marriage is a worthy successor to the exploration of social attitudes begun by Philippe Ariès and continued by Fernand Braudel. During the twelfth century, Duby explains, the ideals and needs of the aristocracy clashed with those of the Church. The nobility regarded marriage as a matter of convenience and political alliance, especially when it meant the consolidation of power in a particular territory. But the Church sought to reassert its hold over the secular world by demanding strict adherence to the sacredness and indissolubility of marriage. This strong stand did much to rationalize the institution of marriage and establish guidelines for the legitimacy of heirs.