• 11/08/2022
• By wizewebsite
• 543 Views

Divorce in the Middle Ages was allowed: possible causes for us are completely absurd<

Divorce in today's sense was for the medieval people of something unthinkable.But it was possible.The ways to get out of marriage were strange and some even humorous.For example, at 15.In the 18th century, you could escape the marriage by staging your own death or disappearance… but no, there were easier and less categorical ways.Women could have applied for an annulment of marriage if their spouses have publicly proved their impotence.According to the then approach of the Catholic Church, the spouses were "owed" to physical fun, and thus the inability to satisfy a partner was a completely serious obstacle to continuing marriage.How could you prove it?

Potency was in the Middle Ages the reason for the divorce.Source: Author: DMYTRO ZINKECH / Shutterstock

Sex before witnesses as evidence

The issue was dedicated to Carissa Harris, which also dedicated to this topic Obscene pedagogies: TransGressive Talk and Sexual Education In Late Medieval Britain.Her research revealed a number of interesting legal cases and also provided a picture of a spectrum of people who could be called to determine whether a man is truly impotent.

"If a woman accused her husband of impotence, either married wife, widows or local sex workers were often called as witnesses," writes Harris.Sometimes, however, they were also men who were to see how the accused were trying to sex;In other cases, doctors were summoned to make a decision.It seems that similar cases in medieval England were not enough.

As the adultery was punished in a man and a woman: the Middle Ages was not fair

Impotence across Europe

The most interesting finding that Harris made her research was a change in attitude in sex over the ages.Although medieval England was far from utopia when it comes to sex or sexuality, Harris reveals a number of very strange sexual practices, including very obscure details.Modern man is surprised what all possible.

While sex, marriage and impotence are a private affair for us today, for example at 14.century was erectile dysfunction in Europe under increased attention.In pre -modern France, a woman could bring her husband to a public court for an anulses of marriage on the basis of being impotent.However, impotence as the basis of divorce was not only possible in France, similar accusations were made in medieval Spain and England.

Male potency was tested publicly.Source: Author: Mara Fribus / Shutterstock

Sex run publicly

Methods that men had to prove their masculinity have achieved increasingly invasive and public levels using complex medical tests, virginity tests, and even public showing sexual skills.The screening of men's potency and their ability to sexual practices lasted less than a century.In the late medieval England, impotence was classified as a very serious problem about which even poems or songs composed.Women often and colorfully lament the inability of their halves, and tried to grab doctors and quacks who invented ways to get non -functional body limbs using oils, alcohol or massage techniques to cooperate.

The Enlightenment Thinkers called this pursuit of potency by an example of the exaggerated authority of the Church, while the general public was very happy to read about public findings in published reports.At that time, the male erection was his only weapon in the fight against his masculinity.Impotence evidence (or potency) processes have transferred what we now consider to be private affairs to very public places.

As the Church forced people to obey, see this interesting video:

Reasons for divorce in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages it was standard that marriage was created by the agreement of the parents of the future groom and the bride and its purpose was, of course.Often the couple saw each other for the first time at the wedding, so later disagreements and problems in common life were very common.

In addition to impotence, it was possible to divorce even if the blood affinity was proven, age was a major problem-the widows were usually not possible in girls under 12 years of age and boys under 14 years of age, previous monastery promise-if one of the newlyweds was already boundto another partner or God.

Resources:

Aviotormen.com, www.Insidehook.com, narrivatives.com, www.Ancient-Origins.net