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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1999-03 > 0921057480


From: <Michelle.Murphy%>
Subject: Medieval Marriage
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 10:18 +0100 (BST)


Further to a comment a week or so ago on medieval marriage (i.e. that
the minimum age prescribed by the Church for conjugal relations was 12
years old), I was wondering: did that mean that ANY marriage made
involving one or both spouses aged under 12 years could be dissolved
at will, because a marriage was not seen as a true marriage unless it
was consummated, and the Church would not recognise consummation if
one or both spouses were aged under 12 years? Or was the practice of
touching the groom (or proxy)'s bare foot against the bride's naked
leg sufficient to consummate the marriage, and would it uphold the
marriage if someone decided to try to maintain that it was not a true
marriage?

thanks,

Michelle Murphy

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