tclanes
I like pie Sir Thomas More recommended that girls not marry before 18 and boys not before 22.
In non-noble families, the most common age for marriage is 25-26 for men, about 23 for women. This is because it's best to wait until you can afford a home and children. Also, most apprenticeships don't end until the mid 20s.
Noble families may arrange marriage much earlier. Robert Dudley's sister Katherine, who became the countess of Huntingdon, did go to the altar at age 7, but that was extraordinary. In non-noble families, the most common age for marriage is 25-26 for men, about 23 for women. This is because it's best to wait until you can afford a home and children. Also, most apprenticeships don't end until the mid 20s.
Noble families may arrange marriage much earlier. Robert Dudley's sister Katherine, who became the countess of Huntingdon, did go to the altar at age 7, but that was extraordinary.
When the participants are very young, it is principally to secure a dynastic alliance. They generally do not live together as man and wife (by any definition). Often, the bride may go to live with the groom's family to be brought up in domestic management by her mother-in-law.
The Contract
Marriage is a contract that begins with a betrothal.
At a betrothal, the two people join hands. He gives her a ring to be worn on the right hand. It changes to the left at the wedding.
They seal the contract with a kiss, and signatures.
A marriage contract includes provision both for the bride's dowry and for a jointure, or settlement, in cash and property by the husband's family, which guarantees her welfare should her husband die first.
If he breaks the marriage contract without good cause, he has to give back any tokens or gifts received.
Betrothals can be terminated by mutual consent. In certain circumstances, one can withdraw unilaterally if the other is:
guilty of heresy or apostasy (conversion or re-conversion to Rome) guilty of infidelity
In non-noble families, the most common age for marriage is 25-26 for men, about 23 for women. This is because it's best to wait until you can afford a home and children. Also, most apprenticeships don't end until the mid 20s.
Noble families may arrange marriage much earlier. Robert Dudley's sister Katherine, who became the countess of Huntingdon, did go to the altar at age 7, but that was extraordinary. In non-noble families, the most common age for marriage is 25-26 for men, about 23 for women. This is because it's best to wait until you can afford a home and children. Also, most apprenticeships don't end until the mid 20s.
Noble families may arrange marriage much earlier. Robert Dudley's sister Katherine, who became the countess of Huntingdon, did go to the altar at age 7, but that was extraordinary.
When the participants are very young, it is principally to secure a dynastic alliance. They generally do not live together as man and wife (by any definition). Often, the bride may go to live with the groom's family to be brought up in domestic management by her mother-in-law.
The Contract
Marriage is a contract that begins with a betrothal.
At a betrothal, the two people join hands. He gives her a ring to be worn on the right hand. It changes to the left at the wedding.
They seal the contract with a kiss, and signatures.
A marriage contract includes provision both for the bride's dowry and for a jointure, or settlement, in cash and property by the husband's family, which guarantees her welfare should her husband die first.
If he breaks the marriage contract without good cause, he has to give back any tokens or gifts received.
Betrothals can be terminated by mutual consent. In certain circumstances, one can withdraw unilaterally if the other is:
guilty of heresy or apostasy (conversion or re-conversion to Rome) guilty of infidelity