Roman marriage customs Flashcards
(51 cards)
Were marriage matches in Rome based on love?
Rarely
How would a match for an unmarried woman be chosen?
The paterfamilias, who would select appropriate matches for the unmarried women under his control.
What reasons would make a man an ‘appropriate’ match in Rome.
-Solidifying a business or a political relationship between male members of the households.
-Improving the social standing of one or both of the families.
-Financial gain for the groom’s family thanks to a large dowry.
After finding a potential husband for the young woman, what would the paterfamilias then do?
Agree to an acceptable dowry with the groom’s family.
Did The bride-to-be and the groom-to-be need to give their consent to marriage?
Yes, though young girls may have not felt able to refuse the wishes of the paterfamilias.
What did Roman law state about when a young girl could reject a fiance?
That a young girl was free to reject a fiance, but only if her father had chose a man of bad character or unworthy. For a young girl , placing such accusations seems unlikely.
How young were some girls betrothed?
As young as seven years old.
From what moment were the couple betrothed?
From the moment that both families had agreed to a match and to a dowry.
Did a betrothal change anything legally?
No, it was only a formality in Rome. The engagement could be freely cancelled at any time.
How would wealthier Roman families usually celebrate an engagement?
By throwing a party. Friends and family would be invited to the bride’s house and her groom-to-be would give her gifts.
What gift would a groom-to-be often give to the bride-to-be in Rome?
A ring to wear on the fourth finger of her left hand.
Why would the ring that the bride received be work on the fourth finger of her left hand?
Because Romans believed, based on limited understanding of the body , that there was a vein running directly from the fourth finger to the heart.
What were the two distinct type of marriages that Romans had?
Cum manu and sine manu
What does cum manu mean?
with hand
What does sine manu mean?
without hand
What happened in cum manu marriage?
The wife legally transferred to her husband’s family . Status in the family was the same as if she had been adopted. She would inherit property from her husband if he dies but not from her father.
What was the title given to woman married in cum manu?
Materfamilias, which is the mother of the Roman household and wife of the paterfamilias.
Which were more common, sine manu marriages or cum manu marriages?
Sine manu marriages, particularly in wealthy families.
What were sine manu marriages?
When the bride remained under the legal control of her original paterfamilias.
Why were Sine manu marriages probably preferred?
Because it made sure that the woman would be able to inherit from her parents and so kept money within the immediate family.
Why could sine manu marriages have been a less secure prospect for a woman?
They did not require a dowry, so the husband could easily choose to divorce her with no dowry to repay.
In sine manu marriages, which part of the family were they considered to be part of?
Their father’s family.
In cum manu marriages, which part of the family were considered to be part of?
The same family as their mother and father.
What was a coemptio wedding ceremony?
A Roman wedding ceremony where the bride was symbolically sold to her new husband.
