No Romance without Finance: Courtship in Late Medieval England

Today, we readily understand that medieval marriage was often preceded by complex economic negotiations about dowers, dowries, inheritances, and even the costs of weddings. This article argues that medieval courtship—whether aimed at marriage or not—was also an occasion for negotiation and benefit....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Speculum 2024-01, Vol.99 (1), p.74-101
Main Authors: Bennett, Judith M., Karras, Ruth Mazo, Werner, Janelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Marriage
Medieval period
Personal relationships
Socioeconomic factors
Women
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Summary:Today, we readily understand that medieval marriage was often preceded by complex economic negotiations about dowers, dowries, inheritances, and even the costs of weddings. This article argues that medieval courtship—whether aimed at marriage or not—was also an occasion for negotiation and benefit. Focusing on evidence from late medieval England, it shows that courtship was not solely (or even predominantly) a path to marriage: it was also a pastime, an amusement, and—for women—a transaction of its own. Medieval people expected that any man might give any woman material benefits in return for the pleasures of her company and, possibly, the pleasures of sexual relations with her, too. This article also shifts well-recognized medieval discourses about female greed to new modern understandings about female need. The reliance of poor singlewomen on the material benefits of courtship speaks to us today about their profound vulnerability and neediness.
ISSN:0038-7134
2040-8072
DOI:10.1086/727894