Marital Curiosities In Medieval Dubrovnik
Always a man’s property
In the 15th century Dubrovnik, a bride did not have to be present at the wedding ceremony. Instead, her father would take a groom for his daughter’s lawful husband in her name.
After the husband passed away, his widow could not remain sleeping in their bedroom if the husband did not leave her that right in his testament!
According to the Family law, a father had the right to disinherit his son in 3 cases: if the son attacked or injured him, if the son reported him to a court for a criminal offense or if the son took over his father’s mistress!
Instructions for a good wife (by Benko Kotruljević, 15th century, Dubrovnik)
There are three goods women can possess: honesty (which consists of the virtues that she is responsible for), the usefulness (the dowry, money that she brings to her husband, provided by her father), and the pleasures of beauty (the gift of God).
The wife must be prudent, persistent, serious, tender, gentle, chaste, merciful, religious, generous, resilient, and moderate in food and drink, sober, sharp and always busy. According to her social status, she must have proper clothing and accessories, and her face must be clean and never, nor for any reason, she should not put makeup on her face.
A woman’s task is to be likable, to be helpful to a husband, to nurture and comfort him and to treat his illness, to give birth and raise their offsprings, and to comfort the mourning for dead children with new pregnancies and maternity.
Instructions for a good husband
A husband shapes his wife, and she is his creation. She is a weak and very cowardly creature and an imperfect human being. Therefore, if she is disobedient and does not want to improve, use a stick, but let that be the last cure. The Family law forbids a husband to beat his wife “more than necessary”.
Never forget that a woman is a “sweet evil”, bad and deceitful, the right hand of Satan, and she is the exclusive cause for the exile of man from the earthly paradise.
If you decide to join me on The scent of the women tour you’ll be in for a real treat, because you’ll learn many more interesting marital curiosities in medieval Dubrovnik and historical facts about the lives of women in Dubrovnik in the past.
A wedding ring used in Dubrovnik in the 15th and 16th century
Marital Curiosities In Medieval Dubrovnik
Always a men’s property
In the 15th century Dubrovnik, a bride did not have to be present at the wedding ceremony. Instead, her father would take a groom for his daughter’s lawful husband in her name.
After the husband passed away, his widow could not remain sleeping in their bedroom if the husband did not leave her that right in his testament!
According to the Family law, a father had the right to disinherit his son in 3 cases: if the son attacked or injured him, if the son reported him to a court for a criminal offense or if the son took over his father’s mistress!
Instructions for a good wife (by Benko Kotruljević, 15th century)
There are three goods women can possess: honesty (which consists of the virtues that she is responsible for), the usefulness (the dowry, money that she brings to her husband, provided by her father), and the pleasures of beauty (the gift of God).
The wife must be prudent, persistent, serious, tender, gentle, chaste, merciful, religious, generous, resilient, and moderate in food and drink, sober, sharp and always busy. According to her social status, she must have proper clothing and accessories, and her face must be clean and never, nor for any reason, she should not put makeup on her face.
A woman’s task is to be likable, to be helpful to a husband, to nurture and comfort him and to treat his illness, to give birth and raise their offsprings, and to comfort the mourning for dead children with new pregnancies and maternity.
Instructions for a good husband
A husband shapes his wife, and she is his creation. She is a weak and very cowardly creature and an imperfect human being. Therefore, if she is disobedient and does not want to improve, use a stick, but let that be the last cure. The Family law forbids a husband to beat his wife “more than necessary”.
Never forget that a woman is a “sweet evil”, bad and deceitful, the right hand of Satan, and she is the exclusive cause for the exile of man from the earthly paradise.
If you decide to join me on The scent of the women tour you’ll be in for a real treat, because you’ll learn many more interesting marital curiosities in medieval Dubrovnik and historical facts about the lives of women in Dubrovnik in the past.
