Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society What Happened On A Medieval Wedding Night?
Apr 22, 2025
Join historian Jacqueline Murray, a Professor at the University of Guelph, as she unravels the fascinating world of medieval weddings. Discover what truly happened on wedding nights, the church's strict views on monogamy, and the importance of pleasure in the marriage bed. Dive into whimsical wedding customs and how they shaped celebrations. Murray also discusses the complex dynamics of arranged marriages and the challenges of divorce, revealing how these historical practices continue to impact our understanding of love and relationships today.
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Church Formalized Marriage Institution
- The medieval church promoted monogamous indissoluble marriage as an ideal by around 1200 AD.
- Marriage rituals formalized then still influence modern ceremonies today.
Church's Framework for Marriage
- The church saw sex as sinful except within legitimate marriage.
- Augustine identified three goods of marriage: faith, children, and sacrament.
Sexual Pleasure in Medieval Marriage
- Medieval church debated sexual pleasure within marriage, tending towards acceptance if it led to procreation.
- Medical views emphasized pleasure in both partners to ensure fertility.