Medieval Marriage Characteristics: A Neglected Factor in the History of Medieval Serfdom
Emily R. Coleman
Medieval Marriage Characteristics: A Neglected Factor in the History of Serfdom Only recently have historians come to appreciate role which demographic factors played social history Middle Ages. In traditional view, medieval society remained rigidly stratified and static; change, when it came, was attributable largely external playing upon world-the opening frontiers, expansion trade, growth towns. All this is true, but does not represent a complete picture forces working transform society. This paper examines another factor, hitherto neglected by scholars, apparently major Ages, and, particularly, serfdom: marriage patterns characteristic servile population. I utilized one magnificent documents history-the Polyptych Abbot Irminon, redacted probably between c. 8oi 820. It describes lands some 2,000 families belonging monastry Saint Germain-des-Pres near Paris. polyptych an extraordinary example censier or manorial extent estates benefices comprised and/or were dependent abbey church. There breve, chapter, describing each part seigneury, relating detail type size elements demesne, amount arable tenanted land, number people on dues they owed, information mills churches. The has been worthy object intense careful study for over century. manuscript, preserved Bibliotheque Nationale (Fonds latin, manuscript no. I2832), edited twice. first edition (1844) Guerard, whose detailed introduction become starting point all studies document.' Fifty years later Longnon revised Guerard's paleographic interpretations reduced more manageable
Journal of Interdisciplinary History