Sara McDougall. Royal Bastards: The Birth of Illegitimacy, 800–1230.
Linda E. Mitchell
In Royal Bastards: The Birth of Illegitimacy, 800–1230, Sara McDougall presents an engaging, scrupulously researched, and compellingly argued monograph that challenges conventional historical notions about the impact illegitimacy on legal practical ability children to inherit estates titles—including royal titles—from their parents. encapsulates her argument in final sentence book: “The ‘horror’ illegitimate birth is story a later era” (279). This one sentence, however, culmination meticulously developed ways which historians’ assumptions canon law views marriage can be seen as early Carolingian era continue mischaracterize definitions defects preventing from rightful inheritances. Beginning with lengthy chapter terminology secular law, literature, political treatises, lays out series propositions concerning illegitimacy, defined medieval West, affected child’s inherit, marry, have career either administration or church. word, she has determined not only were there no ill effects being illegitimate; also shows real complaints designation heirs, important partners, even monarchs. bare beginnings restrictions based acting barrier inheritance evolve twelfth century, according her, arguments surrounding famous Anstey case; furthermore, these do become embedded statute until King Henry III enacted 1235 Statute Merton England, contradicted claimed born before parents could never legitimately inherit. It takes continental kingdoms regions longer limit heritability children.
The American Historical Review