“Partly with and Partly against Her Will”
Chanelle Delameillieure
This article addresses the issue of consent in abduction and elopement cases, aiming to contribute a better understanding marriage formation fifteenth-century duchy Brabant. It challenges division between current historiography. Whereas some historians believe high frequency elopements as means for youngsters freely choose their own spouse, I argue that socioeconomic interests motivated most abductions. Although women certainly succeeded influencing marital choices themselves, abduction/elopement was not frequently used method oppose social norms arranged marriages.
Journal of Family History