#medieval laws

[gingersnaptaff]

It's the LAST MARRIAGE LAW POST. Pour one out for a real one.

Reasonably short one tonight (again) purely because these two laws have considerable overlap with Agweddi so there's less on them than there was on say Cowyll. Anyways, they're still vitally important so, y'know, you've got me to yap about them once more.

First up, Argyfreu.

So, first up is Argyfreu which is a lady's possessions like jewellery, clothing, and trinkets. Basically, it's seen as being her savings but it could never be forfeited/pawned by the husband during their marriage or else you'd probably be allowed to deck him.

And finally, the Gowyn / Wynebwerth! It means face value which is hilarious to me considering your husband paid this for having an affair. Sjdjjd Seriously, the man had to pay his wife if she found him bonking another lady. Guys, do u think Gwenhwyfar was minted every time she walked in on Arthur banging his mistress? Do u?

Anyways, each time the woman caught the man at it the wynebwerth went up and if she caught him a third time she could legally separate/divorce him which neatly brings me onto divorce!!!! (Seriously ur getting two for three price of one today!!!!)

Now, divorce - or 'ysgar', to separate - is super interesting even if Gerald of Wales (who I have beef with.) pooh-poohs it because it doesn't fit in with the Norman-helmed church's idea of marriage. (Also, at this time, Wales v much had their church. Owain Gwynedd has many run-ins with Normans trying to switch Wales to their version of the church)

However, unlike other countries, Gerald pleasingly says that Welsh laws did NOT do arrange marriages (of a sort. I actually do think that anytime Welsh kings married Norman women they would've arranged that.) Marriages were entered into at the discretion of both parties, even those who were gifted by their kin. (i.e. Branwen)

Under Welsh Laws, marriage was not essential for a woman because she could go where she pressed and do what she wanted. Also, her property did not become the man's upon marriage so she was financially sound regardless of her relationship status.

However, that said, marriage could be dissolved at any time by mutual consent, but a distinction was drawn between separation before and after seven years of married life. The wife was entitled to retain her 'Cowyll,' 'Gowyn,' and 'Argyfreu' regardless of however long she and her husband were married.

Now, the wife could also take her agweddi, but it differed if it was by personal bestowing or gift of kin. Her Agweddi was higher if it was through the gift of kin and lower if it was personal bestowal. Now, if the wife left on her own accord without the consent of her husband she lost her agweddi. Furthermore, after seven years of marriage, the wife's agweddi was extinguished but she was entitled to the division of all her property (or, da) that she shared with her husband. Also, the right to division continued if her husband perished because in that case the property was split between the wife and her and her husband's heirs. (Which, lemme tell u, if u were a king this law caused NO END OF GRIEF TO WALES. Everybody say thank u Hywel Dda. 😭🙄)

This is a quick list of things that were divided between the husband and wife. Note how the cats went to the wife except one as did the domestic utensils, but the man maintained the drinking vessels, griddle, and hob. So, ladies, I am sorry to say that that we couldn't have Welsh cakes or hot drinks. 🥺😭😭

I will just say that two-thirds of the children stayed with the father and one with the wife, so the eldest and youngest with the dad and the middle-most with the mum. Now, permit me to go on a historical thing and say, that during her rebellion Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd ap Cynan's middle kids Morgan and Maelgwyn stayed with her and perished, whereas her other sons, including Lord Rhys, stayed with their father, Gruffydd, when he went to North Wales to seek aid from his father-in-law.

Now the woman had to stay in her husband's house for nine days afterwards but she could use the cart to transport her items to her new abode. Also if she was pregnant and delivered then the husband was entitled to pay her a fee for the child's rearing. Also, she had the cow and other property from her husband to aid in this.

Now, if your husband had taken up with a new woman and 'importing' her into the house the man had to give his previous wife a parcel of CATS!!!! DJDJDJDJD

Finally, both husband and wife could separate on grounds of immorality. However, the woman could also leave if her husband had bad breath, leprosy, or was impotent, which, as shown in the First Branch of the Mabinogion with Rhiannon and Pwyll the husband / his meddling councillors could also demand. Tbf, heirs are a big deal so I get it but like Pwyll, my dude, SHES A FUCKIN GODDESS. She'll kick ur ars in five mins, give her a break!

Now finally, seperation wasn't immediste apart from if another woman was introduced to the family household in which case a woman was either entitled to kill the other woman if she was a concubine or an assurance of freedom otherwise known as 'dilysdawd.'

Anyway, I hope this was as fun for you to read as it was for me to research!

[gingersnaptaff]

Me again! Bringing in some hot gossip about the Welsh Laws of Women. (By which I mean from the laws of Hywel Dda.)

No. No! Don't run away, it's good shit, I promise!

So, the legal majority for a girl was twelve. This is different to a boy. Under Welsh law, they didn't become men until they were 14, and, if they were high-ranking, were fostered out to other nobles, whereas girls were kept at home, hence the 'father's platter.' What's interesting to me is that after she became a woman she was entitled to hold her own property as an unmarried woman and 'go wherever she pleased.'

I realise I am saying that verbatim to what I've highlighted but like think about it!!!! She wasn't bound to her family - except in marriage but I'll get into that - and she legally had the right to go bye byes! Her father didn't rule her life, basically. She's a free spirit.

NOW, the right to land is pretty tricky, on account of different parts of Wales having different customs. You gotta remember that Wales was NEVER really united* under one big fish until AFTER the Normanic Conquest, and even then that took some fuckin doing.

(*Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Owain Gwynedd, and Llywelyn Fawr are exceptions. That's the House of Aberffraw, bb!)

So, in South Wales, it seems more prevalent to give land to a lady's descendants when there were no men to take up the land. This is far better than in North Wales (and may I just say as a North Walian *clears throat* WHAT THE FUCK?) where basically Salic Law applied which is basically where u gotta give it to a male descendent. Female lineal descendants were excluded. Boo!!!

BUT!!! However, matrilineal bloodlines should not be discounted. Royal women still had claims to the throne that could be used by their descendants to press their claim. Owain Glyndŵr did this. I suspect if u were related to a Welsh lady you could try and do it but, pls, don't use this tumblr post to try and convince the jury. It's on you, bud.

MAWWIAGE. IT'S WHAT BWINGS US TOGETHER.

Now, there are two forms of marriage. Your normal one where your parents pick for you or at the very least gift u to your husbando like in Culhwch and Olwen, and the one where you can ELOPE. Because Welsh law didn't see marriage as a religious thing the sanctity of marriage wasn't in question so, therefore, you could have a little fun and y'know nyoom after your chosen beau. (Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd ap Cynan did this. She's ace.)

The Mabinogi gives us a lot of good shit about the gift of kin stuff. Branwen gets gifted to Matholwch by Bendigeidfran, all fine and dandy. BUT Welsh law states that your relatives - mam, dad, grandads, grandmum's, great-grandad's and grrat-grandmum's - needed to take counsel cuz y'know it's a big fuckin thing, giving somebody in marriage. So, that's why Efnisien is so upset because he wasn't given a say. He thinks he is legally entitled to do so. However, he's only her half-brother so not full-blooded. Therefore, he's unable to have a say because he isn't fully related to her.

(A lot of Welsh law is prevaricated on kin ties.)

Also for all u Rhiannon lovers out there - like me - the Welsh law was on her side when she fought to free herself from Gwawl ap Clud. (Although the badger-in-a-sack game was a bit much.) Welsh law forbade a woman from being married against her will. Yeah, your family could try and capture you and bring you back but like if you'd bonked the lad you could stay. You'd made your choice. Nobody can take that away from you. All that was needed in a personal bestowal was continued cohabitation. *clicks teeth, finger guns.*

Also, there are marriage laws too, but I don't want to clutter up the feed too much, or overly ramble. Suffice to say there's some fun ones!

[thevillageofmiddlewoe]

Hue & Cry

POSTED AT THE MANOR GATE

To all householders of Middle Woe,

The Office of the Reeve is pleased to report that a Hue and Cry was successfully raised at approximately the second hour after noon on Tuesday.

The response from the villagers was prompt, orderly, and entirely commendable.

The Office extends its thanks to all those who immediately abandoned their work in pursuit of the matter.

The goose has submitted no formal statement.

Its continued presence amongst the pursuing villagers should not be interpreted as an admission of guilt.

The Office has been assured that the goose was merely travelling in the same direction as everyone else.

This explanation has been recorded.

Further enquiries remain ongoing.

Thomas Clodwell Reeve of Middle Woe

[cosmotread-blog]

Medieval laws. Low types of groups

New Post has been published on http://www.cosmotread.com/2019/05/07/medieval-laws/

Medieval laws. Low types of groups

Medieval laws cannot cooperate or co-exist with the present and modern society of the world. There are certain types of societies or people that you would not dare to spend your time with. Unless you want to regret about it. It is like explaining the simple basic school rules, common etiquette...

[liberty1776]

Sword carrying laws in medieval England.                                             Governments have always tried to keep the common people unarmed.