Marital Law Quotes
In this famous declaration, Stanton summarized the relative status of men and women in the society at that time. Women then could not control their own property, have their own money. “Chastisement” referred to the fact that a husband could then legally discipline his wife physically and beat her if she were not suvviciently obedient.
the legal power automatically then given to a husband over his wife’s body and property
This is the earliest surviving attempt of the Romans to formulate a legal code.
This edict illustrates the state of sexual mores in the 5th Century. Celibacy of priests was not then a requirement and many had children. One problem was that if a priest allowed his daughter to marry a man who lived with a concubine or mistress, the priest was accused of pandering his daughter and forcing her (the bride’ permission was not required then) to become an adulteress. However, almost all men of substance who would be good matches already had concubines. The pope’s edict was necessary in order for the daughters of priests to be married to suitable husbands.
