Legal Definitions - maritagium

Definition: Maritagium (mar-uh-tay-jee-uhm) is a legal term used in history. It refers to a lord's right to arrange a marriage for his infant ward. This means that a feudal lord had the power to give his infant ward or a vassal's heiress, minor heir, or widow in marriage, or to extract a fine from a vassal upon the vassal's marriage. It also refers to the income derived from fines paid by vassals for the lord's permission to marry. In some cases, it can also mean a marriage gift or dowry.

Examples:

• A lord has an infant ward who is a minor. The lord has the right to arrange a marriage for the ward and can even extract a fine from the ward's future spouse for permission to marry.
• A vassal's heiress is a minor and the lord has the power to give her in marriage to someone of his choosing.
• A vassal wants to get married and needs the lord's permission. The lord can extract a fine from the vassal for granting permission.
• A bride's parents give a gift to the couple upon their marriage. This gift is called maritagium or marriage-gift.

These examples illustrate how maritagium was used in history. It shows how feudal lords had control over the marriages of their subjects and could even profit from it. It also shows how a marriage gift or dowry was sometimes referred to as maritagium.