Born in
Lancashire, Freda has been a teacher, bookseller and, in a mad moment, a
smallholder on the freezing fells of the English Lake District where she
attempted to live the ‘good life’. She has now given up
her thermals to live in an olive grove in Spain, where she produces her own
olive oil and sits in the sun. She
began her writing career by publishing over 50 short stories and articles, and
has published 39 novels
including many bestselling family sagas and historical novels.
So without further ado, welcome Freda!
The Renaissance Betrothal.
Popular since the Middle Ages, betrothal
ceremonies frequently involved some sort of ceremony or symbolic act. This is
believed to date back to the time of ancient Rome. In Anglo-Saxon England the
joining of hands to seal the betrothal was common as we know from the term
‘handfasting’ to signify a betrothal. In fourteenth and fifteenth century
Italy, the betrothal was sealed by a handshake between the parents, or at best
the father of the bride and the prospective groom. In sixteenth century France
this ritual was known as les accords. There would be the giving of a
ring, often a gimmel ring which was in two parts, one to be worn by the
prospective groom, the other by the bride, the two joined together to form the
wedding ring. Records indicate the drinking of wine to toast the agreement, or
taking part in a sumptuous feast ‘in the name of marriage’, or simply be sealed
with a kiss.
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| Some examples of antique gimmel rings. |
The betrothal ceremony confirmed that these
two people promised to marry one another, an agreement which could be
considered more legally binding than the marriage ceremony itself. Once
betrothed, if a couple had sexual intercourse, then they were considered
married. And a betrothal contract could only be broken if both parties agreed.
Not that the young woman concerned had much
say in the matter. Marriage was less about love and more about wealth, position
and power, which meant, as we romantic novelists know, plenty of opportunity
for extra-curricular activity in the way of affairs. Henry IV is reputed to
have enjoyed at least 60 mistresses with whom he sired
numerous illegitimate children, and three or four maîtresse-en-titre.
But with Henriette de’Entragues he perhaps took on more than he’d bargained for
she had set her sights on nothing less than marriage, and with it a crown. She
therefore insisted upon a promesse de matrimonio before agreeing to
surrender her maidenhead, allegedly still intact, and becoming his mistress. In
a weak moment of overwhelming desire, Henry agreed that if she could give him a
son, then he would marry her. A decision which was to create untold problems in
the years ahead, and leave Henriette fighting a battle for what she perceived
as her rights, at whatever the cost.
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| Henriette de'Entragues. |
Next came the fiançailles when the bans were published. The parents, bride and bridegroom would visit the curé together to attend to this important matter. Then came the Epousailles which of course took place in church. The bridegroom was not allowed to enter without giving a considerable sum in alms, and guests were chosen to attend the wedding breakfast with an eye to the money they’d be likely to give. A bowl was handed round at dinner into which donations for a ‘nest-egg’ for the couple could be dropped.
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| Marie de Medici's wedding. |
Henry left such traditions to the
bourgeoisie, but provided well for all his children, whatever their status, and
was a loving father. Those he had with Henriette shared the royal nursery with
the legitimate heirs he had with his queen, Marie de Medici, much to that
lady’s displeasure. But Henry loved to play with them, and it was so much more
practical to keep them all together in one place. The people of Paris were
highly entertained by the fact that his mistress and queen were often enceinte
at the same time.
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| Click for link. |
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Fascinating blog, Freda, full of interesting information.
ReplyDeleteSo very interesting. Thanks for a great post!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a promising story that's somewhat centered on true historical happenings. I was enamored of Philippa Gregory's novels and Carolly Erickson's "The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette" so I should give this a whirl.
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