Marriage in Arthurian Literature

Marriage in the Middle Ages is not all that different from marriage today. There were large wedding ceremonies with many guests, presents, delicious meals, religious binding, and love (sometimes). In the Middle Ages, it was important to receive approval before a proposal takes place. Proposals were not demonstrated in the way that they are today. There was no grand expectation, it was more so an exchanging of words and approval from the bride's father. Large wedding ceremonies were basically exclusive to people with power or wealth. What The History explains the differences and similarities between modern marriage and marriage in the Middle Ages. According to What The History all that was necessary to form a marriage was verbal consent and no blood relation to one another. Marriage was not something that couples received any certificate for in this time. Marriage was often in exchange for power of sorts. People would get married for land, architecture, goods, livestock and any other profitable exchange. Typically, the goods were overseen by the husbands but control went to the wife in circumstances such as "if the husband had died, and not given all their land away" (Whatthehistory.com). Something that we have laws for in modern marriage is if the couple becomes widowed, however, in the Middle Ages "Widows were actually both financially and legally independent" (Whatthehistory.com). At this time, the only way to dissolve a marriage was through the death of one of the parties. Religion played a role in marriage as well because Christians were expected to marry other Christians. Marriage remained monogamous in the Middle Ages. 

Painting of a medieval marriage scene on a manuscript leaf from Decretals of Gregory IX, ca. 1300. (Painting is in public domain from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection Online from a gift of Harry G. Friedman, 1955.)

Harvard professor, George Lyman Kittredge, shared his notes on Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales." In this piece, wives are said to rule their husbands. The Wife preaches that, "you will make your husbands miserable, as she did!" In Old English, she states, "Be ay of chere as light as leef on linde, And let him care and wepe and wringe and waille!" This roughly translates to, be as light as a leaf and let him [the husband] care, weep, wring his fists, and wail. This sets the scene for how marriage is addressed in "The Canterbury Tales," an authentic work of Arthurian literature.

"The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer can be purchased on Amazon here.

The marriage that stands out as ultimate in Arthurian literature is that of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. Guinevere was the daughter of King Leodegrance of Cameliard and was known for her striking beauty. For King Arthur, it was love at first sight. Merlin attempted to dissuade the King, stating that this marriage would bring nothing but negativity to the kingdom but it was ineffective (Legends of King Arthur). The following day, King Arthur asked King Leodegrance for his daughter's hand to which he gladly agreed. When the announcement was made to the people of Camelot, they were exuberant. HeroofCamelot.com explains that, "There was much feasting and dancing at the wedding, and people from all parts of the kingdom came to see their beloved king." Legends of King Arthur states that, upon their matrimony, King Leodegrance gifted the couple an important present: The Round Table. The Round Table allowed all of the King's knights to sit level with each other so that no individual was viewed as superior. This gift brought a sense of equality to the knights. The relationship between Queen Guinevere and King Arthur was lasting and fulfilling until Lancelot entered the scene. To learn more about the relationship between Lancelot and Queen Guinevere, click here. 

Photograph of The Round Table, found in the Winchester Cathedral: Great Hall and Round Table (Foursquare.com).

In, "Love and Chivalry in the Middle Ages," Laura Ashe explains that the idea of courtly love in the Middle Ages is always represented through a great and powerful knight and the most beautiful woman in the land. Kindness and devotion are highlighted as key attributes in courtly love. The knight should be generous and loyal to the fairest lady. Chaucer calls it the "old dance" when courtship leads to marriage. Ashe informs the audience that, "almost all marriages were arranged by the couple’s families, often when the bride and groom were no more than children. But the Church insisted that the sacrament of marriage was only valid with the full, willing consent of both husband and wife." This idea is progressive for marriage in the Middle Ages, and it shows the modernization of marriage.

Works Cited:

Ashe, Laura. “Love and Chivalry in the Middle Ages.” British Library, 31 Jan. 2018, www.bl.uk/medieval-literature/articles/love-and-chivalry-in-the-middle-ages. 

“Chapter III: A Queen for a Kingdom.” A Queen for a Kingdom - The Legend of King Arthur, 2006, www.heroofcamelot.com/legend/queen-for-a-kingdom. 

Chaucer, Geoffrey, and A. C. Cawley. “Canterbury Tales: Geoffrey Chaucer.” Amazon, www.amazon.com/Canterbury-Tales-GeoffreyChaucer/dp/0140424385/ref=asc_df_0140424385?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80126962061346&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726541134592&psc=1. 

“George Lyman Kittredge - Chaucer’s Discussion of Marriage.” Harvard’s Geoffrey Chaucer Website, chaucer.fas.harvard.edu/pages/kittredge-chaucers-discussion-marriage. Accessed 6 Sept. 2023. 

“Great Hall & Round Table.” Foursquare, foursquare.com/v/great-hall--round-table/4bd2c95877b29c74885b8f82. Accessed 6 Sept. 2023. 

“Guinevere and Marriage.” Legends of King Arthur, arthurslegends.weebly.com/guinevere-and-marriage.html. Accessed 6 Sept. 2023. 

“Manuscript Leaf with Marriage Scene, from Decretals of Gregory IX: Italian.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/468476. Accessed 6 Sept. 2023. 

Swh13667. “Marriage in 14th Century England.” WTHistory, Word Press, 22 Sept. 2016, ctlsites.uga.edu/whatthehistory/marriage-in-14th-century-england/.