My new historical, Luther and Katharina has released. Reviews are pouring in and invariably readers are commenting on the strangeness of one particular tradition in the book: the witnessing of the betrothal night consummation.
Witnessing of a marriage consummation? What is that? Essentially the newly married couple had sex in the presence of witnesses, usually with the bed curtains closed and the observers discreetly waiting on the outer fringes of the room.
I can hear you saying: Ick! You’ve got to be kidding, right? That can’t be true. And if it is, why in the world would anyone do it? That’s so strange!
Yes, I agree. The practice seems very strange to modern readers. But having witnesses at the marriage bed to make sure the marriage was consummated was indeed practiced during the Middle Ages.
In fact, just this week I was watching the show Reign (on Netflix) which is about Mary Queen of Scots. While the writers of the show have taken great liberty with the facts in order to make a riveting plot, they did depict the witnessing of the wedding night consummation between Queen Mary and Francis, the Dauphin of France.
While we can’t fathom a new bride and groom agreeing to having company on their wedding night, people during the Middle Ages wouldn’t have found the practice all that strange. Privacy was not as common as it is today. Poor married couples very rarely had their own bedrooms, and wealthy couples had servants coming and going from their chambers (often sleeping on pallets on the floor). Therefore most people were unabashed or unembarrassed by something considered natural and good between a husband and wife.
In general, the act of bedding on the wedding night was not considered a private affair, but rather a public investment in a couple. It was common for families and friends to bring the couple to their bed as a way of endorsing the couple’s marriage (even when they didn’t stay to witness the consummation).
The practice of having witnesses applied primarily to royalty or important people who used marriages to form alliances and strategic advantages in wealth and power. In such cases it was important that the marital act signal an unbreakable union. Without consummation, the marriage could later be declared null and the couple could be granted an annulment. Thus witnesses could testify to the validity of the marriage, especially if anyone later questioned it. If the bride became pregnant on the wedding night, the witnesses also helped to defend the legitimacy of the heir.
Why, then, you might be asking, did Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora need to have their consummation witnessed? They weren’t royal. They weren’t even wealthy.
During my research, I learned that the practice of witnessing consummation of marriage was practiced in the German culture, particularly among nobility. Katharina was of the noble class, but Luther was not, so one would assume that such a practice wouldn’t be necessary for them.
However, Luther and his advisors likely came to the conclusion that witnesses were essential. Luther had so many enemies who not only wanted him dead but who spread malicious rumors about him and undermined everything he did.
Luther knew his enemies would be especially vicious if he took a wife and would question the validity of his marriage. After all, if he a former monk got married, then he would be sending a very clear message to other monks that he supported the institution of marriage. Such a move could possibly incite them to forsake their vows of celibacy as well, which obviously the pope didn’t want.
Luther also had supporters within the Reformation who didn’t want him to get married. So having witnesses of his consummation would prevent them from declaring his marriage null.
Since betrothal was considered the official contract of marriage, Luther and Katharina consummated their marriage on the evening of their betrothal ceremony (which was two weeks before the church wedding). Luther asked his good friend Jonas to be the witness in the bed chamber.
I won’t say anymore about the betrothal ceremony but will let you read more about it in the book! (Released October 6.) Now that you know the custom behind such a strange tradition, hopefully when you get to that part of the story, you won’t be quite as disturbed or freaked out!
So what do YOU think? Do you think witnessing a consummation is a strange tradition? Are there any other strange traditions that you’ve read about?
Jody Hedlund
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Loved the book and this was the first time I had read of witnesses. Although I had read another book where the marriage was consummated while folks waited outside, partying, and then the groom came out and held out the bloody sheet in triumph to prove his bride’s virginity. Definitely different times! I prefer the privacy of today, although maybe we could use a bit of that accountability. LOL
Hi Linda,
Glad you enjoyed the book! Accountability is sorely lacking today, isn’t it?
As strange as the custom seems to us today, it was quite common in earlier times, so it didn’t surprise me when I read it in Luther and Katharina (which I loved, by the way! – So thrilled I was able to review it!), but I thought once again how awkward that would be! I guess if it’s just a part of the culture and expected, it wouldn’t have seemed so to them.
Hi Kym,
Glad the custom didn’t take you by surprise or weird you out! And I’m so glad to know you loved the book! Thank you for reading and reviewing it!
It’s a custom from many different cultures around the world, too. But feels like a very awkward thing according to today’s standards.
In some ways I suppose our culture has become voyeuristic in a different way with the ease of “witnessing” sex through media (TV, movies, etc.). Hmmmm . . .
I hadn’t really heard about that custom. Wouldn’t be one I would have liked…I thought I had known alot about these time, but I guess that one never came to my attention. Wow, glad that isn’t a custom any longer.
The Middle Ages was such an interesting time period. I always love writing stories set then because I run across such strange things to write about! 🙂
Jody, You certainly know how to make your blog interesting! Seriously, I knew at one time that this was customary during that time period, but had forgotten it. Thanks (???) for the reminder, and the mental image with which I’m dealing.
LOL! Yes, I do tend to go for the “interesting” blog posts! 🙂
Very strange to me! I definitely would Not have liked the custom! I read an Amish book (can’t remember the author) that they had a custom of letting the boy & girl sleep in the same bed at some point right before they married but they would put a board or something rolled up(?) between them. Sorta a strange!
Yes, I’ve read about that custom! During Colonial times it was called “bundling.” I’m not really sure the purpose in it! Definitely strange! 🙂
What I find fascinating about this topic is its juxtaposition with pornography. Today, many people think nothing of watching or reading about real or simulated sex outside of marriage yet we’re horrified by witnessing (discretely, I assume?) the consummation of a marriage.
Am aflat aceasta pagina, dupa ce am cautat
despre The Strangest Tradition of All: Witnessing a Marriage Consummation pe Google.
Se pare ca informatia dvs e foarte valoroasa, mai ales ca am mai gasit aici
si despre ora, ora exacta, lucruri interesante si folositoare.
Mult succes in continuare!