Medieval Sex

Medieval Sex
Prostitution in the Middle Ages
Concubinage
Sexual Deviance
Rape and other sexually violent acts
Prudery, Sex and the Law
Medieval Contraceptives




Medieval Sex

Prostitution in the Middle Ages:
While technically a sin (because it hinged on the act of fornication), medieval
prostitution was recognized by the church and other institutions as a necessary,
or "lesser evil".


Concubinage:
Financially, concubinage was often an appealing option, involving agreements of
sexual fidelity, support obligations and the like between partners. Concubinage
could be an easy way for poorer families to make beneficial social connections and
gain monetary support for their unmarried daughters. Once in a while,
concubinage even led to marriage.

An old form for concubine is "leman" which may come from the French
"par le main", a form of public affirmation of the liaison.

Medieval Love

When the marriage was only an excuse for the men to exchange goods and allegiances, the medieval women had to resign to a loveless life, or to enter the convent after fulfilling their role of breeders. Even if the men had more freedom, being prisoners in a loveless union was not easy on them either.

But love happened under the most unforgiving circumstances, and the knights would carry in their hearts their beloved's image, even if the woman was married and forbidden to their touch.

Many poems of that period praise their heros' love stories, some with happy, but most of them with tragic endings.

Medieval Marriage

Throughout the Middle Ages, the medieval church presented women with only two options in order
to escape the "sin of Eve": to become celibate, i.e. nuns (the preferred choice), or to marry
and procreate. The medieval women were passed over from father, brother or other relative to the
husband. In those times a woman had no say in her inheritance and absolutely no personal
rights. She belonged to her husband who had absolute power over her.


Consummation of Marriage:
Some linked the sacrament of marriage to the nuptial blessing given by the church, but
there were others who insisted that it depended on the physical consummation of the marriage.
Virginity was of special importance, as loss of it could dishonor not only the girl, but
the entire family and household.
Pleasure:
Arranged marriages involved exchange of property, thus most couples did not wed for love,
or even for sexual attraction. Marriages were often loveless, unhappy affairs; nevertheless,
both men and women carried in their heart the image of an ideal lover, even if they never did
anything physical about it.