Legal Definitions - faeder-feoh

Faeder-feoh is a historical legal term referring to the property a wife brought with her into a marriage.

This property was distinct from other marital assets because it had specific rules for its return. If the husband died, the faeder-feoh would revert to the widow, particularly if the husband's heir refused to consent to her remarriage. Alternatively, if the wife returned to her original family, the faeder-feoh would revert to her family.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of faeder-feoh:

• Example 1: Initial Contribution to Marriage

  In the 10th century, Elara marries a local landowner, Theron. As part of her marriage, Elara brings with her a small herd of cattle and a parcel of arable land inherited from her own family. This cattle and land constitute her faeder-feoh, representing the assets she personally contributed to the marital estate at the time of her wedding.

  This example illustrates the initial transfer of property from the wife to the marriage, establishing what would be considered faeder-feoh.

• Example 2: Reversion to a Widow

  Years later, Theron dies, leaving Elara a widow. Theron's eldest son, from a previous marriage, inherits his father's estate. Elara wishes to remarry a neighboring farmer, but Theron's son, fearing a loss of influence or resources, refuses to grant his consent for her second marriage. Under the custom of faeder-feoh, because the heir denied her remarriage, Elara is entitled to reclaim the herd of cattle and the parcel of land she brought into her marriage with Theron.

  This example demonstrates a specific condition for the reversion of faeder-feoh: the widow's right to reclaim her property if the deceased husband's heir prevents her from remarrying.

• Example 3: Return to the Wife's Family

  Consider another scenario where a woman named Lyra marries a merchant, bringing with her a valuable chest of silver coins and fine linens as her faeder-feoh. After several years, the marriage proves unworkable, and Lyra decides to leave her husband and return to live with her parents and siblings in her childhood home. According to the legal customs surrounding faeder-feoh, upon her return to her original family, the chest of silver coins and the linens she brought into the marriage would revert back to her family's possession, or to her directly as part of her family's household.

  This example illustrates another condition for reversion, where the faeder-feoh returns to the wife's original family if she leaves the marital home and returns to them.