Legal Definitions - maritare

Maritare is a historical legal term that means to marry. It refers to the act of entering into a marriage, typically within the context of historical legal systems, statutes, or customs.

• Example 1: A 17th-century will might have stipulated, "My eldest son, Thomas, shall inherit the family lands upon reaching his majority, provided he does not maritare a woman of foreign birth."

  Explanation: In this context, "maritare" clearly means "to marry." The will places a condition on the son's inheritance, restricting his choice of spouse to someone who is not of foreign birth, reflecting historical concerns about lineage, property, and national identity.

• Example 2: During a historical legal dispute over a dowry, court records might describe how "the two parties did formally maritare before the parish priest and witnesses, as was the custom of the time."

  Explanation: Here, "maritare" refers to the formal act of marrying. The example illustrates the legal recognition of a marriage based on adherence to established religious and social customs, which would have been crucial for validating the dowry agreement.

• Example 3: A medieval royal charter might have granted a lord the exclusive right to "maritare his serfs to whomever he chooses within his domain," a privilege that could generate revenue or secure alliances.

  Explanation: This example uses "maritare" to signify the act of arranging or permitting marriage. It demonstrates how, in historical feudal systems, the right to control the marriages of one's subordinates was a significant power held by lords, impacting social structure and economic arrangements.