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The Roman Influence on the Medieval Family - Page 3

© Rachelle Hughes

Divorce -- Divorce rights were formalized by the Romans. Originally the right to divorce lay solely with the husband and had to fall into one of several established reasons (barrenness, adultery, excessive drinking). Eventually a husband could divorce at will, and many of the nobility of Rome did so in order to make more advantageous matches. It is doubtful that divorces occurred as frequently among the lower classes. Towards the end of the Republic even a wife could secure a divorce if her husband deserted her, was a prisoner of war or convicted certain crimes.

One of the major contributions Romans made to the advancement of the historic family was the liberation of its women to socialize, marry, remarry, retain property and eventually divorce at will. The list of Roman contributions could continue for pages. But I am off to search for McCollough's third book on Rome, "The Rising Sun."

Bibliography 1. Gies, Frances and Gies,Joseph. "Marriage and Family in the Middle Ages." New York, 1987.

2. McCullough, Colleen. "The First Man in Rome." New York, 1990.

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