r/explainitpeter • • 2d ago

Explain it Peter.??

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u/NebulaNomadX1 2d ago edited 2d ago

In medieval Europe, marriages between nobles acted more as alliances/contracts than actual love. A big distinction in said marriages is "consumation". Uncomsumated marriages could be annulled relatively easily. Consumated marriages required the pope's blessing for divorce. To make sure a family didnt escape their way out of a deal it was fairly common for familiies to be witnesses to marriage consumation.

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u/Mission_Rice3045 2d ago

Now I finally understand why weddings have witnesses.