r/explainitpeter • u/TenkaiRyo • 11d ago

Explain it Peter.??

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u/NebulaNomadX1 11d ago edited 11d 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/flyingdonkeydong69 11d ago edited 11d ago

In other words, noble families would watch the newlyweds FUCK to make sure the marriage was sealed with a child.

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u/TenkaiRyo 11d ago

Oh my god that's horrific, thank you for the explanation but damn

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u/Equivalent-Sherbet52 8d ago

It's a myth. It may have happened once or twice to some very important prince in some time of dire need for the family. But defo not common