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“There is nothing in our civil life that is more difficult than properly marrying off one’s daughters.”

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“There is nothing in our civil life that is more difficult than properly marrying off one’s daughters.”

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—Francesco Guicciardini

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Renaissance marriages were not simply personal matters...

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Renaissance marriages were not simply personal matters...

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They were crucial to the network of alliances that underlay a family’s prosperity and prospects and that, in turn, formed the fabric of loyalties, affection, and obligation that supported societal institutions. Arranging a suitable match involved family, friends, associates, and political allies. In aristocratic families, marriages were a currency of dynastic and diplomatic exchange.

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noun

the great revival of classical art, literature, and learning in Europe from the 14th century to the 17th century, marking the transition from the medieval to the modern world.

the period during which this revival occurred.

"The Renaissance was a time of enlightenment"

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Marriage in the Italian Renaissance was more of a social and financial arrangement than a romantic one. Families arranged marriages to increase their wealth and social status, often involving complex negotiations and agreements.

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Ambrogio de Predis, Bianca Maria Sforza, probably 1493

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Brides, especially in Florence, were typically much younger than grooms...

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Brides, especially in Florence, were typically much younger than grooms...

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Women as young as fourteen were often married to men in their thirties, partly to ensure the bride’s virginity.

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adjective

sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.

"a lavish banquet"

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Wedding ceremonies during the Renaissance were lavish affairs that emphasized the social status of the families involved. These events could last several days, culminating in the religious ceremony which was often a public event attended by the entire community.

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noun

property or money brought by a bride to her husband on their marriage.

"Elizabeth's dowry was to be $45,000 in diamonds"

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The dowry was a critical aspect of Renaissance marriages, consisting of money, goods, or property that the bride's family provided. It served as a form of financial security for the wife and was often displayed in elaborately decorated dowry chests or cassoni.

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adjective

relating to the running of a home or to family relations.

"domestic chores"

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adjective

relating to or occurring in a family or its members.

"familial relationships"

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Women in the Renaissance were expected to run the household and raise children. They had limited rights and were seen largely in terms of their roles within the family: daughters, wives, and mothers. Portraits from this era often emphasize their domestic and familial roles.

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noun

a thing serving as a visible or tangible representation of a fact, quality, feeling, etc.

"I wanted to offer you a small token of my appreciation"

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Despite marriages being largely arrangements, love and affection could develop over time. Couples communicated through letters and tokens of affection, often developing deep bonds. This post explores the private aspects of marriage not always visible in public records.

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In Renaissance Italy, arranged marriages were the norm. They were regarded as an alliance between two families who were usually of similar economic, social, and political standing. Wives were often younger than their husbands by a decade or more.

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In Renaissance Italy, arranged marriages were the norm. They were regarded as an alliance between two families who were usually of similar economic, social, and political standing. Wives were often younger than their husbands by a decade or more.

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By: GG