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1 total messages Started by Beth Appleton Wed, 06 Jan 1993 20:14

#383

Author: Beth Appleton
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1993 20:14

26 lines
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>I assume that this is what is usually called the 
>jus primae noctis in this
>country. Different encyclopedias (sp?) have 
>different opinions on this,
>they range from "probably a legend" to "might have 
>been practised in certain
>parts of Spain."

 TV> As far as I know, the Ius Primae Noctis was 
 TV> actually practised during the
 TV> Dark Ages, but was extremely scorned upon by 
 TV> clergy, and was dropped out via
 TV> evolution of the thing we call chivalry, before year 1100. 
 In doing some reading, I got the impression that the origin of this custom arose because superstitious man was a bit freaked out by the 
 happenings of taking a woman's virginity.  Lots of "bad magic" was 
 supposed to abound.  The "chief" was sufficiently strong that he could 
 weather the bad magic.  Thus, this was actually a service that the 
 chief rendered to the lesser men of the group.  As people grew away 
 from the older superstitions, the reason faded, and it became a 
 duty to the chief, rather than the reverse.
    I'd think this was just some smooth talker pulling a fast one if it 
 didn't show up across Europe, and, if memory serves me, in a different 
 form in the American Indians.....
     -= Beth =-

 * Origin: Herald's Point * Steppes/Ansteorra * 214-699-0057 (1:124/4229)

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