Royal Bastards: The Birth of Illegitimacy, 800-1230

by Sara McDougall

The stigmatization as 'bastards' of children born outside of wedlock is commonly thought to have emerged early in Medieval European history. Christian ideas about legitimate marriage, it is assumed, set the standard for legitimate birth. Children born to anything other than marriage had fewer rights or opportunities. They certainly could not become king or queen. As this volume demonstrates, however, well into the late twelfth century, ideas of what...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198785828
• ISBN13: 9780198785828
• Release Date: January 2017
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.3"