Aspects of marriage in the Maltese Islands in the second half of the sixteenth century (c. 1560-1580)

Abstract

The study of marriage allows the student of history to look at various topics and so makes for an interesting way through which to study a society. The sources used for this dissertation were those of the Adami Collection from the National Library of Malta and various notarial documents from the Notarial Archives in Valletta (NAV)1 for the period between 1560 and 1580. This allows this study to look at both the demographic aspect as well as focusing on the legal aspect of marriage. The first chapter of this work looks at the contributions to the field of gender studies and marriage both in Europe and locally, and then gives an overview of the sources used to conduct the study. The second chapter looks at the information derived from parish records and puts forward a number of patterns which emerge from these sources. The third chapter discusses the rites and rituals involved in the celebration of marriage and then delves into the legal aspects which become apparent from the notarial contracts, such as inheritance patterns. The fourth chapter looks at marriages amongst the wealthiest classes of society, whilst the fifth chapter looks at peasant marriages, remarrying widows and orphans. The sixth chapter takes a deeper look at some of the goods which can be found within the trousseaus in notarial contracts; through material culture there can be a study of change and continuity. For the sake of convenience throughout this work some words were used in an abbreviated format: Titles: Cle. = Clericus Don. = Donnus/ Donna Eg. Not. = Egregius Notarius Fra. = Frater Hon. = Honorabilis Magr. = Magister Mag. = Magnificus/ Magnifica No. = Nobile Rev. = Reverendus Ven. = Venerabilis