Lady Adwen is mentioned as "young but marriageable". So how old would that make her exactly?

YMMV, but in my campaign, a maiden is considered marriageable at 16. Usually, it takes a while for the suitor to impress the father, or for the girl to attract a match if her dowry is not that huge, so actual marriages tend to occur a year or two later. Someone reaching 21 without being married is subject to whispers about the 'old maid'. Surely something has to be wrong (looks, dowry, temperament). On the other hand, such an old maid who may have acted as a steward for her widowed father, might be surprisingly proficient in managing an household...

Thanks. I was thinking along these lines too, but didn't see it mentioned anywhere.

Lady Adwen is mentioned as "young but marriageable". So how old would that make her exactly?


I go a bit more medieval myself, and say that these blossoming maidens are legally marriageable (i.e. expected to have sex) at fourteen. Of course, it is actually anytime after menses, which is as easily checked as a candidate's virginity by the old women trusted with such matters.

Almost off subject here, however, is the custom of marrying children to each other at age two or four and so on, to cement some here-and-now alliance with a future. It seems pretty regular among royalty, but occurs among other nobles too. These unfortunates were often raised together--like marriage to your step-sibling isn't a recipe for personal disaster. Sometimes not, and they lived happily ever after. Usually, though, one of them died before adulthood.

But over all, sixteen is a nice number that I use for "marriagable age."

I go a bit more medieval myself, and say that these blossoming maidens are legally marriageable (i.e. expected to have sex) at fourteen. Of course, it is actually anytime after menses, which is as easily checked as a candidate's virginity by the old women trusted with such matters.

Almost off subject here, however, is the custom of marrying children to each other at age two or four and so on, to cement some here-and-now alliance with a future.


I can't recall what was the Medieval Church sanctioned age limit for consummating the marriage. Could have been what you say in above, i.e. after menses.

While royal children were often betrothed and even married at younger age (I -think- this did need a dispensation from the pope?), the consummation would of course wait until they were 'legal' in Church's view. And like you correctly point out, one of the two often died before that came about.

I can't recall what was the Medieval Church sanctioned age limit for consummating the marriage. Could have been what you say in above, i.e. after menses.


OK, Women in the Middle Ages, Gies, page 98-9
"the legal age of maturity, twelve for girls, 14 for boys."

I consider anything by Frances and Joseph Gies to be authorative, read all their books




While royal children were often betrothed and even married at younger age (I -think- this did need a dispensation from the pope?),


No, it was mostly that "please cancel my legal incest" clause that they needed his permission for

I consider the Gieses authoritative too, but some of my players are a bit queasy about having their 40 year old knights marry 12 year old girls. I use marriageable age as 15, same as squiring age for boys. This equality seems to solve that problem. It's also the point where in the game system you don't need to roll child survival anymore - so that seems a logical point to regard as reaching maturity.

I use marriageable age as 15, same as squiring age for boys. This equality seems to solve that problem. It's also the point where in the game system you don't need to roll child survival anymore - so that seems a logical point to regard as reaching maturity.


Excellent.
I agree

I consider the Gieses authoritative too, but some of my players are a bit queasy about having their 40 year old knights marry 12 year old girls. I use marriageable age as 15, same as squiring age for boys. This equality seems to solve that problem. It's also the point where in the game system you don't need to roll child survival anymore - so that seems a logical point to regard as reaching maturity.

Good point. This is my take too. An added complication is of course that a wife of a vassal knight i supposed to run the manor and the household. I could imagine av 16-18 year young girl do this, but not a 12-14 old year.

I can't recall what was the Medieval Church sanctioned age limit for consummating the marriage. Could have been what you say in above, i.e. after menses.


OK, Women in the Middle Ages, Gies, page 98-9
"the legal age of maturity, twelve for girls, 14 for boys."

I consider anything by Frances and Joseph Gies to be authorative, read all their books


I tend to use 12/14 limits (usually 16) for Picts/barbaric cultures and the 16 limit (usually 21) for the feudal cultures. It tends to offset their more violent death statistics and to differentiate them. The players appreciate little differences in the cultures as it makes each one more unique.

Bob