Saturday, June 16, 2007
Concubinage
Meaning:
Commonly refers to a relationship between a man (usually of higher social status) and a woman, where the man has an “official” wife, and possibly more than one concubine. Concubines had limited rights though any children are acknowledged, though their status is second to that of children born unto the “official” wife. Concubinage was usually an “exclusive” arrangement between two parties.

Biblical:
With the tolerance of polygamy, a concubine was only defined in terms of her disparity in position or rank with the principal wife.

A legitimate spouse, of an inferior social grade or a bondwoman, is often given the appellation of concubine. This term did not invalidate her marriage, it did, however, indicate that she was not equal to her husband in rank, nor did she share in her husband’s property or in the administration of his household.

From Genesis 21:9-14, we see that the dismissal of a concubine and of her children was permissible.

Ancient Greece:
Concubines were permitted in ancient Greece and their children were legitimate if recognized by their fathers.

Roman Empire:
A concubine was recognized by law in the absence of a legal wife. She was usually from a lower social rank than her husband, and her children, though not considered the equals of those of the legal wife (uxor) were nevertheless termed natural (naturales) to distinguish them from spurious offsprings (spurii). The father of these children was required to maintain them, as he would his legitimate offspring, and to provide for them upon his death - in the absence of legitimate children, this amounted to one-sixth of his property. Legitimate concubinage under Roman Law did not require the intention of the two parties to remain together until the death as man and wife.

The “Lex Julia de maritandis ordinibus” and the “Papia Poppæa” both