5
HUSBAND - W I F E RELATIONS IN L A T E
MEDIEVAL MALTA
1486-1488
Stefan Cachia*
T h e f a m i l y w a s a central i n s t i t u t i o n i n m e d i e v a l society. People w e r e generally b o m , grew and lived i n families. Thus, a n understanding o f interpersonal
relations w i t h i n t h e f a m i l y - s t r u c t u r e is essential for understanding late m e d i e val Maltese society.1 Y e t what does the t e r m 'family' mean? It can equally be
understood t o i m p l y t h e k i n as w e l l as the nuclear family. G i v e n t h e wide
range o f relationships encapsulated i n the term ' f a m i l y ' , a definition o f what
is u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e t e r m ' f a m i l y ' is necessary. T h e f o l l o w i n g discussion w i l l
o n l y l o o k at t h e nuclear f a m i l y , p r i m a r i l y focusing o n the husband - w i f e relat i o n s h i p i n late m e d i e v a l M a l t a .
Nuclear f a m i l y patterns p r i m a r i l y i m p l y t h e t a k i n g o f a husband o r a wife.
C h u r c h doctrine had a n important role i n this matter. T h e prohibition o f marriage w i t h i n the seven degrees o f consanguinity ruled o u t endogamous marriage." T h i s meant integration w i t h i n t h e E u r o p e a n marriage patterns i n general a n d the S i c i l i a n patterns i n particular. I t also meant a n alienation f r o m t h e
A r a b marriage patterns, w h i c h should have still existed a m o n g the local Jews,
at least i f w h a t w a s true f o r t h e n e a r b y S i c i l i a n J e w s w a s e q u a l l y t r u e f o r t h e
Maltese Jewish community.3
Patterns o f marriage easily translate themselves i n t o patterns o f o w n e r s h i p
w i t h i n a marriage. A n in-marriage i s generally associated w i t h t h e retention
o f the f a m i l y p a t r i m o n y , i n order f o r the latter n o t t o be d i v i d e d i n t o parts a n d
alienated f r o m the family.4 O n t h eother hand, a n exogamous marriage i m plies a d i v i s i o n o f t h e o r i g i n a l f a m i l y estate. Indeed this seems t o have been
the case i n late m e d i e v a l M a l t a . T h u s , t h e lands o r i g i n a l l y b e l o n g i n g t o L e n -
•A history graduate, with first class honours who is now reading for an M A.. Stcphan Cachia works for IICeiti
6
cius and Catherina Barbara o f T a r x i e n , were divided amongst their children
o n the m a r r i a g e o f the latter. W h e n their daughter A g n e s i a m a r r i e d Lucas
C a s a h a , s h e t o o k i n d o w r y , a m o n g s t o t h e r t h i n g s , t w o f i e l d s s i t u a t e d at M i hatab and M u e z e b respectively. H e r brother A n d r e a s was e n d o w e d w i t h three
fields and a house, a field and the house i n his native v i l l a g e o f T a r x i e n . 3
A p a r t f r o m the d o w r y , a w i f e also received the d o d a r i u m . T h i s w a s very
similar to the E n g l i s h d o w e r 6 , but whereas E n g l i s h w i v e s could receive land
as d o w e r , t h e i r M a l t e s e c o u n t e r p a r t s t e n d e d t o r e c e i v e c a s h . T h u s , A g n e s i a
Barbara received Fifteen uncie o f Sicily; Paula Saccu received thirteen uncie;
Z u n a de L a H a b i c a r e c e i v e d o n e h u n d r e d and o n e u n c i e o f S i c i l y . 7 T o g e t h e r
w i t h t h e d o w r y , t h e d o w e r s e r v e d as i n s u r a n c e f o r t h e w i f e ' s f u t u r e . I f s h e
w a s w i d o w e d , it c o u l d b e c o u n t e d u p o n e i t h e r as a m e a n s o f s u b s i s t e n c e o r t o
provide her w i t h a ' n e w ' d o w r y i n a second marriage. N o t h i n g s i m i l a r seems
t o have existed i n late m e d i e v a l S o u t h e r n E u r o p e . Y e t , f r o m the w a y it was
g i v e n , it r e s e m b l e d t h e o l d E u r o p e a n s p o n s a l i t i u m o r m o r n i n g g i f t , w h i c h t h e
husband gave to his bride after c o n s u m i n g his marriage.8 Closer seems to
have been the A r a b m a h r m u s a m m a w h i c h corresponded e x a c t l y w i t h the
'Maltese' d o d a r i u m . thus suggesting a possible remnant f r o m the M u s l i m
past*
A n o t h e r a s p e c t , w h i c h e m e r g e s a b o u t t h e h u s b a n d a n d w i f e r e l a t i o n s h i p , is
t h a t o f t h e h u s b a n d ' s p r e d o m i n a n c e i n t h e h o u s e h o l d . G i v e n t h e p o s i t i o n as
p a t e r f a m i l i a s 1 0 , husbands a d m i n i s t e r e d their f a m i l y ' s estates, s e l l i n g t h e m ,
p a w n i n g t h e m o r leasing t h e m . T h i s w a s true for all the p r o p e r t y f o r m i n g part
o f t h e c o n j u g a l f u n d w h e t h e r b o u g h t , o r b r o u g h t as a d o w r y b y h i s w i f e . N o t
o n l y was he the administrator o f his wife's property, but a l t h o u g h the d o w r y
w a s the wife's property, it w a s g i v e n t o the husband o n the wife's behalf. A c c o r d i n g t o the M a l t e s e c u s t o m , f o r a husband t o alienate goods w h i c h f o r m e d
part o f the wife's d o w r y , he needed his wife's consent. A t times, the husbands
d i d m o r e t h a n t h e y w e r e a l l o w e d . T h i s w a s the case w i t h Z a c c h a r i a B u n n i c h i
a n d J o h a n n e s de F a u c z o n o w h o s o l d p a r t o f t h e i r w i f e ' s d o w r y w i t h o u t t h e
l a t t e r ' s c o n s e n t . T h i s , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e fact t h a t t h e w i v e s r e a c t e d a g a i n s t t h e
said sales o n l y after t h e i r husband's death, s h o w s the husband's strength
w i t h i n t h e h o u s e h o l d as w e l l as w i t h r e g a r d s t o t h e c o n j u g a l f u n d . * 1 M a l e p r e d o m i n a n c e also emerges f r o m the fact that a w i f e w a s a l w a y s p r e m u n i t a c o n s i i i o et a u c t o r i t a t e o f h e r h u s b a n d ( a n d w h e n the latter w a s absent e i t h e r
7
t h r o u g h d e a t h o r t h r o u g h b e i n g a w a y f r o m M a l t a she w a s p r e m u n i t a e i t h e r b y
h e r s o n o r b y a f r i e n d as a m u n d u a l d o ) .
N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g the husband's p r e d o m i n a n c e i n the household, the w i f e had
h e r o w n s p h e r e o f i n f l u e n c e . I n d e e d s h e c o u l d t r a n s a c t i n b u s i n e s s as w e l l as
manage the f a m i l y ' s h o u s e h o l d . I n t h i s aspect the M a l t e s e w i f e Fitted w e l l i n t o
the general E u r o p e a n pattern. Labarge, i n her analysis o f the treatises o f
C h r i s t i n e d e P i z a n a n d M e n a g i e r d e P a r i s , d e s c r i b e s t h e w i f e at a n u p p e r l e v e l
o f t h e u r b a n s o c i e t y as b e i n g " i n c h a r g e o f t h e h o u s e h o l d , a n d t o o k o v e r I t h e
m a n a g e m e n t o f her husband's estate] w h e n her husband w a s a w a y . " 1 2 C l a r a
de S t u n i c a f i t t e d w e l l i n t h i s m o d e l . S h e l e a s e d m o n e y t o J o h a n n e s d e G u y v a r a i n t h e f o r m o f s a l e s cum g r a c i a t w i c e i n t h e c o u r s e o f I 4 8 7 . ' 3 S h e a l s o
l e a s e d p a r t s o f t h e p r o p e r t y at G h a j n T u f F i e h a o n t h r e e o c c a s i o n s ; t o F r a J o h a n n e s Z u r k i o n t h e 11 J u l y 1 4 8 7 ; t o A r n a l d u s G a l i e a n d A r r i g o B u r g o n t h e
same day, and to B e r e n g a r i u s M i z a n g a r t w o d a y s later. A l l this w h i l e her
husband Ferrandus was absent f r o m M a l t a . 1 4 W h a t w a s true for the upper
strata o f society was e q u a l l y true for m o s t people. T h u s , o n e encounters
Y s o l d a V e l l a managing the household o n behalf o f her husband Petrus w h o
w a s n o t o n t h e i s l a n d . O n t h e 17 J a n u a r y 1 4 8 8 . s h e a s s i g n e d a F i e l d a n d a
s m a l l h o u s e i n M q a b b a , w i t h s o m e r e s e r v a t i o n s , as p a y m e n t f o r t h e d e b t o f
six and a h a l f M a l t e s e uncie w h i c h her h u s b a n d o w e d B a r t h o l o m e u s F e r raru.'5
C h i c c a de B u r d i n o p r o v i d e s an i n t e r e s t i n g case o f w o m e n p l a y i n g a n i n d e pendent role f r o m their husband. W i t h the p r o v i s i o n and a u t h o r i t y o f her husband N a r d u s , she b o u g h t t w o S i c i l i a n horses a n d a bale o f r a w c o t t o n f r o m
J o h a n n e s d e G u y v a r a f o r 2 0 u n c i e . 1 6 N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e fact t h a t h e r h u s band w a s in M a l t a , i n d e e d present i n the s a m e c o n t r a c t o f sales, it w a s t h e
w i f e not the husband w h o bought the t w o horses and the bales o f cotton. B e sides, C h i c c a received an a n n u a l salary f r o m the M a l t e s e S e c r e z i a . 1 1 T h i s
c a s e s u g g e s t s t h a t a w o m a n , at l e a s t f r o m t h e h i g h e r r a n k s o f s o c i e t y , e n j o y e d
a d e g r e e o f e c o n o m i c i n d e p e n d e n c e , b u y i n g o n h e r o w n b e h a l f as w e l l as r e ceiving a salary herself.
A n o t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n o n m a r i t a l relations s h o u l d l o o k at the ages i n w h i c h
the husband and the w i f e contracted marriage. A g e s i n n u m e r i c a l Figures are
not g i v e n , n o r can such data be c a l c u l a t e d f r o m the a v a i l a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n , y e t
8
9
g e n e r a l trends c a n be traced. C o m p a r i n g t h e brides w i t h t h e i r b r i d e g r o o m s
o n e notices that w h e r e a s the f o r m e r ' s parents are a l w a y s g i v e n , the latter's are
o n l y given o n three occasions, namely for Lucas Casaha, Andreas Barbara
and T h o m e u s X u e r e b . 1 8 B e s i d e s , t h e m o t h e r o f S a l v u s F a l c z o n o c a n be arrived at f r o m a n o t h e r d o c u m e n t . 1 9 T h o s e g r o o m s w h o s e p a r e n t s a r e g i v e n
w e r e n o t y e t e m a n c i p a t e d , t h e r e f o r e t h e y s h o u l d h a v e b e e n i n t h e i r First m a r riage. O t h e r w i s e , the g r o o m being m e n t i o n e d w a s possibly i n his second marriage.30 Indeed this can be proved o n one occasion f o r o n e such bridegroom;
A n t o n i o Falca was a w i d o w e r for a f e w m o n t h s w h e n he married Z u n a de L a
Habica. W h e r e a s the d o w r y contract f o r his marriage w i t h Z u n a was celebrated o n the 8 A u g u s t 1 4 8 7 , 3 1 h i s p r e c e d i n g w i f e V e n t u r a expressed her last
w i l l before the notary merely ten m o n t h s before.32
y o u n g as p o s s i b l e . A w i d o w e d b r i d e m a y n o t h a v e a n y c h i l d r e n f r o m h e r s e c ond marriage and even r i s k her life i n t r y i n g t o h a v e an issue. Indeed, C a t h e r i n a d e U r s o , p r e v i o u s l y m a r r i e d as d e S i l l a t o , s e e m s t o h a v e d i e d at
childbirth.37
Besides all spouses w h o s e parents are g i v e n but six, (i.e. eight o u t o f fourteen) had a dead father, and o n e father o f those six w a s t o die w i t h i n t w o
m o n t h s . 3 3 A s s u m i n g that their deaths had been natural, and an almost equal
l i f e e x p e c t a n c y f o r m e n a n d w o m e n o n e c a n s a f e l y a r r i v e at e i t h e r o f t w o
c o n c l u s i o n s (according t o the data f r o m Zabbara's d o c u m e n t s b e t w e e n 1486
a n d 1 4 8 8 ) . M e n m a r r i e d at a m u c h l a t e r a g e t h a n w o m e n d i d a n d t h e y t e n d e d
t o m a r r y t w i c e as A n t o n i u s F a l c a d i d , t h e s e c o n d t i m e m a r r y i n g a g i r l m u c h
y o u n g e r t h a n t h e m s e l v e s . T h i s s e e m s t o h a v e b e e n t h e c a s e , as A n t o n i u s '
m a r r i a g e t o Z u n a s h o w s . T h u s , M a l t e s e m a r r i a g e patterns Fitted neatly into
those o f nearby Sicily. There, y o u n g girls were given i n marriage to men
much older then them.24
T h e y o u n g m a r r i a g e a g e f o r b r i d e s is f u r t h e r a t t e s t e d b y t h e y o u n g a g e at
w h i c h Paulus de B u n e l l o promised his daughter M a r g e r i t a to A n t o n i u s Rapa.
A t t h e t i m e o f t h e c o n t r a c t , s h e w a s s t i l l t o o y o u n g t o b e m a r r i e d . T h u s at t h e
t i m e o f her m a r r i a g e the bride s h o u l d have been about t w e l v e . 3 5 T h e bride's
y o u n g m a r r i a g e age p o i n t s o u t t o at least t w o forces. T h e eagerness o f t h e
parents to find a suitable m a t c h for their daughter. S e c o n d l y the importance
o f virginity in a marriage. A s G o o d y points out the later a w o m a n married,
the greater the chance for her t o h a v e lost her virginity before that marriage
and virginity was essential to guarantee the purity o f the lineage.36 A third
force c o u l d have been the bridegroom's urge t o have an issue f r o m that marriage. A f t e r a l l , g i v e n the bad medical conditions o f the t i m e , there was a
g r e a t e r c h a n c e t o h a v e a s u r v i v i n g s o n f r o m a l o n g m a r r i a g e w i f h a b r i d e as
A n o t h e r factor emerges c l e a r l y , at least f r o m the m a r r i a g e b e t w e e n A n t o n i u s
Rapa and M a r g e r i t a . " 8 M a r r i a g e was not a question o f love, but rather a c o n t r a c t b e t w e e n t w o f a m i l i e s . S i m i l a r l y , i t is e v i d e n t t h a t t h e r e w a s n o l o v e i n
the marriage between Stephanus S e y k e l and his w i f e L a u r e n c z a alias C u e y n a .
The marriage itself had been contracted o n the i n v i t a t i o n o f Johannes de G u y vara, to w h o m L a u r e n c z a had been a concubine.39 N o t o n l y but w h i l e Stephan u s w a s a w a y f r o m M a l t a , she w e n t b a c k t o h e r l o v e r . E v e n t u a l l y , t h e s a m e
L a u r e n c z a w a s g u i l t y o f a d u l t e r y w i t h P e t r u c i u s de M a z a r a . 3 0 N a t u r a l l y , n o t h i n g c a n b e g e n e r a l i s e d f r o m o n l y t w o , t h o u g h c l e a r - c u t e x a m p l e s . A f t e r a l l , as
G o o d y c l a i m s " a g r e e m e n t , e v e n l o v e , b e t w e e n t h e p a r t n e r s is n o t e x c l u d e d
f r o m w h a t a r e k n o w n as a r r a n g e d , p r e f e r r e d o r p r e s c r i b e d m a r r i a g e s . " 3 1 O n
t h e o t h e r h a n d , a n u m b e r o f f a c t o r s p o i n t t o t h e l a c k o f real l o v e b e t w e e n t h e
h u s b a n d a n d t h e w i f e , a t l e a s t w h e n t h e l o v e b e t w e e n t h e m is c o m p a r e d t o t h e
love between m o t h e r and c h i l d . T h u s , the m a i n preoccupations o f the w i f e , i n
her w i l l concerns the property a n d g o o d s she bequeaths t o her c h i l d r e n . Secondly, for a society in w h i c h the remarriage o f a w i d o w or w i d o w e r was a
c o m m o n o c c u r r e n c e , o n e c o u l d n o t a f f o r d t o risk a l i e n a t i n g o n e ' s p r o p e r t y t o
s o m e o n e else's c h i l d r e n , thus f o r s a k i n g one's o w n lineage. H o w e v e r , g i v e n
the f o r m a l i t y expected, and indeed f o u n d , i n a notarial archive one c a n n o t e x p e c t t o d e t e c t a n y n o t i o n o f l o v e , a n d i t is o n l y n a t u r a l t h a t t h e c o n t r a c t u a l n a ture o f marriage predominates.
H a v i n g c o n s i d e r e d h o w t h e m a r r i a g e w a s c o n t r a c t e d a l o o k a t h o w i t e n d e d is
necessary. G i v e n the p r o h i b i t i o n o f d i v o r c e and the lack o f any reference t o
t h e a n n u l m e n t o f m a r r i a g e , at l e a s t i n t h e Z a b b a r a ' s a c t s u n d e r r e v i e w , d e a t h
was generally the o n l y w a y a marriage could end. Y e t , w h a t happened t o the
surviving partner? T h o s e partners had to chose between t w o options, n a m e l y
r e m a r r y o r r e m a i n a w i d o w / e r u n t i l one's death. I n a n a l y s i n g the general
E u r o p e a n p i c t u r e , B r e s c s a w r e m a r r i a g e as a n o p t i o n o n l y f o r rich w i d o w s
(he does not consider w i d o w e r s ) . O t h e r w i s e , the w i d o w c o u l d o n l y hope f o r a
small i n c o m e and an obscure and l o n e l y o l d age.33 T h e paupers cared for b y
t h e S a n t o S p i r i t o h o s p i t a l m i g h t h a v e i n c l u d e d s o m e , 3 3 b u t t h e p i c t u r e as s e e n
10
1 1
t h r o u g h Z a b b a r a ' s d o c u m e n t s is r a t h e r d i f f e r e n t . A n u m b e r o f w i d o w s r e m a r ried. T h o s e w i d o w s w h o c h o s e n o t t o r e m a r r y , e i t h e r o u t o f t h e i r o w n f r e e
w i l l o r because o f t h e i r o l d age, m a d e sure o f t h e i r f u t u r e subsistence. Y s m i ralda Z a r b reserved o n e t h i r d o f the house she donated t o her daughter
J o h a n n a f o r her use. Besides, the fact that she l i v e d i n the s a m e house w i t h
her daughter c o u l d also i m p l y the latter's help i n t i m e s o f necessity. O n s i m i lar l i n e s , M a r g a r i t a S a l a m u r a d o n a t e d a f i e l d t o h e r c h i l d r e n f r o m a n e a r l i e r
m a r r i a g e w i t h the p r o v i s o that i f t h e y w o u l d not help her by p r o v i d i n g the
n e c e s s a r y v i c t u a l s , s h e c o u l d s e l l o r p a w n t h a t s a m e field. A t t i m e s , t h e h u s band provided for his wife's possible w i d o w h o o d , through a contract. Jackin u s C a r u a n a s t i p u l a t e d t h a t i f h e p r e d e c e a s e d h i s w i f e , as l o n g as s h e d i d n o t
r e m a r r y (she was already i n her second m a r r i a g e ) his heirs s h o u l d p r o v i d e an
a c c o m m o d a t i o n t o his w i f e . 3 4 I n o t h e r cases, the w i f e p r o v i d e d f o r her husband after her death. T h u s , V e n t u r a F a l c a left the v t r i d a r i u m o f A y n
Culliye
to her husband A n t o n i u s f o r his m a i n t e n a n c e after her death, t o revert t o her
niece after his death.
Besides, the w i d o w e d partner w a s heir to one third o f the conjugal fund
w h i c h the M a l t e s e c u s t o m allocated to h i n V h e r o n the spouse's death. A c c o r d ing t o the M a l t e s e c u s t o m , a n y t h i n g acquired once the m a r r i a g e w a s c o n tracted belonged to the husband and the w i f e in conjunction. W h e n e v e r either
o f t h e t w o p a r t n e r s d i e d , t h e s u r v i v i n g o n e h a d t h e right t o o n e - t h i r d d e
cotnunj
substancia matrimonii. T h e remaining t w o thirds were allocated to
the s u r v i v i n g children.
A n interesting anecdote concerning w i d o w h o o d emerges about m o u r n i n g
customs. Catherina de U r s o mandated, in an a d d e n d u m to her w i l l , that her
h u s b a n d A l b a n u s ( a s w e l l as t h e o t h e r b e n e f i c i a r i e s o f h e r w i l l ) m u s t w e a r
veste
l u g u b r j videlicet
clamide
et capucheo.
T h e fact that the w e a r i n g o f
m o u r n i n g v e s t m e n t s h a d t o b e i m p o s e d , s e e m s t o s u g g e s t t h a t it w a s n o t a
c o m m o n practice.35 Indeed, a l t h o u g h the M a l t e s e c u s t o m stipulated that
m o u r n i n g c l o t h e s h a d t o be w o r n , at t i m e s t h i s w a s i m p o s s i b l e " a s n o t a
hand's span o f black c l o t h was available in M a l t a . " 3 6
O n c e the marriage w a s contracted, there started a n e w nuclear f a m i l y w h i c h
w a s the result o f a f u s i o n between m e m b e r s o f t w o households. N a t u r a l l y , it
needed a house i n w h i c h to live. I n the available documents, teh marriages
w e r e c o n t r a c t e d o r had been c o n t r a c t e d i n t h e past. A m o n g these, s e v e n w e r e
contracted between t w o inhabitants o f M d i n a . O n another occasion the husband's t o w n o f o r i g i n is not g i v e n . I n the r e m a i n i n g t w o marriages, the c o n tractants w e r e L u c a s Casaha o f M d i n a and A g n e s i a Barbara o f T a r x i e n on
one occasion and Andreas Barbara o f T a r x i e n and Paula Saccu o f Gudja on
t h e o t h e r . 3 7 I n these cases, tfle w i f e w e n t t o l i v e in her husband's t o w n o r v i l lage. T h u s , A g n e s i a w e n t to l i v e i n M d i n a , w h i l e P a u l a w e n t to l i v e i n
T a r x i e n . W i t h regards t o those couples w h e r e both the husband and w i f e
c a m e f r o m M d i n a , t h e f u t u r e p l a c e o f h a b i t a t i o n i s n e v e r e x p l i c i t l y s t a t e d as
in the o t h e r t w o d o c u m e n t s . Y e t i n three occasions the m a r r i a g e had been
c o n t r a c t e d i n the past. I n t w o o f these, the h u s b a n d a c k n o w l e d g e d t h e p a y ment o f the d o w r y . 3 8 I n another, M a r c i a n o de Pirera received the second half
o f t h e d o w r y p r o m i s e d b y V e n t u r a F a l c a a f t e r t h e l a t t e r ' s d e a t h . G i v e n t h a t at
the t i m e o f the contract the husbands lived i n M d i n a , and the nature o f the
c o n t r a c t s , i t is s a f e t o a s s u m e t h a t t h e r e s p e c t i v e w i v e s l i v e d w i t h t h e i r h u s b a n d s , i n M d i n a . T h e s e e x a m p l e s p o i n t c l e a r l y at a v i r i l o c a l p l a c e o f r e s i dence, w h e r e the w i f e leaves her o w n place o f habitation t o go t o l i v e w i t h
h e r h u s b a n d . T h i s is f u r t h e r c o r r o b o r a t e d b y t h e fact t h a t L a u r e n c z a a l i a s
C u e y n a w e n t t o l i v e w i t h her husband Stephanus S e y k e i after h a v i n g been a
c o n c u b i n e o f Per J o h a n n e s de M a z a r a . 3 9
A n o v e r a l l v i e w o f the husband and w i f e relationship i n late m e d i e v a l M a l t a
points at t w o s e e m i n g l y o p p o s i t e , y e t c o m p l i m e n t a r y forces. B o t h the h u s band and the w i f e had e q u a l r i g h t s w i t h regards t o the p r o p e r t y f o r m i n g part
o f the c o n j u g a l funds, a n d e v e n appear t o h a v e had, ( a d m i t t e d l y o n l y o n e case
s h o w s a w o m a n acting independently in her husband's presence) an independent e c o n o m i c life o f their o w n . S i m i l a r l y m e n and w o m e n had an equal
right t o b e q u e a t h t h e i r p r o p e r t y t h r o u g h w i l l s , a n d b o t h r e c e i v e d a n e n d o w ment o n marriage, an e n d o w m e n t w h i c h i n the acts o f notary Zabbara under
analysis, included land property for both the husband and wife. Y e t , this theoretical e q u a l i t y m u s t n o t obscure the fact that late m e d i e v a l M a l t e s e society
was a m a l e d o m i n a t e d society. T h e husband essentially administered the c o n j u g a l fund, t o w h i c h the husband and the w i f e had an equal c l a i m , often
u s u r p i n g t h e c l a i m s t h e w i v e s h a d o v e r t h e i r d o w r y . B e s i d e s , i n M a l t a as i n
the rest o f the S i c i l i a n R e g n o , w o m e n c o u l d not have an independent legal
life o f their o w n . W h e t h e r they w e r e proceeding i n court against a second
p a r t y , o r s i m p l y b e i n g a p a r t y t o a n o t a r i a l act, t h e y h a d t o be r e p r e s e n t e d o r
13
1 2
at l e a s t a s s i s t e d b y a m a l e , t h e m u n d u a l d o . U s u a l l y t h i s w a s t h e h u s b a n d , b u t
legally he could have been a son, brother, o r even a friend. T h e m u n d u a l d o
apart f r o m being a legal reality w a s s y m b o l i c o f that male d o m i n a n t society.
Not even i f the male presence w a s a m e r e f o r m a l i t y , it had t o be there. It w a s
also s y m b o l i c o f the differences between t h e M a l t e s e c u s t o m a r y l a w ( t o
w h i c h references are c o n t i n u o u s l y met i n n o t a r i a l acts) and the S i c i l i a n legal
s y s t e m that i m p o s e d the m u n d u a l d o . but that is another story.
Notes
1
T h e f o l l o w i n g discussion w i l l l o o k at such f a m i l y relationships, w h i c h e m e r g e f r o m (he notarial acts o f
N o t a r y G i a c o m o Z a b b a r a p u b l i s h e d b y P i o r i n i H e n c e o n l y a p a r t i a l v i e w o f f a m i l y r e l a t i o n s h i p s i n late
m e d i e v a l M a l t a i s p o s s i b l e . S . R o r i n i l e d ) . Documentary Sourer* of Maltese History: Pan I Notarial
Documents No I Nolan Giacomo Zabbara R 494/1 II) 1486 1488. M a l t a . 1 9 9 6 . h e n c e f o r t h Z a b b a r a
" F o r t h e R o m a n s y s t e m o f t h e s e v e n d e g r e e s o f c o n s a n g u i n i t y s e e J G o o d y . The Development of the family and Marriage in Europr, C a m b r i d g e . 1 9 8 3 . p . 1 3 8
' O n t h e S i c i l i a n J e w s s e e H B r c s c , " L a F a m i l l e d a n s l a S o c t e t e S i c i l i c n n c M i i d i t i v a l e ' i n J J I Fanuglia r la
Vita Quotidiarm in Europatlal 400 at WO: Fonli e Prohlrmi. R o m e . 1 9 8 6 . 3 p p 1 8 7 - 2 0 6 . 1 8 8 . T h e m a t t e r
is n o t d i s c u s s e d b y G . W e t n n g c r i n T h e J e w s o f M a l i a . M a l t a . 1 9 8 5
* J . G o o d y . " B r i d e w e a l t h a n d D o w r y i n A f r i c a a n d E u r a s i a " , i n J G o o d y a n d S . J T a m b i a b Bridewealih and
Dowry. C a m b r i d g e . 1 9 7 3 . p 1 9
' Z a b b a r a n o s . I I ( 1 3 . i v . I 4 8 6 ) , 2 3 ( 2 7 . i v I 4 8 6 ) . T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b c i w c c n t h e l a n d a n d t h e f a m i l y is discussed in chapter 4
*J. G o o d y . Inheritance, property a n d w o m e n s o m e c o m p a r a t i v e considerations' i n J. G o o d y . J T h r i s k
a n d E . P . T h o m p s o n <ed ) . Family and Inheritance Rural Society in Western Europe 1200 • 1800. C a m bridge. 1976, 1 0 - 3 6 . p. 16.
' Z a b b a r a n o s . l l (13.iv.1486), 2 3 ( 2 7 . i v I486).234(S.viii 1487).
' D . O w e n H u g h e s . " R o m I t n d e p n c e t o D o w r y i n M e d i t e r r a n e a n E u r o p e ' , i n M . K a p l a n ( c d . ) , 7 7 t r Marriage Bargain: Women and Dowries in European History. L o n d o n . 1 9 8 5 , p p 1 3 - 5 8 . 2 6 - 7 .
" T h e A r a b mahr musamma w a s a s u m fixed i n t h e m a r r i a g e c o n t r a c t O S p i e s . M a h r . C E B o s w o r t h c t a l
(cd I . Encyclopedia o f Islam. N e w Edition. V I . Letden. 1991, p 79.
' " J L F l a n d r i n . Families in Former Times. C a m b r i d g e . 1 9 7 9 . p 1 1 8 e l s e q .
" Zabbara nos 6 4(6.ix.l486). 274 (l.ix.1487).
I!
M . L a b a r g e , Women in Medieval Life. L o n d o n . 1 9 8 6 . p. 1 4 7 .
" Z a b b a r a n o s 112(I.ii. 1487). 187(12.V.1487).
" Z a b b a r a nos 212 (1 l . v i i i . 1 4 8 7 ) . 2 1 3 ( I l . v i i i 1487), 2 1 4 ( I 3 . v i i i . l 4 8 7 ) .
' Zabbara no. 3 2 0 (17.i. 1488) T h e reservation was the right o f entrance t o the k i t c h e n .
" Z a b b a r a n o 3 2 1 <21.1-1488).
Solarium Recipiendum a serrecia Mrlile per ramdem dominant Chiccam anno qoutibel Z a b b a r a n o . 3 2 1
(21 i . 1 4 8 8 ) . T h e act does not specify w h y she w a s i n receipt o f that salary
" Z a b b a r a nos I I ( 1 3 . i v . l 4 8 6 ) , 23 ( 2 7 . i v . l 4 8 6 ) , 3 0 2 ( 1 5 x i . 1487).
" Z a b b a r a no 297 (I7.ix. 1487).
:u
A n o t h e r possible explanation i s that the g r o o m w a s i nhis first marriage, but his parents had died Y e t .
n o such an e x a m p l e is f o u n d i n the acts under s c r u t i n y .
' ' Z a b b a r a n o 2 3 4 (8 viii 1487 J
- Z a b b a r a n o 4 0 ( I I v. 14861
O n the 15 September 1487 Johannes d c S i l l a t o was c o n f i r m e d the p a y m e n t o f d o w r y b y his son-in-law
N o t a r y M a t h e u s d e V a s s a l d o O n t h e 1 5 N o v e m b e r o f t h e s a m e y e a r , h e i s d e s c r i b e d a s quondam Joltanes
de Sillato Zabbara n o s . 2 9 6 ( l 5 u . 1 4 8 7 ) . 3 0 2 ( 15 x i 1 4 8 7 ) .
" H . B r c s c . E u r o p e : T o w n a n d C o u n t r y ( T h i r t e e n t h - F i f t e e n t h C e n t u r y ! ' , i n A B u r g u i S r e . ct al ( e d I . A
Hisiorv of the Family: Vol I Distant Worlds. Ancient Worlds. C a m b r i d g e M a s s a c h Us s e t t s . 1 9 9 6 . p p 4 3 0 466.448.
8
A c c o r d i n g t o B r o o k e , t h e a g e o f c o n s e n t w a s r e c k o n e d t o b e t w e l v e f o r a w o m a n ' C B r o o k e . The Mediecut Idea of Marriage, p. ( 3 7
* J G o o d y . The Development of the Family and Marriage in Europe. C a m b r i d g e . 1 9 8 3 . p . 2 9 . 2 5 8 .
" i n d e e d C a t h e n n a s e e m s t o h a v e d i e d b e f o r e c h i l d b i r t h O n t h e 2 6 M a y s h e i n s t i t u t e d as h e r u n i v e r s a l
h e i r , h e r t o - b e - b o r n c h i l d : jintititil sibi heredem universalem posnimtnn \eu potltanam naseitumm eel nasriluram ex ventre eiusdem tesialru is. Zabbara n o 4 1 ( 2 6 v I 4 8 6 ) A f e w m o n t h s l a t e r , h e r b r o t h e r D o n
A m a t o r e i s d e s c r i b e d a s I r r r t w quondam Catherine sue sororis Zabbara no 1 7 7 1 2 4 i v 1 4 8 7 ) . i m p l y i n g
both Catherina's death as w e l l o f thai o f her baby, g i v e n that o n ihe 2 6 M a y I 4 8 6 , she h a dm a d e D o n
A m a t o r e second tn line o f succession.
:
* Zabbara n o . 3 3 3 ( 9 i i . 1 4 8 8 )
{ Q f e f M l Stephanas invito dit to magntfiro Perio Joltannes conlraclavisset niairimonion cum ipsa laurencza. Zabbara no. 206 (27.vi.l487)
K
Zabliara n o 2 8 4 ( I f i x . 1 4 8 7 ) .
J G o o d y . The Development of the Family and Marriage in Europe. p . u 0 6 .
" H Bresc. 'Europe T o w n and C o u n t r y (Thirteenth-fifteenth C e n t u r y ) ' , p.451
" 5 . Viocmt. Santo Spirim Hospital ai Rabtu. Malta: The Early Years to IS7S, M a l t a . 1 9 8 9 . p p 2 7 - 8 .
" Z a W i a r o nos. 128 ( l . i i i . 1 4 8 7 ) . 2 9 8 ( I 7 . i x . 1487). a n d 273 I l . i x . 1 4 8 7 ) respectively.
" T h i s m i g h t b e o n l y a n i m p r e s s i o n due to the nature o f [he d o c u m e n t .
* G W e t t i n g e r . " T h e W i d o w o n G o z o W h o R e m a r r i e d T o o S o o n " , i n Melua llisiont a X I I . 2 . M a l t a . 1 9 9 7 .
p 1 3 9 - 1 5 0 . p. 1 4 1 .
' T h e sample is t o o s m a l l for a n y generalisation.
" P e l r u s A x a c f r o m P e r u s d e F r e n d o : a n d M a t h e u s d c V a s s a l d o f r o m J o h a n n e s d e S i l l a t o Zabbara n o s 1 0
(13.iv.1486). 2 9 6 ( 1 5 ix. 14871 respectively
* Stephanas
t tmlrai tavisscl matrimonium t urn ipsa Laurencza cum qua cohabttavisset. T h e n , L a u r encza n--wen( t o live w i t h PerJohannes d e M a z a r a as the latter's concubine w h i l e her husband was a w a y .
W h e n S l c p h a n u s r e t u r n e d , h e p r o m i s e d t o reassomerc jn eiits toltabilmiime dit tam Laurencza Zabbara
no. 2 0 6 ( 2 7 v i 1487).