What is it called when a king makes the rule that his knights can sleep with a newly married woman?

Question

In the movie Braveheart, the king made a rule that his knights could sleep with a woman on her wedding night! He said that if they couldn't kick them out they would breed them out! I also have heard that Clauddagh rings were a way to keep your marriage a secret. I need to know what that rule is called. Thanx! The first correct answer gets 10 pts!

Answer 1

I think "droit de seigneur" or Lord's right. A lord could sleep with a bride on her wedding night! There is some stuff on Wikipedia about it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droit_de_se...

In the Movie Braveheart they called it "Right of Primo Noctur"

I have heard alot of arguments about whether it really happened or not, so nobody's really sure! I think It did happen in Ireland and that is the reason for wearing your Clauddagh rings a certain way! Hope this helps!

Answer 2

It was calle "droit du seigneur" (Lord's right) in old French, which is the way it used to be known in English culture, or "jus primae noctis" (right/law of the first night) in Latin.

Actually, All serious historical evidence points to the droit du seigneur being a fantasy born either during the "gothic" revival of the Romantic era (late 1700s early 1800s), or fabricated as tool of anti feudal propaganda during the "enlightenment" era of the 1700s.

Practically, the lord officially deflowering young brides would never have done, because if she gave birth 9 months later, there would have been an ominous shadow as to the  child's parentage and the Lord would be under pressure to provide for his putative offspring, a burden most difficult to handle, as the historical trend of noble families becoming impoverished over the generations shows.

Answer 3

Primo Nuctor.

It's bollocks though. Prima Nochtur wasn't enacted in Scotland during the period.

Answer 4

Droit du seigneur is the french word meaning for "the lord's right", and a similar term in Latin is "ius primae noctis"  meaning "for law (or right) of the first night." It is a feudal right (feudal law) said to have existed in medieval Europe giving the lord to whom it belonged the right to sleep the first night with the bride of any one of his vassals.

The Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring, given in friendship or worn as a wedding ring. The Claddagh's distinctive design features two hands clasping a heart, and usually surmounted by a crown. The elements of this symbol are often said to correspond to the qualities of love (the heart), friendship (the hands), and loyalty (the crown).

The expression which was associated with these symbols in the giving of the ring was: "Let love and friendship reign." The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. Traditionally, if the ring is on the right hand with the design facing outward and away from the body, this indicates that the person wearing the ring is not in any serious relationship, and may in fact be single and looking for a relationship.

When worn on the right hand but with the design facing inward toward the body, this indicates the person wearing the ring is in a relationship, or that "someone has captured their heart". A Claddagh worn on the left hand ring finger, facing outward away from the body, generally indicates that the wearer is engaged. When the ring is on the left hand ring finger and facing inward toward the body, it generally means that the person wearing the ring is married.

Answer 5

sometimes referred to as "droit de seigneur" or Lord's right.  A lord could sleep with a bride on her wedding night--but it had to be a serf on his lands, not just any woman whose wedding he happened to ride past.

There's an interesting article on Wikipedia on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Droit_de_se...

(please note that in Latin the i & j could be interchangable--ius=jus)

Also here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_...

Answer 6

Rape.

Answer 7

In the movie, it was called Right of Primo Noctur (Right of First Night).

I don't know if this rule really existed or not.  May have just been a "movie thing".