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Medieval mothers and custody.
19 September 2025 09:18 am Medieval mothers who were widowed were not always able to gain legal custody of their own children in some cases. Here's why.
Whilst on the surface, it sounds extremely harsh to remove a child from it's mother, the reasoning was reasonably sound to the medieval mind. Where it came to remarriage, it was a very real threat for the woman's child if he was male and entitled to inherit. Many new husbands wanted their own blood to inherit their lands, money or businesses and the sudden death of the wife's first children would solve that perceived problem.
On an emotional level, this was, of course, the most horrible of happenings. To have your own child taken away, possibly under false pretences if the child was an heir or heiress of some great wealth, must have been heartbreaking for both parent and child.
For more surprising facts about medieval women who were not married, you know where to look!
From Di Custodia Orphani, pp10-11. Le tres ancien coutoumier, part 1.
Whilst on the surface, it sounds extremely harsh to remove a child from it's mother, the reasoning was reasonably sound to the medieval mind. Where it came to remarriage, it was a very real threat for the woman's child if he was male and entitled to inherit. Many new husbands wanted their own blood to inherit their lands, money or businesses and the sudden death of the wife's first children would solve that perceived problem.
On an emotional level, this was, of course, the most horrible of happenings. To have your own child taken away, possibly under false pretences if the child was an heir or heiress of some great wealth, must have been heartbreaking for both parent and child.
For more surprising facts about medieval women who were not married, you know where to look!
