Marriage of girls at 13 was quite unheard of among the lower classes. Children represented a labor force that was absolutely necessary for the lower classes. If a girl of thirteen married, it meant one less pair of hands in the fields, in the shop, or in the tavern. When a marriage was contracted, it was arranged by the parents. Generally there was some sort of benefit to both the father and prospective husband. The husband would receive a dowry from his bride’s father, and the father might gain an additional laborer for his lands or shop.
If a father refused permission for his daughter to marry, she was bound by his decision. Priests or preachers would not marry a couple refused such permission. Additionally, even when a young man had affections for a particular woman, if the father could not provide sufficient dowry the man would look elsewhere.
Social standing had a direct bearing on economic standing. The couple who eloped could look forward to a life of poverty, misery and despair. Young men would be cut off from their father’s inheritance. Soldiers would be drummed out of the military. Professional men would be denied business opportunities. Banks might be prompted by the offended father to foreclose on loans.
Young marriages were possible because the parents, specifically the fathers, had very strong legal rights to regulate them. They probably never happened because two fourteen year olds were in love, but rather because two merchants wanted to unite their business with a single heir, or because two sovereigns wanted to unite their kingdoms, or because two lords wanted to unite their estates. Such marriages usually occured in spite of the wishes of the teenage girl rather than because of them.
The argument that teen marriages were formerly accepted in Western Civilization is quite weak. Such marriages without the prevailing social conventions and legal protections are extremely dangerous to individuals and society.
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