Germanic Tribes and Marriage Customs

[Daco Celtic]

According to the writings of Roman historian Tacitus in Germania (passage 18), Germanic tribes valued monogamy and were "unique among barbarians in being satisfied with one wife each". I thought this passage was interesting and wanted to get other peoples' thoughts. Any truth to the claim that they were one of the few cultures that had such marriage practices?


(continued)...coming to share a man's toils and dangers, that in peace and war alike she is to be his partner in all his suffering and achievements. That is the meaning of the term oxen, of the horse equipped for rider, of the gift of arms. It is on these terms she must live her life and bear her children: that she is receiving something that she must hand over unspoiled and treasured to her children, for her son's wives to receive in their turn and pass on to her grandchildren.

[Daco Celtic]

For those interested, this is the book

[Kamal900]

Not really surprising considering that Tacitus praised them for having sense of honor and morality in contrast to his fellow Romans.

[Daco Celtic]

Not really surprising considering that Tacitus praised them for having sense of honor and morality in contrast to his fellow Romans.

A lot of people believe the concept of monogamy in Europe started with Christianity, this would suggest that it predates that.

[RenaRyuguu]

interesting of course there was stuff before that obv

[Kamal900]

A lot of people believe the concept of monogamy in Europe started with Christianity, this would suggest that it predates that.

It was well respected among Germanic peoples which the Romans couldn't grasp the concept at that time. I guess Christianity had converted Germanic peoples more easily than other European groups because of that.

[Daco Celtic]

It was well respected among Germanic peoples which the Romans couldn't grasp the concept at that time. I guess Christianity had converted Germanic peoples more easily than other European groups because of that.

It makes me wonder how many other cultures had the practice of monogamy at the time of Tacitus and if it was a particularity unique in this era.

[Kamal900]

It makes me wonder how many other cultures had the practice of monogamy at the time of Tacitus and if it was a particularity unique in this era.

I guess we'll never know for sure. I wonder if say Slavs or Balts did that too.

[Daco Celtic]

I guess we'll never know for sure. I wonder if say Slavs or Balts did that too.

Could be but like you said, we'll never know. Often we aren't lucky enough to have an ancient written history on a particular people. I do believe there was some degree of monogamy among certain Native American tribes even if the custom wasn't commonplace.

[Óttar]

According to the writings of Roman historian Tacitus in Germania (passage 18), Germanic tribes valued monogamy and were "unique among barbarians in being satisfied with one wife each". I thought this passage was interesting and wanted to get other peoples' thoughts. Any truth to the claim that they were one of the few cultures that had such marriage practices?

While this observation may be entirely correct, we have to keep in mind that Tacitus was saying this just as much as a lamentation about his own contemporary Roman society. He may have seen his Roman contemporaries engaging in activities that were not conducive to monogamy, so perhaps he wrote this as a way of saying, 'Look how virtuous these Germans are compared to us...'

Just a thought.

A lot of people believe the concept of monogamy in Europe started with Christianity, this would suggest that it predates that.

Ironically, Charlemagne, (or Charles la Merde, or Karl der Scheisse as I like to call him) was himself a polygamist.