The study of the social and cultural history of marriage is crucial to understanding the history of human cultural development. Extant since the earliest civilizations, the institution of marriage has endured over time fulfilling many personal and social functions.

Though different societies follow different systems and forms of marriages and the institution has constantly evolved in response to changing social and political forces, the essential functions of marriage remain the same in almost all communities. Marriage primarily offers a structural framework for inheritance of property, division of labor, the rearing of children and assurance of companionship.

A study of the history of marriage reveals that the marriage practices and systems followed by Europe during the 16th century was greatly influenced by Christian values of love and faithfulness.

Unlike in the earlier centuries when marriage was mainly considered as a means to gain capital and increase property holdings, by the 16th century the most important function of marriage was to provide a stable environment for raising children, as the family organization emerged as a basic labor force.

These changing concepts and functions of marriage brought about radical changes in the way marriages were negotiated and spousal relationships were established.

Portraying family lives in 16th century European societies from close quarters, The Return of Martin Guerre, a French movie by Daniel Vigne and Magdalena and Balthasar, a novel by Steven Ozment, provides ample reference on the pattern and nature of marriage relationship prevalent among the European communities during the century.

The paper presents a review of the same and attempts to analyze if the two cases present the typical 16th century European marriage.

The Return of the Martin Guerre portrays the mystery of a young man who unexpectedly returns after abandoning his wife for about nine years, and attempts to resume his marriage. Set in 1542 rural France, the movie opens with the marriage of Bertrande de Rois and Martin Guerre, both about 14 years old.

The marriage is typical of the kind of arranged marriages of the time, negotiated by parents for convenience, where the fundamental issues are property and progeny. The marriage isn’t successful as the solitary and shy Martin refuses to make love to his charming and kind wife.

The relatives perform various kinds of exorcisms for progeny, considered the most essential function of marriage in 16th century Europe, as a result of which a son is born. However the moody and surly young Martin runs away from home, abandoning his wife and son. [Vigne, 1982]

When Martin returns unexpectedly after nine long years, the faithful Bertrande, who has patiently waited for him welcomes him warmly. Martin, who is now a changed man, also loves his wife – they share a strong sexual intimacy, they have two more children and their relationship develops into a happy and intense emotional intimacy.

Here one can see the influence of the rising protestant reformation of the later 1500s, characterized by the strong focus of family values such as love, sexual faithfulness and child rearing. [Vigne, 1982]

The story takes a turn when Martin is indicted as an imposter and he claims his share of farm profits; his jealous and greedy uncle takes the matter to court. Martin’s uncle has cunningly married Bertrande’s widowed mother with a view to consolidating his assets, and viewed Martin’s return as a set back to his plans. His marriage is also typical of the marriages negotiated during the period, where marriage is often seen as a means to secure wealth and property.

While the two marriage relationships – that of Bertrande de Rois and the transformed Martin Guerre and that of Martin’s uncle and Bertrande’s widowed mother—are essentially different in nature considering the emotional relationship between the couples, both are essentially similar in the nature of power relationship.

In both the marriages, the man dominated the woman; man typically owned woman. Bertrande, who is confused with Martin’s identity, is seen at times defending him for his love for her, but on other occasions condemning him with her silence, being powerless to directly question him. [Vigne, 1982]
While The Return of Martin Guerre, addresses more complex issues of property, human rights, social and personal roles of individuals apart from the issues of sexual faithfulness and love in marriage, Steven Ozment’s Magdalena and Balthasar-- An Intimate Portrait of Life in Sixteenth-Century Europe, as the title suggests portrays more personal issues of love and companionship in marriage, an emerging model of marriage in 16th century European societies.

Steven Ozment tactfully combines factual evidence with logical reasoning in presenting the seemingly real relationship of a sixteenth century German merchant and his wife. Set in the later half of the 16th century, Magdalena and Balthasar focus on the suffering associated with long distance marriage that was common during the time, the Black Plague that spread in Germany in the 1580s, the death of the only child of the couple and the business and love that helped the two lovers to together.

The nature of relationship between Magdalena and Balthasar is characterized by a very strong love for one another, as unusual in the marriages until that time, being often negotiated for material gain and access to property. During the long periods of separation when Balthasar had to go away on business trips, they exchanged love letters. Magdalena receives Balthasar's letters with ‘longing and heartfelt joy’ as ‘a true gift from the Christ Child’ [Ozment, 28]

Balthasar is also devoted to his wife: “As I had carefully considered and calculated the mail delivery with which your reply to my letter must come, I waited with longing for a letter last Sunday. [Ozment, 28] The emerging Christian emphasis of chastity and love in marriages is apparent in the relationship between Magdalena and Balthasar.

The love and dedication of the couple to their only son – the Little Balthasar—is a feature typical of the 16th century marriages influenced by protestant reformation, which considered child rearing as the central function of marriage. While Balthasar tried to influence the behavior of the little one by using gifts as incentive, Magdalene is devoted to his training, education and treatment. However, the little one dies of plague, leaving the husband and wife bereft of any purpose in life.

The emerging concepts of family as the basic labor unit seems to have influenced the family of Magdalena and Balthasar, as Magdalena involves in Balthasar’s business of selling cloth and food. Magdalena, while sharing an intimate emotional relationship with Balthasar, begins to assume a certain power, though not equal to that of Balthasar, as she is entrusted with business and home ownership. Magdalena’s business initiatives in her husband’s trade is typical of the 16th century patriarchal society, wherein a woman had to join her husband’s trade as she was not allowed to partake in the apprenticeship system.

As one analyzes the marriage relationships portrayed in The Return of Martin Guerre and Magdalena and Balthasar, it becomes evident that while 16th century marriages were essentially negotiated for convenience by parents with an aim of securing wealth and property, Christian values such as sexual faithfulness, love and the focus of protestant reformation on child rearing as well as the emerging concept of considering family as a labor force have greatly shifted the nature and primary purpose of marriage from property inheritance to child rearing and companionship.

Works Cited :

Ozment, Steven Magadalena and Balthasar: An Intimate Portrait of Life in Sixteenth-Century Europe New Haven: Yale University Press. 1986

Vigne, Daniel. The Return Of Martin Guerre. Fox-Lorber-- FLV5008. 1982