Concubinatus

A natural marriage, as contradistinguished from the justae nuptiae, or justum matrimonium, the civil marriage. The concubinatus was the only marriage which those who did not enjoy the jus connubii could contract. Although this natural marriage was authorized and regulated by law, yet it produced none of those important consequences which flowed from the civil marriage; nor was the wife entitled to the honorable appellation of mater-familias, but was designated by the name of concubina. After the exclusive and aristocratic rules relative to the connubium had been relaxed, the concubinatus fell into disrepute and the law permitting it was repealed by a constitution of the Emperor Leo, the Philosopher, in the year 886 of the Christian era. See "Pater-Familias."

A sort of unequal mar riage which existed under Roman law between a man of superior rank and a woman of inferior rank. It did not raise the wife to the husband's level: the children were not legitimate, but they could require their father to support them, and, in Justinian's time, had a qualified right of intestate succe to him. They followed their mother's condition and could inherit from her. A man could not have more than one concubine at a time. It was abolished by the Emperor Leo the Philosopher in A. D. 887. Bryce, Studies in Hist., etc. See Marriage.

In Romanlaw. An informal, unsanctioned, or “natural” ware Tiage, as contradistinguislied from the juste nuptie, or justum matrimonium, the civil Marriage.