Maritagium

The portion which is given with a daughter in marriage. Also the power which the lord or guardian in chivalry had of disposing of hls infant ward in matrimony.

— Maritagium habere. To have the free disposal of an heiress in marriage.

I. I.

In feudal and old English law. Marriage; the right of a lord to dispose of his infant ward in marriage; a portion given with a woman to her husband in marriage. Maritagiuin liabere: to have the free disposal of an heiress in marriage.

A daughter's marriage portion. In feudal law, the right in a lord, of whom land was held by knight-service, to control the marriage of his vassal's daughter. See Feud; Marital; Marriage, 2. MABITATi.3 Pertaining or belonging to a husband: as, marital rights, and duties. See Jas, Mariti; Separate, 2.

/. Marriage.

Dowry; a portion given with a daughter on her marriage; also, in feudal law, the right which the lord had to control the marriage of his vassals' daughters, or to exact a fee or tribute th ereon. The right was formerly enjoyed by the lord of whom lands were held in knight-service, of disposing of his infant wards in matrimony, at their peril of forfeiting to him, in case of their refusing a suitable match, a sum of money equal to the value of the marriage; that is, what the suitor was willing to pay down to the lord as the price of marrying his ward; and double the market value was to be forfeited, if the ward presumed to marry without the lord's consent. Cowel; 2 Bl. Com. 70.

Anciently that portion which was given with a daughter in marriage. During the existence of the fendal law, it was the right which the lord of the fee had, under certain tenures, to dispose of the daughters of his vassal in marriage.