WOMEN AND FEMALE CHILDREN IN MEDIEVAL SOCIETY

Srednjovjekovno društvo preuzima mnoge elemente rimskog prava u oblikovanju svojih zakona i običaja. U novom feudalnom poretku srednjeg vijeka Crkva je utjecala na odnos društva prema ženama i djeci te je ona bila nadležna za sva bračna pitanja muškarca i žene dok je za imovinsko – pravne odnose bila zadužena svjetovna vlast. Za sklapanje braka do Tridentskog koncila nije bio potreban blagoslov svećenika već se brak smatrao sklopljenim ukoliko su roditelji dali svoj pristanak te ukoliko je bio isplaćen miraz. Mirazom je upravljao suprug iako je miraz bio ženino vlasništvo. Na području Istre sklapaju se „brakovi na istarski način“ koji ženu čine ravnopravnim partnerom sa suprugom po pitanju imovine. Na drugim područjima žena je tijekom braka podložna volji muškarca, a nakon njegove smrti može upravljati imovinom do preudaje. Razvod braka nije bio moguć, ali je bila moguća „rastava od stola i postelje“. Žena na području Istre i dalmatinskih komuna bila je ograničena u poslovnoj djelatnosti, ali je žena u međurječju Save i Drave u tom aspektu imala više slobode. Unatoč strogim pravilima neke žene su se našle pred kaznenim progonom zbog raznih prekršaja poput preljuba, prostitucije i čedomorstva. Najniži slojevi društva servi i famule ovisili su o gospodaru, a njihov položaj se može pratiti tek od 13. stoljeća. Život djece ovisio je o obitelji gdje su rođene. Djeca nižih slojeva su pripremana za rad od ranog djetinjstva dok su djeca plemića ovisno o svom spolu pripremana za brak ili su se školovala. Srednjovjekovno društvo brinulo se o djeci o čemu svjedoče razne odredbe statuta poput odredbi o nasljeđivanju, osnivanju nahodišta i odredbama o nezakonitoj djeci.Medieval society took on many elements of Roman law in shaping its laws and customs. In the new feudal order of the Middle Ages, the Church influenced the attitude of society towards women and children, and it was responsible for all marital issues of men and women, while the secular authority was in charge of property and legal relations. The marriage did not require the blessing of a priest until the Council of Trent, but the marriage was considered concluded if the parents gave their consent and if the dowry was paid. The dowry was managed by the husband even though the dowry was the wife's property. In the area of Istria, "marriages in the Istrian way" are concluded, which make a woman an equal partner with her husband in terms of property. In other areas, a woman is subject to the will of the man during the marriage, and after his death, she can manage the property until remarriage. Divorce was not possible, but "separation from the table and the bed" was possible. Women in the area of Istria and Dalmatian communes were limited in business, but women in the interfluve of the Sava and Drava had more freedom in this aspect. Despite strict rules, some women have been prosecuted for various offenses such as adultery, prostitution, and infanticide. The lowest parts of society depended on the master, and their position can only be traced back to the 13th century. The lives of children depended on the family where they were born. Children of the lower classes were prepared for work from early childhood, while children of nobles, depending on their sex, were prepared for marriage or were educated. Medieval society took care of children, as evidenced by various provisions of the statute, such as the provisions on inheritance, the establishment of deposits, and the provisions on illegitimate children