Saga - 2007, Qupperneq 92

Abstract
h r a f n k e l l a . j ó n s s o n
B E T T E R A G O O D M A N ’ S M I S T R E S S
T H A N M A R R I E D B A D L Y
The article discusses the marital customs of Icelandic chieftains during the
Middle Ages. It examines the question of whether concubinage was a recognised
form of cohabitation and whether it possibly had roots in the pagan period.
Moreover, the article explores the roles of marriage, concubinage, adultery and
other relationships in medieval Iceland, in addition to explaining the social and
economic status of the concubine during that period. The main conclusion is that
Icelanders seem to have recognised concubinage as a form of cohabitation along-
side marriage, if several examples in Icelandic documents about chieftains in the
12th and 13th centuries allow one to judge. These examples present the chieftains
as believing that they were permitted to have more than one female consort at a
time and as largely ignoring church restrictions on cohabitation. This typifies the
stance of Sturla Þórðarson and his fellows towards concubinage and children by
concubines, indicating that was probably the prevailing attitude. Furthermore, it
appears that such Icelandic chieftains as Jón Loftsson looked to Norse royalty for
models for Icelandic marital customs, and many instances may be found in the
sagas of the kings of Norway demonstrating their conviction that they had access
to any and all women. Much also suggests that concubines came from all levels
of society and during cohabitation had a protected place in the home, as well as
in society as a whole. The social status of children born through concubinage was
likewise as good as that of legitimate children, whereas children born in whore-
dom probably had a different and inferior legal status, not least of all socially.
Despite the church’s struggle against concubinage as a form of cohabitation, it
continued at least until the latter part of the 13th century.
hrafnkell a. jónsson92
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