RIGHT OF PERNADA: ORIGIN, MYTH OR REALITY? - HISTORY - 2025

The right of pernada is a supposed medieval practice in which the feudal lord had sexual relations with the servants of his domain when they were married on their wedding night.

It is not known for sure whether the practice was real or not and how often it might have happened. It has come to be thought that it was something rather symbolic. Linguistically it is known in various ways, but its base expression is the Latin IusPrimaeNoctis, whose literal translation would be "the right of the first night."

Also, in English it is known by the French expression droit du seigneur, although in France itself they refer to the practice as droit de cuissage.

Origin

There are different documents from the Middle Ages that suggest the occurrence of the right to pernada. However, during the Enlightenment there were a number of black legends surrounding the medieval period.

Such post-Middle Ages speeches are thought to be used to disparage everything related to the Middle Ages. Additionally, it is thought that the origin of the right of pernada is very old and Germanic in nature.

If it has occurred, it is clearly considered a form of sexual abuse. What is a fact is that sexual abuse practices have occurred frequently in ancient contexts and during the Latin American colony, and there are records of this.

The right to pernada is supposed to have originated in antiquity and was limited to aspects of a symbolic nature. According to some theories, this allegorical origin could even be traced to aspects of an anthropological nature.

Even if this myth is true or not, what we would have to point out first is why all this discourse has been woven around the right to pernada.

Alpha male hypothesis

It is a true fact that, in the animal realm and in human communities, especially in stages prior to culture, there is the category of the alpha male. Described in a very schematic and unorthodox way, the alpha male is the one who exercises dominance over the group.

For example, this occurs in groups of primates, among dogs, and among felines. Then, the rank of the feudal lord in the medieval order would come to be analogous to that of the alpha male.

This was in the sense that the lord was the one who exercised control of his environment, at the same time that he was the individual around whom the rest gathered. If this hypothesis is true, the root of the right of pernada would be extremely atavistic.

Initiation rituals as hypotheses

On the other hand, there would also be considerations at the limit of history and prehistory referring to the origin of the right to pernada. These are related to the rituals of sexual initiation that are characteristic of many cultures, including some that still survive in this era.

These rituals consisted of the initiation of the individual entering sexual life by a prominent member of the community or family. For example, this could be the mother or the shaman.

Pre-Columbian civilizations, as well as the South Pacific and Africa, had these practices. Anthropologists of the importance of Bronisław Malinowski or the philosopher and student of religions, Mircea Eliade, give an account of it.

The aforementioned are hypotheses of which there is no greater indication as to whether they are the true cause. In any case, it is more precise to trace the origins in the Germanic tribes and, later, in the Middle Ages itself.

Germanic Background

The Germanic antecedents refer primarily to the custom called beilager. This corresponded to the right of the lord of a certain sippe to share the nuptial bed with the newly married woman.

The concept of sippe was of a legal nature and expressed a set of individuals who were linked by a common male family trunk. These sippes had a purpose similar to that of medieval fiefdoms, in terms of self-defense.

In any case, the lord's right to have sexual relations with the bride on the first night was a reaffirmation of his rank. Likewise, this right could be replaced by the contribution of an amount of money by the newlywed.

The cash payment fluctuated and was higher the higher the social hierarchy of the bride. It must be inferred that if the practice came to be in the Middle Ages, this could have been an extension of the beilager.

Background in classical history

Another very important source that has come down to us of the possible occurrence of this atrocious practice is in Herodotus. What is related by Herodotus in his fourth Book on History points to the Libyan tribe of Adirmachids.

According to what was reported by the Greek historian and geographer, it was customary in that town to first bring all the brides to the king to be married, so that he could deflower them if it was his wish.

Also, classical mythology accounts for situations in which mortals are raped by gods. From this some mortal lineages originate, but this is only in the realm of the mythical.

Medieval signs in the law of pernada

There are no direct accounts of the practice occurring, just as it was not established in canon law. However, there are some indications by textual or legal means that would allow inferring that the right to pernada came to fruition at some point.

The Irish chronicle known as the Annals of Clonmacnoise exposes prerogatives of Viking rulers during the early Middle Ages. Said governors would have the privilege of first deflowering the betrothed on the wedding night.

However, these practices were somehow accepted in the Irish and Celtic tradition. Generally speaking, the Annals of Clonmacnoise give good evidence of the situation in Ireland from prehistoric times to the 15th century.

There is also a document from the year 1400 that comes from Switzerland. In this text, which is legal, it is established that the wives had to be delivered to the lord the first night, unless the husband agreed to pay a tax in cash.

In this case, the stipulated amount was 30 pence; Subsequent rewrites of said document even established the payment methods.

Coming from Spain, there are also indications that the practice was carried out. We will see this in detail below.

Right to stay in Spain

Of the conjectures that exist around the possible occurrence of the right to pernada, two come from Spain. With Spain also in the political context of feudalism, it is not surprising that its reality was similar to the rest of the European nations.

Towards the 12th century, legal documents belonging to Alfonso X of Castile leave indications that the right of pernada could have been made. In themselves, these legal documents state that fines of up to 500 salaries would be imposed on whoever violates the wedding night.

However, the key point is that in said legal document it is the Crown that reserves the right to judge the crime. Obviously, the idea of ​​protecting oneself among members of the nobility is implicit here.

Fernando the Catholic

Of Fernando el Católico there are also documents that indicate the possibility that this practice had occurred in Spain. This writing is part of the arbitration award of Guadalupe.

This text establishes that the gentlemen will not be able to sleep with a newly married woman the first night as a symbol of lordship. Probably the objective of the Crown was to limit abuses that were committed by the nobility.

Despite the fact that what was related to the right to pernada could not be fully verified, it is a fact that during the Middle Ages there were situations of sexual abuse by noble classes.

There were famous cases, such as the Remensa Peasant Rebellion. This happened in Catalonia between 1440 and 1486 and was caused, among other things, by grievances of a sexual nature on the part of the lords to the vassals.

Likewise, between 1467 and 1469 the Revolt of the Galician Irmandiños occurred, where there were also cases of rapes by gentlemen. It is important to mention that abuses of a sexual nature were not very frequent on the part of the nobles.

Myth or Reality?

As we have seen, there is currently no reliable and scientific evidence that this practice has occurred or not. This is the main obstacle to drawing definitive conclusions.

Historians suggest that it was more of a symbolic kind, as well as the fact that peasants required their lord's permission to marry.

This authorization involved a tax that had to be paid to the feudal lord himself. This tax received different names according to the language in which it was expressed, but the Latin word was cullagium, which meant "the collect."

The end of the right to leave

Ultimately, the intervention of monarchs with great power, such as Fernando the Catholic or Alfonso X, was putting an end to these supposed practices.

The coup de grace would be given by the Church through canon law and the protection that it gives to the institution of marriage. However, somehow abusive practices continued to occur in other contexts, such as those of the Latin American colony.

In these cases, the abuses occurred against indigenous people and later against peasants who worked for landowners.

Without a doubt, whether it has occurred or not, the right to pernada is a situation of abuse against the integrity of the other. The task of humanity is to transcend it in pursuit of a better civilization.

References

1. Brundage, JA (2009). Law, Sex, and Christian Society in Medieval Europe. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2. d'Avray, D. (2005). Medieval Marriage: Symbolism and Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3. Karras, RM (2017). Sexuality in Medieval Europe: Doing Unto Others. London: Taylor & Francis.
4. Malinowski, B. (1984). A scientific theory of culture. Madrid: Sarpe.
5. O'Callaghan, JF (2013). A History of Medieval Spain. New York: Cornell University Press.