Marriage of State

A marriage of state in ancient use is a diplomatic marriage or union between two members of different nation-states or internally, between two power blocks, usually in authoritarian societies and is a practice which dates back into pre-history, as far back as early Grecian cultures in western society, and of similar antiquity in other civilizations. The fable of Helen of Troy may be the best known pre-historic tale reporting an incidence of surrendering a female of a ruling line to gain peace or shore up alliances of state between nation-states headed by small oligarchies or acknowledged royalty.

Read more about Marriage Of State:  Early European Marriages, Importance of Religion, Early Marriage Negotiations

Famous quotes containing the words marriage and/or state:

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    If I place love above everything, it is because for me it is the most desperate, the most despairing state of affairs imaginable.
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