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:
“Women hope men will change after marriage but they don’t; men hope women won’t change but they do.”
—Bettina Arndt (20th century)
“What thou art is mine;
Our state cannot be severed, we are one,
One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself.”
—John Milton (1608–1674)