Annulment of Marriage
The annulment of the marriage of Eadwig and Ælfgifu is unusual in that it took place against their will, clearly politically motivated by the supporters of Dunstan. The Church at the time regarded any union within nine degrees of consanguinity as incestuous. In a population of 1 to 1.5 million people most of the marriages within England at the time would have been void, but only amongst the aristocracy would a full family tree be known. Edgar's relationship with his wife was precisely the same as Eadwig's and the consanguinity of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip is slightly closer.
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Famous quotes containing the word marriage:
“What is any respectable girl brought up to do but to catch some rich man’s fancy and get the benefit of his money by marrying him?—as if a marriage ceremony could make any difference in the right or wrong of the thing!”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)