Out of Love for My Kin : Aristocratic Family Life in the Lands of the Loire, 1000–1200

In "Out of Love for My Kin," Amy Livingstone examines the personal dimensions of the lives of aristocrats in the Loire region of France during the eleventh and twelfth centuries. She argues for a new conceptualization of aristocratic family life based on an ethos of inclusion. Inclusivity is evident in the care that medieval aristocrats showed toward their families by putting in place strategies, practices, and behaviors aimed at providing for a wide range of relatives. Indeed, this care ― and in some cases outright affection ― for family members is recorded in the documents themselves, as many a nobleman and woman made pious benefactions "out of love for my kin." In a book made rich by evidence from charters ― which provide details about life events including birth, death, marriage, and legal disputes over property ― Livingstone reveals an aristocratic family dynamic that is quite different from the fictional or prescriptive views offered by literary depictions or ecclesiastical sources, or from later historiography. For example, she finds that there was no single monolithic mode of inheritance that privileged the few and that these families employed a variety of inheritance practices. Similarly, aristocratic women, long imagined to have been excluded from power, exerted a strong influence on family life, as Livingstone makes clear in her gender-conscious analysis of dowries, the age of men and women at marriage, lordship responsibilities of women, and contestations over property.The web of relations that bound aristocratic families in this period of French history, she finds, was a model of family based on affection, inclusion, and support, not domination and exclusion. In Out Of Love For My Kin, Amy Livingstone Examines The Personal Dimensions Of The Lives Of Aristocrats In The Loire Region Of France During The Eleventh And Twelfth Centuries. She Argues For A New Conceptualization Of Aristocratic Family Life Based On An Ethos Of Inclusion. Inclusivity Is Evident In The Care That Medieval Aristocrats Showed Toward Their Families By Putting In Place Strategies, Practices, And Behaviors Aimed At Providing For A Wide Range Of Relatives. Indeed, This Care—and In Some Cases Outright Affection—for Family Members Is Recorded In The Documents Themselves, As Many A Nobleman And Woman Made Pious Benefactions 'out Of Love For My Kin.' In A Book Made Rich By Evidence From Charters—which Provide Details About Life Events Including Birth, Death, Marriage, And Legal Disputes Over Property—livingstone Reveals An Aristocratic Family Dynamic That Is Quite Different From The Fictional Or Prescriptive Views Offered By Literary Depictions Or Ecclesiastical Sources, Or From Later Historiography. For Example, She Finds That There Was No Single Monolithic Mode Of Inheritance That Privileged The Few And That These Families Employed A Variety Of Inheritance Practices. Similarly, Aristocratic Women, Long Imagined To Have Been Excluded From Power, Exerted A Strong Influence On Family Life, As Livingstone Makes Clear In Her Gender-conscious Analysis Of Dowries, The Age Of Men And Women At Marriage, Lordship Responsibilities Of Women, And Contestations Over Property. The Web Of Relations That Bound Aristocratic Families In This Period Of French History, She Finds, Was A Model Of Family Based On Affection, Inclusion, And Support, Not Domination And Exclusion. From Publisher's Website. Introduction : Aristocrats And Their Families -- The Lands Of The Loire, 1000-1200 -- Aristocratic Family Life -- Aristocratic Family Life Writ Small : The Fréteval, Mondoubleau, And Dives Kindred -- Inheritance : Diversity And Continuity -- Marriage And The Disposition Of Property : A Sign Of Status? -- Marriage : Practicalities, Ideologies, And Affection -- For Better, Not Worse : Wives And Husbands As Partners In Family And Lordship -- Contestations : Asserting And Reasserting A Place In The Family -- Conclusion : Out Of Love For My Kin. Amy Livingstone. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Acknowledgments ix Abbreviations xi Maps xii Introduction: Aristocrats and Their Families 1 1. The Lands of the Loire, 1000–1200 9 2. Aristocratic Family Life 27 3. Aristocratic Family Life Writ Small: The Fréteval, Mondoubleau, and Dives Kindred 60 4. Inheritance: Diversity and Continuity 87 5. Marriage and the Disposition of Property: A Sign of Status? 120 6. Marriage: Practicalities, Ideologies, and Affection 141 7. For Better, Not Worse: Wives and Husbands as Partners in Family and Lordship 170 8. Contestations: Asserting and Reasserting a Place in the Family 204 Conclusion: Out of Love for My Kin 234 Appendix. Genealogical Charts 237 1. The Counts of Chartres 2. The Viscounts of Châteaudun to c. 1200 3. The Viscounts of Chartres 4. The Vidames of Chartres 5. The Lords of Alluyes-Gouet 6. The Lords of Montigny 7. The Fréteval-Mondoubleau-Dives Kindred 8. The Lords of Fréteval 9. The Dives Family 10. The Lords of Mondoubleau 11. The Descendants of Ingelbald Brito and Domitilla of Vendôme 12. The Lords of Lisle 13. The Lords of Langeais Works Cited 247 Index 271