Women, Rank, and Marriage in the British Aristocracy, 1485-2000 : An Open Elite?

Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. For British aristocratic women from the beginning of the Tudor era to the end of the First World War, there was nothing more important than making a suitable marriage to a groom of high rank. Failure could well have catastrophic consequences. It was the marriages of these noble daughters, far more than the unions of their brothers, which ensured a family's continued place within the titled ranks. Through an analysis of the marriage patterns of thousands of aristocratic women as well as an examination of diaries, letters, and memoirs, Schutte demonstrates that the sense of rank identity as manifested in these women's marriages remained remarkably stable for centuries, until it was finally shattered by the First World War Cover 1 Series 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 9 List of Tables 10 Acknowledgements 11 Introduction: Marriages of Aristocratic British Women and Stability of Rank Identity, 1485–2000 13 Prologue: Identity and Rank 23 Part I: The Statistical Side of the Story 33 1 The Basic Marriage Patterns 36 2 "British" Marriages 70 3 An Open Aristocracy? 80 Part II: The Less Statistical Aspects of the Story 95 4 The Marriage Market 97 5 Practical Considerations in Securing a Husband 116 6 Kinship Groups 133 7 Elopement and Defiant Matches: Marrying Outside the Bounds of Propriety 143 Conclusion 170 Biographical Appendix 174 Notes 202 Bibliography 260 Index 277 Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction: Marriages of Aristocratic British Women and Stability of Rank Identity, 1485–2000....Pages 1-10 Prologue: Identity and Rank....Pages 11-20 Front Matter....Pages 21-23 The Basic Marriage Patterns....Pages 25-58 “British” Marriages....Pages 59-68 An Open Aristocracy?....Pages 69-83 Front Matter....Pages 85-86 The Marriage Market....Pages 87-105 Practical Considerations in Securing a Husband....Pages 106-122 Kinship Groups....Pages 123-132 Elopement and Defiant Matches: Marrying Outside the Bounds of Propriety....Pages 133-159 Conclusion....Pages 160-163 Back Matter....Pages 164-290 Through An Analysis Of The Marriage Patterns Of Thousands Of Aristocratic Women As Well As An Examination Of Diaries, Letters, And Memoirs, This Book Demonstrates That The Sense Of Rank Identity As Manifested In These Women's Marriages Remained Remarkably Stable For Centuries, Until It Was Finally Shattered By The First World War. By Kimberly Schutte.