Before marriage was used for two families, or two kingdoms, sealing a political-economic contract. Obviously these guys are not married by choice, and less in love, got married by their parents' decision. This was normal and well seen. Only Parents who decide to marry their children.
But there were some young "rebels" who did not like this a lot choose not to marry. Many young lovers, who could not get the approval of parents escaped. Therefore sought a legal way to stop these young lovers. The idea was to see these acts as a crime, for which it described as: Rapture
Definition:
The rape is the crime which removes or retains a person through force, intimidation or fraud, with intent to impair their sexual integrity.
It was not always the same definition. What is interesting is to see how in history, the definition of rape, it was shaping for these young lovers fall into this category of crime.
"In ancient times the abduction was considered the theft of a woman, and it was to get your home or place to carry it was usually guarded by another raptor, this in order marry her.
The Rapture could be by force or by seduction. The first was women be violent against their will, the second was when the woman did not put resistance and was also aware of the abduction and to accede to the abduction, the abductor used promises and flattery. "
It's funny how the choice of abduction by seduction is considered kidnapping. The woman did not resist and is conscious, but still remains rapture. Clearly these were cases of love, where lovers ran away to be together.
"In the reign of Constantine (311-337 AD), are compounded by the pain and the rape was punishable by death penalty for those who had committed the offense, and if abducted women had consented to the offense, the penalty was also applied on it.
For the parents of the woman had caught the man who stole his daughter, the criminal should be under the power and their service or the woman herself, not being able to marry it; and if any of that had already made, both should die. "
not note it in the well when they were escaping abduction or partners. If the punishment was to kill both, clearly were lovers on the run, or not be fair to the poor woman who was kidnapped over.
"If the couple who had contracted marriage and managed to flee and obtained the protection of the refuge in the church bishop, and yet they were prisoners allowed to live, but both would be servants of the parents of the woman who was taken by force although they were the parents of the woman who had kidnapped his own daughter as a servant. "
Again a ridiculous and senseless punishment for a woman who was allegedly abducted. Clearly, there is punishment in case of escaping from their parents love. Punishment is both are servants of the same. Another way to discourage them.
"For the church the abduction was a crime which had been robbed or a woman against her will, by force or by seduction and against the wishes of their parents or guardians to marry."
Here is a detail that is not for nothing less. The church put the word marriage in the definition of rape as a primary objective thereof.
During the seventeenth century on several occasions observed that the abduction was committed with the consent of the woman and, moreover, it agreed to have sex with her abductor. But apart from that she had accepted the contact sexual voluntarily or not, the Church not forgive the rape, so it was still considered a mortal sin.
The kidnappers were considered freaks of nature and religion. As such, should receive the death penalty even if they had not used force, but flattery and promises, since it was assumed that women did not have the ability to recognize the sin that might be committed, they were considered gullible and victims of raptor
So, the Church also looked at the Rapture not only as an offense that disqualifies was a shame, but as an impediment to the raptor could marry the woman abducted to it was only when the abduction was committed with intent to marry, therefore, how to prevent the continuation of committing, was to prevent the marriage could take place. What defended the Church was not the right that parents have about their children, but they had the right to choose freely with those who wanted to marry.
The young lovers whose parents did not accept their relationship, away from their families, escaped from a property of the parents free to enjoy their love. The price was to commit the crime of rape where both would be punished, even with death, if necessary.
The number of couples who died for their love is priceless and will never know.
But because each time were more young people who rebelled against their parents and fought for their love, is that the law and the church were forced to change the definition of rape and his punishment.
Today we can choose with whom to marry, and that is not seen as a crime, thanks to them.
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| Detail of Bernini's marble sculpture "The Rape of Proserpine" |
promised 
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