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Morganatic marriage is a tradition in Germany where a lower-ranking person marries someone of higher rank but does not receive titles or inheritances. It is rare and associated with great love, and children do not receive titles. The term comes from the dowry given to the bride, and it is generally used in royal weddings. Sometimes a courtesy title may be offered, but it has no valid meaning.
Morganatic marriage is a marriage between two people of different rank where the person of lower rank is not granted titles, inheritances and other privileges of rank. This tradition is largely associated with Germany, although it pops up in the news from time to time; the marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker-Bowles, for example, sparked global interest in the concept. In that particular case, a morganatic marriage was not chosen, although the option may have been discussed.
Marriage is still considered legally binding; statutes against polygamy, for example, apply to people in a morganatic marriage. However, the lower-ranking person will not receive any royal titles, and the children of the union will not receive titles either. Since such a marriage is a clear disadvantage in many ways, marriages are relatively rare and are usually associated with great love or passion.
The term derives from the phrase matrimonium ad morganaticam, which means “marriage for the morning gift”. The term refers to a tradition in many Germanic countries, in which the bride is given a dowry of money and property to ensure that she and her children remain financially secure. In the case of a morganatic marriage, the “morning gift” is all that the bride receives, and this is clearly stated in the marriage contract. Because a morganatic marriage deprives children of their rights as heirs, the arrangement is illegal in many regions of the world.
The term is generally used to discuss royal weddings. In this case, the marriage is approved by members of the royal family, an important prerequisite for a valid royal marriage, but the status of one of the partners is considered unsatisfactory. In German history, morganatic marriage was often used by a king who wanted to marry a lady-in-waiting or other lower-ranking woman after the queen’s death. Since the royal heirs would have already been established by the previous marriage, the question of inheritance was a moot one.
In some cases, a courtesy title may be offered as part of a morganatic marriage. In this case, the lower-ranking spouse is given a title of respect, but the title has no valid meaning. As soon as the ranking spouse dies, the courtesy title will be dropped. Such a title can only be offered by the reigning monarch.
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