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Marriage, Illegitimacy, and Rural Tradition in the Canton of Glarus: Insights into Another Time

Marriage in the Glarus region from the 17th to the 19th century was not just a private matter, but a complex social process shaped by politics, religion, economic constraints and local traditions. During this period, social values deeply rooted in the structures of contemporary society were reflected in the rules and practices surrounding marriage.



Marriage vows as the basis of marriage

 

One of the most striking features of married life in Glarus was the importance of the marriage vow. Until the 18th century, the church wedding had a rather subordinate status. A marriage vow was considered to be almost legally binding and was often synonymous with the actual marriage. However, this promise was informal, which repeatedly led to disputes. Objects known as “marriage pledges” or witnesses could be used to prove the validity of a promise of marriage. The legal consequences of a broken promise were severe, especially if children resulted.

 

The aim of the authorities' decrees was to regulate premarital relationships and to avoid unwanted consequences such as illegitimate children or social conflicts. Pregnancy often led to marriage, even against the father's will. The authorities sometimes resorted to drastic measures here: men who wanted to evade responsibility were forced to marry their partner. Even weddings in the absence of a fugitive groom were possible, in which case the woman was allowed to dispose of his property.

 

Control and regulation: the role of the authorities

 

The strict control of marriage served primarily to prevent poverty and social unrest. Marriages with outsiders were particularly regulated. Strangers often had to deposit large sums of money in order to avoid burdening the community in the event of impoverishment. Women who married strangers often lost their citizenship and were expelled from their home community.

 

Premarital sexuality was also under strict observation. Although it was common among the population to consider intimate relationships after a marriage vow as acceptable, the authorities saw this differently. Measures such as fines or the prohibition to wear a wreath of honor at the wedding were intended to curb premarital intimacies. Pastors were even encouraged to check the pregnancy of the bride and had to report “misbehavior” to the synod.

 

Industrialization and the transformation of marriage behavior

 

With the industrialization of the 19th century, marriage patterns changed. While the age of marriage increased at the end of the 17th century due to economic uncertainty, it decreased again with the advent of the textile industry. The economic participation of women helped to secure prosperity and enabled couples to marry earlier. The new economic dynamism influenced not only the age of marriage, but also perceptions of marriage and family. So-called “early cohabitation” increased, and illegitimate pregnancies rose particularly in Protestant communities.

 

Industrialization also brought about a geographical opening that affected the choice of partner. While in the Catholic part of the Glarnerland partners often came from the local area, in the Protestant part a broader exchange within the canton was common. However, marriages with foreigners remained rare due to strict financial and legal hurdles.

 

Archaic Values and Social Security

 

A notable feature of the Glarner marriage model was the protection of women and children. The pressure to marry and the strong role of the marriage court kept the number of illegitimate children extremely low. While in neighboring cantons such as Zurich or St. Gallen, illegitimate children were often marginalized and lacked civil rights, the practice in Glarus offered social security. Women and children had access to family networks that were crucial in times of economic hardship.

 

Legal Regulation in the 19th Century

 

In 19th-century Canton Glarus, the rules surrounding marriage, family and moral issues were anchored in a mixture of cantonal laws, municipal regulations and ecclesiastical ordinances. These regulations reflected the strong local autonomy and influence of the Reformed Church, which played a central role in the Glarnerland.

 

The so-called Landrecht was a collection of laws and regulations that governed life in the canton of Glarus. It also contained provisions on marriage and the settlement of disputes arising from marital or premarital relationships. Aspects such as the marriage vow, the treatment of illegitimate children and the role of the authorities in enforcing marital obligations were particularly well documented.

 


The development of marriages in the 20th century

 

In the 20th century, the strict control of marriage by the authorities decreased. The influence of the church and state authorities on marriage weakened, particularly due to the introduction of more liberal laws and the influence of modern lifestyles. Forced marriages, as were common in the 18th and 19th centuries in the case of pre-marital pregnancies, largely disappeared.

 

With modernization and increasing individualization, the average age at marriage initially rose again, particularly in the first half of the 20th century. This was associated with growing economic pressure, as young couples often wanted to achieve financial stability before marrying. At the same time, better mobility and urbanization expanded the geographical range of partner selection. Increasingly, partners were found outside the traditional, local social environment.

 

Legal developments had a profound influence on marriage. The introduction of the new Swiss Civil Code in 1912 standardized marriage laws in Switzerland and weakened local peculiarities, such as those still common in the Glarus region in the 19th century. Later reforms, such as the introduction of freedom of marriage and the equality of husband and wife in marriage (enshrined in the 1981 constitutional amendment), created the legal basis for a more modern marriage.

 

 

Conclusion

 

The Glarnerland marriage model shows how closely law, custom, and social structure were intertwined. It provided protection and security for women and children, but at the same time enforced conformity. Industrialization brought new challenges, but did not change the fundamental role of marriage as a central pillar of society. The practice in the Glarnerland of regarding the marriage vow and the marriage ceremony as binding elements of social order testifies to a deep understanding of the importance of familial and economic stability – and thus provides valuable insights into Switzerland's social history. In 19th-century Canton Glarus, the regulations surrounding marriage, family and moral issues were anchored in a mixture of cantonal laws, municipal regulations and ecclesiastical ordinances. In the 20th century, marriages in the Glarnerland changed from a rigid system shaped by tradition and authority to a more flexible and individualized institution. However, marriage remained a central element of the social order, even though it was increasingly supplemented by other forms of living together. These developments reflect the modernization of Swiss society as a whole, with local peculiarities of the Glarnerland increasingly fading into the background.

 

 

Source: 

  • Anne-Lise Head-König, Eheversprechen, Illegitimität und Eheschliessung im Glarnerland vom 17. bis 19. Jahrhundert: obrigkeitliche Verordnung und ländliches Brauchtum, in: Jahrbuch des Historischen Vereins des Kantons Glarus, Band 76 (1996), 147 ff.

  • Landsbuch des Kantons Glarus, 1. Theil, 2. Titel (Ehe), Glarus 1861

  • Landsbuch des Kantons Glarus, 3. Theil, Kapitel XI (Scheidung), Glarus 1861

 

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