Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 632
The law issued by king Ervig (AD 680-687) forbids Jews to marry persons related to them or to marry without the benediction of a priest. The codification is known as the Lex Visigothorum (issued and revised several times between 569 and 702).
XII.3.8
 
VIII. FLAVIUS GLORIOSUS ERVIGIUS REX.
 
Ne Iudei ex propinquitate sui sanguinis conubia ducant, et ut sine benedictione sacerdotis nubere non audeant.
 
[...] Illud tamen modis omnibus observandum fore precipimus, ut, si quis Iudeus sive Iudea noviter nuptiale festum celebrare voluerint, non aliter quam cum premisso dotis titulo, quod in christianis salubri institutione preceptum est, vel sacerdotali benedictione intra sinum sancte ecclesie percepta coniugium cuiquam ex his adire permittimus. [...]
 
Here follows the punishments on persons who have married in a wrongful manner.
 
(ed. Zeumer 1902: 435-436)
XII.3.8
 
VIII. GLORIOUS KING FLAVIUS ERVIG
 
A Jew shall not marry a person nearly related to him by blood, or contract marriage without the benediction of a priest.
 
[...] The following, moreover, we direct shall be carefully observed in every respect, namely: that if any Jew, of either sex, after being converted, should desire to marry, he or she shall not be allowed to do so, unless a dowry is given, and a marriage contract entered into, as has been prescribed in the case of Christians; nor shall such ceremony be permitted, where it is not accompanied with the sacerdotal benediction within the bosom of the Church. [...]
 
There follows a passage on  punishments on persons who have married in a wrongful manner.
 
(trans. P.S.Scott 1910: 388-389)

Discussion:

This is one of thirty-four laws that are the original contribution of King Ervig to the codification revised during his reign. Twenty eight of this laws concerned Jews (Collins 2004: 236).
 

Place of event:

Region
  • Iberian Peninsula

About the source:

Title: Lex Visigothorum, Liber iudiciorum, Liber iudiciorum sive Lex Visigothorum
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
Lex Visigothorum is a codification of law first composed during the reign of King Leovigild (569-586) on the basis of the Code of Euric, but the origin of all extant manuscripts is its revised version from the reign of King Recceswinth (649-672). The codification was also enlarged in the times of King Ervig (680-687) and Ecgica (687-702).
Edition:
K. Zeumer ed., Liber iudiciorum sive lex Visigothorum, Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Leges nationum Germanicarum 1, Hannover, Leipzig 1902, 33-456.
 
Translation:
The Visigothic Code (Forum Judicum), trans. S.P. Scott, Boston 1910
Bibliography:
R. Collins, Visigothic Spain, 409-711, Oxford, OX, UK; Malden, MA, USA 2004.
J. Juster, "The Legal Condition of the Jews Under the Visigothic Kings Part I", Israel Law Review 11 (1976), 259-287.
J. Juster, "The Legal Condition of the Jews Under the Visigothic Kings Part II", Israel Law Review 11 (1976), 391-414.
J. Juster, "The Legal Condition of the Jews Under the Visigothic Kings Part III", Israel Law Review 11 (1976), 563-590.
K. Schäferdiek, Die Kirche in den Reichen der Westgoten und Suewen bis zur Errichtung der westgotischen katholischen Staatskirche, Berlin 1967.

Categories:

Ritual activity - Blessing marriages
    Private law - Secular
      Relation with - Jew
        Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER632, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=632