El noviazgo en la España Moderna y la importancia de la «palabra». Tradición y conflicto

The present work studies the strength that betrothals had in Western society during Modern Times. Even without having a sacra- mental nature and without being formally required for the celebration of a religious ceremony, the betrothal created in the collective mind a bond that was dif!cult to break. The promisethat was exchanged forced those who were involved to stay true to it until the very act of marriage. This appeared in this way in modern –ecclesiastical and secular– legislation, and it would be thus supported by popular opinion. Neither the Council of Trent nor the ecclesiastical institutions –despite the decree Tametsi– managed to avert the continued existence of its meaning, and common practice would continue to keep its value, adapting the spirit of the sacrament to everyday reality: the expression of free consent and its consummation through «carnal knowledge». The analysis of lawsuits for breach of promise of marriage reflects the persistence of an old social practice and reveals part of the historical scheme of the marriage process.