Palingamní sňatky a otázka vdovství ve městech Frýdku a Místku
Repeat marriages and the case of widows in Frýdek and Místek

Summary/Abstract: The subject‑matter of this article constitutes second and subsequent marriages and are examined from a demographic point of view on the basis of register books, last wills and pre‑marriage contracts. The author concentrates on a demographic significance, as well as the reasons of repeat marriages in the case of the city dwellers of Frýdek and Místek. According to the pre‑marriage contracts, the widows often got remarried because their economic and social position did not allow for independence. Also the widowers searched for women because in general they could not cope with economy. Thus, repeat marriages of widows and widowers constituted about 25—35% of general relationships in both cities. There were a few more of such marriages in Místek in the 18th century. It could be connected with a high indicator of mortality caused by the plague epidemic between 1713 and 1715. A lower number of second and subsequent marriages in Frýdek in the 18th century, on the other hand, could also be caused by invalid data in register books. The number of repeat marriages decreased in the 19th century.

• Details
• Contents