Concubinage

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Template:Cleanup-date Concubinage refers to the state of a couple living together as lovers with no permanent obligation (as by civil marriage or religious ceremony) or the state of a woman supported by a male lover who is married to another. In societies that permit slavery, it can refer to sexual relationships between slave-owners and their slaves (a form of sexual slavery). In ancient times, institutions such as the Roman government had strict rules governing marriage between individuals of differing social, economic or religious classes. In these situations, concubinage was the only quasi-legal relationship option available, particularly if the couple wanted to have children that would be viewed as 'legitimate' by society and local legal authorities.

In English, the first meaning is antiquated and is replaced by "living together" or, more formally, "cohabitation". It typically implies monogamy. The term mistress refers to a woman with an ongoing sexual relationship with a married man. Traditionally, in the Western world, a man and a woman living together without being married were socially shunned; in some jurisdictions, it was illegal. Today, cohabitation is common, especially among younger adults who no longer see the need to be married in today's society. Couples often live together before marrying or becoming engaged. Some call concubinage "college marriage."

Several US states legislatively forbid cohabitation between heterosexual partners. The law is not typically enforced. In France, Concubinage is the official term for cohabitation of heterosexual and (since 1998) homosexual couples. Some benefits of married couples or those bound by PACS (civil union) may then apply. In jurisdictions with common-law marriage, cohabiting partners may become common-law spouses after a certain length of time.

1 Concubine
2 Concubinus
3 See also
4 External links
5 References

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Concubine

The term concubine generally signifies relationships where the male is the dominant partner, socially and economically. In this model the male may also have one or more wives as well. Some historical Middle Eastern and East Asian rulers are examples of this pattern.

A woman attached to a man solely for reproduction, and who cares for the resulting children without any romantic relationship, is also considered a concubine. The father in this case may have a legal wife or other lovers.

Historically, concubinage was frequently voluntary, as it provided a measure of economic security for the woman involved. Involuntary, or servile, concubinage involves sexual slavery of one member of the relationship; typically the woman.

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Concubinus

In Roman times, this was the title of a young male slave who was chosen by his master as a bedmate. They were often referred to ironically in the literature of the time. Catullus assumes in the wedding poem 61.126 that the young manor lord has a concubinus who considers himself elevated above the other slaves, but will lose his post after the lord's marriage. Some of these relationships were described as having emotional depth. Caesar, in his account of the Spanish wars, relates a story of the rebel Scapula, who orders a freedman who had been his former concubinus to light his pyre.

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