In the middle ages, was a man allowed to have multiple wives?

Answer 1

Only if he was a lawbreaker - it was considered the harshest sentence in the book.

Cheers!

Answer 2

No. a very big no.
if a man did have multiple wives, he would probably end up dying.

however, a king could have concubines if he managed to keep it quiet, but as soon as any one found out... pain usually ensued and the king had the bigger army.

until the time of henry the VIII most places in europe were loosely run by the catholic church and that meant that no one could even divorce their wife. Henry the 8th changed the ruling of england from the catholic church, to the church of england (the main difference between them at the time, that you could get a divorce). that was the closest that it ever got in the middle ages.

Answer 3

Only a law breaker can.
What i mean is a man can have multiple wives he he can afford but he is legally not allowed.

Answer 4

Depends on what country and what religion the man in question lived in.

Polygamy was (and remains) common in most Moslem countries, as well as large portions of Africa and Asia.

However, in most of Medieval Europe, under influence of the Christian church, polygamy was definitely not allowed.

Answer 5

Depends where he lived. In Christian Europe it was expressly forbidden. In Muslim lands it was encouraged. Most places in between would not have allowed it; polygamy is a minority approach.

Answer 6

polygamy ws observed in south east asia specially in india....
read it in history tht islam allowed a person to marry seven times, ii.e., he can hv 7 wives.....
and it still exists in sum backward places of India and africa

Answer 7

Most folks couldn't afford one wife.

Answer 8

depends if you were someone of importance or not. royalty or knights maybe.