Marriage was one of the fundamental institutions of Roman society, as it joined not only two individuals but two families.

Only from legal marriage {iustum matrimonium or iustae nuptiae) could legitimate children, who would be their father's heirs, be born. Thus it was important to define what constituted a legitimate marriage and what did not. Most of the juristic passages in this chapter are taken from Book 23 of the Digest (on marriage and dowry) or Book 24 (on gifts between husband and wife).

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