More danico

The institution

The custom defined a secular marriage under Germanic law, distinct from ecclesiastical unions. It allowed polygyny, enabling men to hold multiple wives, though it was not exclusively polygynous. Consent from the bride's family was essential, sometimes gathered after an elopement. Children born from these relationships held equal inheritance rights and social rank as those from formal marriages. A husband could dismiss a wife to marry someone of higher status or dissolve the union entirely, though returning to a former wife was also documented.

Tension with the Church

As Christian norms spread, the practice faced increasing opposition from the Church, which labeled such unions as bastardy or concubinage. Legal systems shifted from personal law based on tribe to territorial law valid across nations. Temporal rulers sometimes used moral arguments against enemies' marriage customs. The Church did not require clergy presence at weddings until the Council of Trent in 1563, leaving earlier unions largely unregulated by religious officials.

Historical examples

Rollo, founder of the Norman dynasty, married Poppa more danico after capturing her. He later set her aside to marry Gisela, though records of this second marriage are doubtful, and he eventually returned to Poppa. His son William Longsword also had a union more danico with Sprota, producing his heir Richard I. Chroniclers like Adam von Bremen noted Swedish rulers keeping multiple wives, while Tacitus observed similar habits among upper-class Germanic tribes.

Etymology and language

The phrase translates to 'according to Danish custom'. 'More' derives from the Latin word for manner or custom, while 'danico' refers to the Norse or Danish tongue. Medieval chroniclers like Orderic Vitalis and William of Jumièges used the term to describe these unions. In the vernacular, it might have been called 'danésche manere' in Norman French or 'dansk skik' in Old Norse, reflecting the shared cultural identity of Scandinavian peoples.

How More danico is kept

Unions were formed under Germanic customary law without requiring church approval. The groom sought consent from the bride's parents, which could be secured after an elopement. Men could maintain multiple wives or dismiss them to pursue higher-status matches. Children inherited property and rank equally. The practice declined as Christian law replaced tribal customs.

When and where

Practiced during the Viking Age and throughout the Middle Ages, particularly in the ninth to eleventh centuries.

Most prominent in Normandy, Iceland, and among Scandinavian tribes in northern Europe.

Who takes part

• Husband: Could dismiss wives or take new ones; managed multiple unions.
• Bride's parents: Provided necessary consent for the marriage to be valid.
• Children: Inherited rank and property equally regardless of the mother's status.
• Chroniclers: Recorded the unions and debated their legitimacy.

Then and now

The custom died out as the Christian Church discouraged it and territorial laws replaced tribal customs.

Questions people ask about More danico

See also

Ghost marriage in South SudanA union where a living brother stands in for a deceased groom to secure lineage and wealth.Marriage à la façon du paysThe common-law unions between European fur traders and Indigenous women that shaped North American history.Posthumous marriageA union performed when one or both partners have died, kept in parts of Asia and permitted by law in a few nations.KransekakeA towering almond ring cake central to Scandinavian wedding and holiday traditions.

Good reading and sources

• More danico on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.