An additional wrinkle -- in at least some places and periods where this held true -- was that your maternal uncle was liable to be of higher rank.
See *The Knight, the Lady and the Priest* by Georges Duby for details. You married off one son, to ensure an heir, and all the daughters you could, for alliances. This put the fathers of bridegrooms in a strong negotiating position, and most daughters had to marry below their birth simply to find one.
Your maternal uncle was therefore also apt to be your liege lord.
That's extremely interesting, and this looks like a fantastic source — thank you for suggesting it! Maybe don't try "pull my finger" in those cases then...
This still seems a bit true -- most of the men I know are closer to their maternal family than their paternal. Certainly in my husband's family, including his mother's brother and his children. Also true among his sister's children. Same with my best male friend's uncles.
My brother is still uncle to his ex-wife's niece and her kids even though he and the ex split up 25 years ago.
Fascinating article! By contrast, among some Alaska Native peoples, society was divided into two moieties (typically Eagle and Raven), and you could only marry members of the opposite moiety. As matrilineal societies, clan descent was through your mother, and thus you would share the clan of your mother's brother, whereas your father would be in a different clan. So your mother's brother would be the "father figure," imparting the family lore and heirlooms to his nieces and nephews.
Absolutely! And I love the poetic understatement in that last bit — for those who don't know Old English, Beowulf is saying: "I wasn't any more hateful to [Hrethel] while he lived than any of his children"
An additional wrinkle -- in at least some places and periods where this held true -- was that your maternal uncle was liable to be of higher rank.
See *The Knight, the Lady and the Priest* by Georges Duby for details. You married off one son, to ensure an heir, and all the daughters you could, for alliances. This put the fathers of bridegrooms in a strong negotiating position, and most daughters had to marry below their birth simply to find one.
Your maternal uncle was therefore also apt to be your liege lord.
(Early medieval times only.)
That's extremely interesting, and this looks like a fantastic source — thank you for suggesting it! Maybe don't try "pull my finger" in those cases then...
This still seems a bit true -- most of the men I know are closer to their maternal family than their paternal. Certainly in my husband's family, including his mother's brother and his children. Also true among his sister's children. Same with my best male friend's uncles.
My brother is still uncle to his ex-wife's niece and her kids even though he and the ex split up 25 years ago.
Fascinating article! By contrast, among some Alaska Native peoples, society was divided into two moieties (typically Eagle and Raven), and you could only marry members of the opposite moiety. As matrilineal societies, clan descent was through your mother, and thus you would share the clan of your mother's brother, whereas your father would be in a different clan. So your mother's brother would be the "father figure," imparting the family lore and heirlooms to his nieces and nephews.
So interesting. Thank you!
Absolutely! And I love the poetic understatement in that last bit — for those who don't know Old English, Beowulf is saying: "I wasn't any more hateful to [Hrethel] while he lived than any of his children"