Notas acerca de la "Tetragamia" de León VI, el sabio
Author
Ossandón Widow, María E.
Abstract
The Bizantine emperor Leo VI, who reigned between 866 and 912 AD was a disciple of Focius and acquired a great classic culture, as well as an almost enciclopedic knowledge. He also was a compassionate man, but in his
private life he was not very lucky. He became widower three consecutive
times. After the death of his third wife, he gol married once again. The church
did not accept that, since it was not allowed to gel married after the spouse' s
death. On the other hand, divorce was permitted by the civil law. This fact
itself was a contradiction, for divorce is a dissolved bond. In widowhood, the
link has finished sin ce one of the spouses has died.
The authoress studies the difficulties caused by the second and third Leon's marriages, and the legislation dictated by him, which allowed a third
marriage. He gol the grace and married Eudocia Baiane, his third wife. But
she soon died, too. Longing for a son who can be his inheritor, Leon got
married for the fourth time. But now the priest who acted in the wedding was
removed and the emperor was punished: he could no longer gel into the holly
places. After Leon' s death, his wife was cast out. There was di vis ion between
the priests and reprisals against !hose who hadjustified the fourth marriage.
The authoress shows in an annex four Leon's laws related to marriage.