Editing Concubinage (section)

==Characteristics==
Forms of concubinage have existed in all cultures, though the prevalence of the practice and the rights and expectations of the persons involved have varied considerably, as have the rights of the offspring born from such relationships, a concubine's legal and social status, their role within a household and society's perceptions of the institution.{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|p=467}} A relationship of concubinage could take place voluntarily, with the parties involved agreeing not to enter into marriage, or involuntarily (i.e. through [[slavery]]).{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008}} In slave-owning societies, most concubines were slaves,<ref>{{harvnb|Historical Dictionary of Slavery and Abolition|2014|p=122}}:In almost all slave-using societies, the highest prices are paid for beautiful young women. Some became high-priced prostitutes or companions, but most became concubines...Not all concubines were slaves but most were.</ref> also called "slave-concubines".<ref name=Lerner/> This institutionalization of concubinage with female slaves dates back to [[Babylonia]]n times,<ref name=Lerner>{{harvnb|Lerner|2008}}</ref> and has been practiced in patriarchal cultures throughout history.{{sfn|Rodriguez|2011|p=203}} Whatever the status and rights of the persons involved, they were typically inferior to those of a legitimate spouse, often with the rights of inheritance being limited or excluded.{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|pp=468, 472}}

Concubinage and marriage are often regarded as similar but mutually exclusive.{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|p=467}} In the past, a couple may not have been able to marry because of differences in social class, ethnicity or religion,{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|p=467}} or a man might want to avoid the legal and financial complications of marriage.{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|p=467}} Practical impediments or social disincentives for a couple to marry could include differences in social rank status, an existing marriage and laws against [[bigamy]], religious or professional prohibitions, or a lack of recognition by the appropriate authorities.

The concubine in a concubinage tended to have a lower social status than the married party or home owner,{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|p=468}} and this was often the reason why concubinage was preferred to marriage.{{sfn|Rodriguez|2011|p=203}} A concubine could be an "alien" in a society that did not recognize marriages between foreigners and citizens. Alternatively, they might be a slave, or person from a poor family interested in a union with a man from the [[nobility]].{{sfn|Women's Studies Encyclopedia|1999|p=290}}
In other cases, some social groups were forbidden to marry, such as Roman soldiers, and concubinage served as a viable alternative to marriage.{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|p=470}}

In [[polygyny|polygynous]] situations, the number of concubines there were permitted within an individual concubinage arrangement has varied greatly. In [[Roman law]], where monogamy was expected, the relationship was identical (and alternative) to marriage except for the lack of ''marital affection'' from both or one of the parties, which conferred rights related to property, inheritance and social rank.<ref>{{harvnb|Stocquart|1907|p=309}}: "<nowiki>[marriage]</nowiki> seems to have had a double object, first, to establish between husband and wife, perfect equality of rank, of condition and of dignity, honor, dignitas; it is this which distinguishes it precisely from ''concubinatus'', called as well ''inaequale conjugium''."</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Stocquart|1907|p=304}}: "Marriage implied the intention of the husband to have a legal wife, to raise her to his rank, to make her his equal, and the corresponding intent of the wife; this was called the ''affectio maritalis'' ('marital affection')."</ref> By contrast, in parts of Asia and the Middle East, powerful men kept as many concubines as they could financially support.{{sfn|Historical Dictionary of Slavery and Abolition|2014|p=122}} Some royal households had thousands of concubines. In such cases concubinage served as a [[status symbol]] and for the production of sons.{{sfn|The Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History|2008|p=467}} In societies that accepted polygyny, there were advantages to having a concubine over a mistress, as children from a concubine were legitimate, while children from a mistress would be considered "bastards".{{sfn|Walthall|2008|p=13}}