Marriage Consent as a Means of Poverty Reduction? The „Long Life“ of Marriage Licenses in the Habsburg Monarchy

The article focuses on the little-discussed issue of marriage approval for Austrian citizens in the Habsburg monarchy from the time of Empress Maria Theresa until the end of the monarchy, in terms of poor relief. The so-called political marriage consent, as marriage approval was called in the 19th century, underwent different developments over time and space. In some crown lands, marriage consent was not applied, while in others, especially poorer regions like Tyrol, it was practiced as an obstacle to marriage, with the aim of preventing the growth of the poor population. The article attempts to challenge the usual interpretation of the abolition of serfdom as the liberation from manorial power over marriage. Marriage was supposed to be free since the year 1781 (according to the intention of the patent on the abolition of serfdom), yet the author demonstrates the continued application of marriage consent in some crown lands of the Habsburg monarchy. The 'long life' of the marriage consent was only ended by its abolition in the years 1867–1871.