Droit du seigneur
Droit du seigneur (/ˈdrɑː də seɪˈnjɜːr/; French pronunciation: [dʁwa dy sɛɲœʁ]), also known as jus primae noctis (/ʒʌs ˈpraɪmiː ˈnɒktᵻs/; Latin pronunciation: [ju:s ˈpri:mae̯ 'nɔktɪs]), refers to a supposed legal right in medieval Europe, and elsewhere, allowing feudal lords to have sexual relations with subordinate women on their wedding night. There is no evidence of the right being exercised in medieval Europe, and existing references to it are from later time periods.
Terminology
The French expression droit du seigneur translates as "right of the lord", but native French prefer the terms droit de jambage (French pronunciation: [dʁwa d(ə) ʒɑ̃.baʒ]) ("right of the leg") or droit de cuissage (French pronunciation: [dʁwa d(ə) kɥi.saʒ]) ("right of the thigh"). The term is often used synonymously with jus primae noctis,Latin for "right of the first night".
Historical references
Herodotus mentions a similar custom among the Adyrmachidae in ancient Libya: "They are also the only tribe with whom the custom obtains of bringing all women about to become brides before the king, that he may choose such as are agreeable to him."
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