Bodies in Court: Sexualized Violence in the Eighteenth Century

FAIN: FEL-302319-25

Ulrich L. Lehner
University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN 46556-4635)

Research and writing leading to a book on sexualized violence among married couples in Central Europe’s Catholic territories of the 18th century.

‘Bodies in Court’ will be a detailed history of sexualized violence among married couples in Central Europe's Catholic territories between 1700 and 1800. I will examine ecclesiastical court records from archives in Switzerland, Germany and Czechia. Through meticulous analysis of these materials, I will offer fresh insights into the development of behavioral patterns and adherence to social norms. My research will also demonstrate the varying ways in which individuals expressed themselves emotionally, perceived their bodies, and employed rhetorical strategies in court. Ultimately, this will contribute to our knowledge of how marital and sexual relationships changed alongside law, society, and theology throughout the eighteenth century.