The Economics of Marriage: Dotal Strategies in Bologna in the Age of Catholic Reform

The Bolognese Monte del Matrimonio addressed the problem of giving girls of moderate means a chance to marry, thus saving the honor of their families, not merely by charitable benevolence but by active planning. Mixing credit and piety the Monte differed substantially from other similar agencies. Unlike other dowry funds which dispensed bequests, it was tailored to give the respectable poor an opportunity to invest at interest their own savings. Parents, relatives and would-be sponsors were invited to plan ahead by opening accounts for girls in order to provide a dowry at a later date and at a lower cost. Monte's officials would manage the investment and pay the dowry when the beneficiary would claim it. Working to shore up the pillar of early modern Bolognese society, the family, the Monte contributed to perpetuating a civic tradition of solidarity by updating and forging a solid network of bonds, which in turn helped to govern and channel growing social tensions.