Historically, Portugal accounts high levels of illegitimacy both on the European context, as well in the Iberian panorama. On the one hand, the abandonment of children, institutionalized by the foundling wheels, seems to have largely boosted the phenomenon. On the other hand, marital restrictions, such as the high age at marriage, permanent celibacy, male migration and property transmission systems, led to a significant impact on this variable. The purpose of this exploratory article is to offer an overview of the complex phenomenon of birth outside of marriage in Portugal during the 19th Century. The authors highlight the difficulties in the study of illegitimacy starting by discussing the various available sources, literature and methodological questions involved in this analysis. In a second phase a first overview will be presented–still fragmentary and exploratory-about the evolution of the ratio in a national and regional level, and its possible relationship with other demographic variables.

--

Illegitimacy,Portugal,19th century,Abandoned children,Foundling wheels,Marriage restrictions

• History and Archeology - Humanities