Henry I. (the Fowler): What kind of contact to hostages was seen as appropriate?

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This is a complex area, and one should try to think in the mind-set of the times, rather than that of the 21st century. There were many kinds of "hostage" ranging from a highly protected type (wardship, used where a minor was vulnerable to undesirable influence/abuse/coercion such as in the case of Henry II K-of-E), mutual trust "equal exchange" types especially where a prince and princess were engaged to be married, types intended to ensure compliance with peace treaties, right down to concubinage (with sometimes noble motives). Very often, due to the absolute power of the monarch, this led to scurrilous rumour and gossip, but often too, downright scandal such as the case of King Henry II and Alais, daughter of Louis of France. This led to Richard I refusing to marry her, because Henry notoriously had difficulty keeping his sword in its scabbard.

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