or Marchetta, a pecuniary fine, anciently paid by the tenant to his lord, for the marriage of one of the tenant's daughters. This custom obtained, with some difference, throughout all England and Wales, as also in Scotland; and it still continues to obtain in some places. According to the custom of the manor of Dinover in Caerlaverockshire, every tenant at the marriage of his daughter pays ten shillings to the lord; which, in the British language, is called gwalr-merched, i.e. maid's fee.

In Scotland, and the north parts of England, the custom was, for the lord to lie the first night with the bride of his tenant; but this usage was abrogated by king Malcolm III., at the instance of his queen; and, instead thereof, a mark was paid by the bridegroom to the lord: whence it was called marbeta mulieris. See Borough-English.

MARCIANA Silva (anc. geog.), a forest situated between the Rauraci and the Danube, before it comes to be navigable; a part of the Hercynia. Now Schwartzwald, or Black Forest, in the south-west of Swabia, near the rise of the Danube and Neckar.

MARCIANUS, a native of Thrace, born of an obscure family. After he had for some time served in the army as a common soldier, he was made private secretary to one of the officers of Theodosius. His winning address and uncommon talents raised him to higher stations; and on the death of Theodosius II. A.D. 450, he was invested with the imperial purple in the east. The subjects of the Roman empire had reason to be satisfied with their choice. Marcianus showed himself active and resolute; and when Attila, the barbarous king of the Huns, asked of the emperors the annual tribute, which the indolence and cowardice of his predecessors had regularly paid, the successor of Theodosius firmly said, that he kept his gold for his friends, but that iron was the metal which he had prepared for his enemies. In the midst of universal popularity Marcianus died, after a reign of six years, in the 60th year of his age, as he was making warlike preparations against the barbarians that had invaded Africa. His death was long lamented; and indeed his merit was great, since his reign has been distinguished by the appellation of the golden age. Marcianus married Pulcheria, the sister of his predecessor. It is said, that in the years of his obscurity he found a man who had been murdered, and that he had the humanity to give him a private burial; for which circumstance he was accused of the homicide, and imprisoned. He was condemned to lose his life; and the sentence would have been executed, had not the real murderer been discovered, and convinced the world of the innocence of Marcianus. — Another emperor of the east, A.D. 479, &c.