In the feudal customs, maritagium Maritatum (as contradistinguished from matrimonium) signifies the power which the lord or guardian in chivalry had of disposing of his infant ward in matrimony. For while the infant was in ward, the guardian had the power of tendering him or her a suitable match without disparagement or inequality; which if the infants refused, they forfeited the value of the marriage, valorem maritagii, to their guardian; that is, so much as a jury would assess, or any one would bona fide give to the guardian for such an alliance: and if the infants married themselves without the guardian's consent, they forfeited double the value, duplicem valorem maritagii.