Women's and youth rights in Byzantium: Under the Byzantine Empire (which was a Christianization of Roman law, providing more equality for women), the earliest marriage ages were 15 for men and 13 for women. 15 for men and 13 for women were considered the age of discretion. " both being desirous and having obtained the consent of their parents, shall be contracted either by deed or by parol. " [1]http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/byz-marr726.html Byzantine law is quite interesting. Much of it was quite progressive, especially considering Justianian II and his wife, the Empress Theodora set down these rules in the 6th century AD, she was equally powerful and influential to him, and their laws stayed intact and in force for over 800 years. References Visible links 1. http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/source/byz-marr726.html