# droit du seigneur: a new theory

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/droit-du-seigneur-a-new-theory/33379>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [September 16, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/droit-du-seigneur-a-new-theory/33379 "2000-09-16T03:39:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/droit-du-seigneur-a-new-theory/33379/1 "2000-09-16T03:39:05Z")

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Concerning the Straight Dope column about medieval lords having the right of the “first night” with local maidens, I recently heard an interesting take on the theory.  
My sister, who is a Wiccan, claims that stories about the “droit du seigneur” are a distorted account of pre-Christian times, when many pagan cultures had rites where the local virgins were ritually deflowered.  
I also vaguely recall something about the Romans having such a rite where maidens would straddle a carved statue of a god. Can anyone supply some more information about this?

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**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/droit-du-seigneur-a-new-theory/33379/2 "2000-09-16T05:47:12Z")

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Since **Arnold Winkelried** can’t be here 24/7, I’ll play Swiss Hero for a moment.

The column referred to above can be found online here:  
[Did medieval lords really have the ‘right of the first night’ with the local brides?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/961220.html)

And boy, it is a pip.