NOT RECOGNIZING A SPOUSE–MARTIN GUERRE.

NOT RECOGNIZING A SPOUSE–MARTIN GUERRE. The story of Martin Guerre is told in this wikipedia article. It was also recorded in a contemporary court report and was the subject of a good book by Natalie Zemon Davis and a good movie starring Gerard Depardieu and Natalie Baye. Martin Guerre was a French peasant who was born in 1524 and was married at the age of 11. After living with his wife for eleven years and after having had a son, he left the village and his wife. Martin and his wife were then both about 24. Eight years later, an impostor appeared and claimed to be Martin Guerre. He convinced Martin’s wife– but also Martin’s uncle and four sisters. Martin’s wife and the impostor lived together as husband and wife for four years. Doubts arose and there were court cases questioning the impostor’s identity. In the middle of one trial the real Martin Guerre appeared. The impostor was convicted of fraud and adultery and sentenced to death. He confessed and was hanged in front of Martin Guerre’s house four days after the sentencing. Montaigne attended the sentencing.