Braveheart: Fact Or Fiction?
4. Fiction: Prima Nocta
The most difficult lie to comprehend in the film, is the
myth surrounding Prima Nocta. It is the supposed right of a lord to sleep with
a subject’s wife on the first night of their marriage. It is an integral part
of the film but also a myth that never existed in Scotland.
The law is also known as Droit du seigneur which translates to Right of the Lord. It is difficult to pinpoint the origins of the myth. Most agree it had been created after the middle ages, to paint a disturbing picture of the dark ages. Which begs the question, why was it included in the film?
They use the storyline that Edward initiates the law to ‘breed the Scots out’. It is a ridiculous notion considering the law never existed.
It is an outrage that someone could lie to viewers so brazenly. Discovery of the myth brought into question Mel Gibson’s credibility as a historical source.