In 796, the Council of Friuli codified the concept of marital indissolubility during the Carolingian Renaissance, firmly declaring Christian marriage as an indissoluble sacrament. This decision effectively banned legal divorce, reflecting the church's growing influence over personal and social matters. The council's declaration had lasting implications for Christian doctrine and the institution of marriage in medieval Europe.

The codification of marital indissolubility by the Council of Friuli in 796 reshaped narrative structures in medieval poetry. Poets began to explore themes of broken bonds and spiritual sin, reflecting the moral complexities of love and commitment in their works.