Are wives listed among the chattels? In England one could sell one’s wife at market. Into the 19th century it was thought (mistakenly) that it would add to the legality if you led her there by a rope around her neck. There were practically no divorces and little recourse against spousal abuse.

Sorry this is utter nonsense. Wives were subject to coverture in medieval England, in terms of not (generally) being able to sue or be sued independently, but they certainly were not chattels.