Marriage contract no. 106: Hessen-Kassel - Hanau-Münzenberg

  • Date of contract conclusion: 26. Februar 1619
  • Place of contract conclusion: s. l.

Groom

  • Name: Wilhelm (V.) von Hessen-Kasse
  • GND: 118807331
  • Year of Birth: 1602
  • Year of Death: 1637
  • Dynasty: Hessen (Kassel)
  • Confession: reformiert

Bride

  • Name: Amalie Elisabeth von Hanau-Münzenberg
  • GND: 119207826
  • Year of Birth: 1602
  • Year of Death: 1651
  • Dynasty: Hanau
  • Confession: reformiert

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Moritz von Hessen-Kassel
  • GND: 11858412X
  • Dynasty: Hessen (Kassel)
  • Relationship: Vater

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Katharina Belgica von Oranien-Nassau
  • GND: 133288463
  • Dynasty: Oranien-Nassau
  • Relationship: Mutter

Contract content

[Pre] – In the name of the Holy Trinity, to praise and honor God, to foster good friendship, with good will and forethought, with the consent of the bride and groom: Marriage agreement reached, contract concluded (1)

[1] – Marriage vows exchanged: for the bride and groom (1)

[2] – Dowry determined, trousseau and payment arranged, in return for the bride’s renunciation of her inheritance from her father, mother, brothers, and sisters in accordance with Hanau house law, with the consent of the groom, inheritance rights reserved in the event of the extinction of the House of Hanau (1)

[3] – In return for dowry payment: widow’s property and widow’s income determined, rights of use regulated (1-2)

[4-5] – Widow’s property regulated: swearing-in of officials and homage of subjects regulated, legal status of subjects regulated (2)

[6] – Widow’s property regulated: ecclesiastical and secular rights of sovereignty, jurisdiction and openness reserved, compensation regulated (2-3)

[7] – Widow’s property regulated: protection guaranteed (3)

[8-9] – Widow’s property regulated: opening to third parties, alliances with third parties and sale prohibited, use of wood regulated, maintenance and compensation regulated (3)

[10] – After the death of the groom: guardianship of minor children regulated in accordance with Hessian domestic law, receipt of widow’s property regulated, personal possessions of the bride as a widow regulated, furnishings and condition of the widow’s residence regulated (3-4)

[16-17] – Morning gift determined: Interest, use, inheritance, and redemption regulated (5-6)

[18] – In the event of the death of the bride or groom after the wedding but before the dowry has been paid: Validity of the marriage contract agreed upon (6)

[19] – In the event of the death of the bride or groom before the wedding: nullity of the marriage contract agreed (6)

[Esch] – Compliance promised (6-7)

Regulations on succession to the throne

Dowry determined, trousseau and payment regulated, in return for the bride’s renunciation of inheritance rights to her father’s, mother’s, brother’s, and sister’s estates in accordance with Hanau family law, with the consent of the groom, inheritance rights reserved in the event of the extinction of the House of Hanau - 2

[11] – in the event of the bride’s second marriage: inheritance of the donatio propter nuptias by children from the first and second marriages regulated – 11

after the death of the bride without children: inheritance of the estate regulated – 12-13

Morning gift determined: interest, use, inheritance, and redemption regulated – 16-17

References