Marriage contract no. 110: Mecklenburg-Güstrow - Hessen-Kassel

  • Date of contract conclusion: 24. März 1618
  • Place of contract conclusion: Kassel

Groom

  • Name: Johann Albrecht II. von Mecklenburg-Güstrow
  • GND: 10142552X
  • Year of Birth: 1590
  • Year of Death: 1636
  • Dynasty: Mecklenburg
  • Confession: Reformiert

Bride

  • Name: Elisabeth von Hessen-Kassel
  • GND: 119142120
  • Year of Birth: 1596
  • Year of Death: 1625
  • Dynasty: Hessen (Kassel)
  • Confession: Reformiert

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Johann Albrecht II. von Mecklenburg-Güstrow
  • GND: 10142552X
  • Dynasty: Mecklenburg
  • Relationship: /

Actors of the Bride

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

Contract content

[Pre] – in the name of the Holy Trinity, to the praise and honour of God, to strengthen and increase lasting friendship and welfare, with the consent of the bride’s father and mother (stepmother): marriage agreement concluded, contract concluded (1)

[1] – Wedding vows exchanged: for the bride, by the groom (1)

[2] – Dowry determined, trousseau arranged: payment arranged (1)

[3] – Bride’s renunciation of inheritance settled: with the consent of the groom, in accordance with Hessian domestic law, to the inheritance of her father, mother, brother and cousin, except for inheritance claims in the event of the extinction of the House of Hesse (1)

[4] – Morning gift determined: interest settled, for the personal needs of the bride (1-2)

[5] – donatio propter nuptias widow’s property and widow’s income determined: rights of use regulated, with the consent of the groom’s brother, spiritual and secular rights of rule, jurisdiction and opening excepted, compensation regulated, own preacher permitted on widow’s property (2-3)

[6-7] – Widow’s property regulated: swearing-in of officials and legal status of subjects regulated (3)

[8] – Widow’s property regulated: protection guaranteed by Dukes of Mecklenburg (3)

[9] – Widow’s estates regulated: sale, opening to third parties, alliances with third parties prohibited, maintenance of widow’s residence and compensation regulated (3)

[10] – Widow’s estates regulated: rectification guaranteed if necessary, compensation for loss of income regulated (3)

[11] – After death of groom: guardianship of minor children regulated, receipt of widow’s property regulated, personal possessions of bride as widow regulated (3-4)

[12] – Widow’s property regulated: supplies and furnishings upon receipt regulated (4)

[13-15] – in the event of the bride’s second marriage: redemption of widow’s property, payment of the dowry, transfer of widow’s property regulated, inheritance of the dowry, if applicable, to children from the first and second marriages regulated, inheritance of the bride as a widow with or without surviving children regulated (4)

[16-17] – after the death of the bride without children: reversion of widow’s property and dowry regulated, inheritance of morning gift and estate except silver tableware regulated (4-5)

[18] – after the death of the bride without children: widow’s property pledged as security for reversion of the dowry (5)

[19] – Morning gift regulated: inheritance and redemption regulated (5)

[20] – Liability for debts of the bride regulated (5)

[21] – Ownership of wedding gifts regulated: jewellery given to the bride, silverware divided, inheritance regulated (5)

[22] – In the event of the death of the bride or groom before the wedding: nullity of the marriage contract agreed (5)

Confessional regulations

donatio propter nuptias, widow’s property and widow’s income established: own preacher permitted on widow’s property - 5

Regulations on inheritance law

Renunciation of inheritance by the bride regulated: with the consent of the groom, in accordance with Hessian domestic law, to the inheritance of the father, mother, brother and cousin, except for inheritance claims in the event of the extinction of the House of Hesse - 3

Inheritance of the dowry, if applicable, to children from first and second marriages regulated - 13-15

After the death of the bride without children: inheritance of the morning gift and estate except for silver tableware regulated - 16-17

Ownership of wedding gifts regulated: Inheritance regulated - 21

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

donatio propter nuptias, widow’s property and widow’s income determined: with the consent of the groom’s brother - 5

Text reference to past events

Further contracts between contracting parties

Commentary

The groom converted to the Reformed faith on the occasion of the marriage (Bei der Wieden 2006).

Literature

Bei der Wieden, H.: Herzog Johann Albrechts II. zu Mecklenburg-Güstrow Hinwendung zum Kalvinismus. In: Jahrbuch für Mechlenburgische Kirchengeschichte. Mecklenburgica Sacra 9 (2006). S. 34-56.

References