Marriage contract no. 111: Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf - Hessen

Contract content

[Pre] – after mediation by King Frederick II of Denmark, in the name of the Holy Trinity, to the praise and honour of God, for the strengthening and welfare of both principalities, for the increase of friendship, with forethought and good will, with the consent of the bride: marriage agreement announced (5-6)

[1] – Marriage vows exchanged: for the bride, by the groom (6)

[2] – Dowry determined, payment arranged (6-7)

[3] – Bride’s renunciation of inheritance arranged: of her father’s, mother’s and brother’s inheritance, in accordance with Hessian domestic law (7)

[4] – Trousseau arranged (7-8)

[5] – In return for the dowry: counter-dowry and morning gift determined, investment guaranteed, widow’s property and residence assigned, widow’s income determined, rights of use and swearing-in of officials arranged (8-9)

[6] – Widow’s property regulated: homage and swearing-in of subjects regulated (9-10)

[7-8] – Widow’s property regulated: inspection and examination regulated, if necessary, rectification and interim use for the maintenance of the bride guaranteed (10-11)

[9] – Widow’s property regulated: widow’s property promised by the groom’s mother (12)

[10] – Widow’s property regulated: repurchase of pledged widow’s property regulated, if applicable (13)

[11] – Widow’s property regulated: legal status of subjects regulated (13)

[12] – Widow’s property regulated: opening and rights of dominion reserved, compensation guaranteed if necessary (13-14)

[13] – Widow’s property regulated: protection guaranteed (14)

[14] – Widow’s property regulated: opening and alienation prohibited, preservation regulated (14-15)

[15-16] – Widow’s property regulated: dowry and trousseau upon moving in regulated, personal property of the bride as a widow regulated (15-16)

[17] – Condition of widow’s residence regulated (16)

[18] – In the event of the bride’s second marriage: redemption of widow’s property, payment of dowry, payment or lifelong interest on the widow’s donatio propter nuptias regulated (16-17)

[19] – in the event of the bride’s second marriage: inheritance of dowry by children from first and second marriages regulated, inheritance of widow’s dower only by heirs of the groom regulated (17-18)

[20-21] – after the death of the bride without surviving children: reversion of dowry and widow’s property, inheritance of estate regulated, lifetime use of dowry by groom regulated (18-20)

[22] – morning gift determined: interest and use regulated (20-21)

[Esch] – Compliance promised: transfer of deeds of prescription assured (21-22)

Regulations on inheritance law

Renunciation of inheritance by the bride regulated: to the inheritance of the father, mother and brother, in accordance with Hessian domestic law - 3

In the event of the bride’s second marriage: inheritance of dowry to children from first and second marriages regulated, inheritance of the donatio propter nuptias only to heirs of the groom regulated - 19

After the death of the bride without surviving children: inheritance of estate regulated - 20-21

External authorities involved

Mediation by the King of Denmark mentioned - Pre

References

• Archive copy: HStAM Urk. 3, Nr. 82
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitized archive copy: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/digitalMediaViewer.action?archivalDescriptionId=6156133

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 111. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/111.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 111},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/111.html}
}