Marriage contract no. 115: Pfalz-Zweibrücken - Sachsen

  • Date of contract conclusion: 5. Februar 1774
  • Place of contract conclusion: Dresden, Mannheim, Neuburg, München und Zweibrücken

Groom

  • Name: Karl II. August Christian von Pfalz-Zweibrücken
  • GND: 118968173
  • Year of Birth: 1746
  • Year of Death: 1795
  • Dynasty: Wittelsbach (Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler-Rappoltstein)
  • Confession: katholisch

Bride

  • Name: Marie Amelie Anna von Sachsen
  • GND: 100636438
  • Year of Birth: 1757
  • Year of Death: 1813
  • Dynasty: Wettin (Albertiner)
  • Confession: katholisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Karl II. August Christian von Pfalz-Zweibrücken
  • GND: 118968173
  • Dynasty: Wittelsbach (Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler-Rappoltstein)
  • Relationship: /

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Friedrich August I. von Sachsen
  • GND: 119165198
  • Dynasty: Wettin (Albertiner)
  • Relationship: Bruder

Contract content

Preamble: Names of the parties and marriage partners; purpose of the marriage; consent of the bride’s mother; consent of the groom’s ruling uncle, Christian IV of Palatinate-Zweibrücken

1 – Betrothal promised; marriage according to Catholic custom; mutual promise to behave towards each other throughout their lives as befits spouses

2 – Dowry of 72,000 guilders; trousseau regulated

3 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride

4 – Donatio propter nuptias regulated: 15,000 guilders to be credited to the dowry and 57,000 guilders as paraphernalia money; Annex on the Rappoltstein estate and in the husband’s other territories in Alsace and the Palatinate; rights to these territories determined; consent of the ruling Count Palatine of Zweibrücken and the Conseil Souverain in Colmar to be obtained

5 – 5,000 guilders morning gift

6 – 7,000 guilders hand money for the bride

7 – Deaths: groom dies before bride without joint heirs: bride retains ownership of the dowry and her movable property and benefits from the donatio propter nuptias for the rest of her life

8 – Groom dies before bride with joint heirs: bride receives guardianship and is responsible for raising the children, unless otherwise stipulated in the groom’s will

9 – Neuburg Castle on the Danube is designated as the widow’s residence; regulations governing the widow’s residence: repair, furnishing, renovation of buildings and replacement in the event of destruction

10 – Life annuity of 15,000 guilders; in the event that the groom’s mother dies or his fortune increases in any other way, the life annuity may be increased to 24,000 guilders; the option for an even higher sum is left open; Provisions for covering the sum in the event of the groom’s lack of funds; prohibition of pledging the widow’s dower; if the widow decides to take up residence outside the Palatinate, an increase in the dower is excluded.

11 – Remarriage of the bride regulated

12 – Bride dies before groom with children: dowry and other inheritance pass to the paternal guardianship; if there are no children, all of the bride’s property reverts to her next of kin; the husband retains lifelong right of use of the dowry

13 – mutual promise to abide by the above; ratification regulated; place; date; signatures; LS

Confessional regulations

1 – Betrothal promised; marriage according to Catholic custom; mutual promise to behave towards each other throughout their lives as befits spouses

Regulations on inheritance law

12 – Bride dies before groom with children: dowry and other inheritance pass to paternal guardianship; if there are no children, all of the bride’s property reverts to her next of kin; the husband retains lifelong right of use of the dowry.

Estates involved

4 – Donatio propter nuptias settled: 15,000 guilders to be credited to the dowry and 57,000 guilders as paraphernalia money; investment in the Rappoltstein domain and in the husband’s remaining territories in Alsace and the Palatinate; Rights to these areas determined; consent of the ruling Count Palatine of Zweibrücken and the Conseil Souverain in Colmar to be obtained.

External authorities involved

4 –Donatio propter nuptias settled: 15,000 guilders to be credited to the dowry and 57,000 guilders as paraphernalia money; investment in the Rappoltstein domain and in the husband’s remaining territories in Alsace and the Palatinate; Rights to these areas determined; consent of the ruling Count Palatine of Zweibrücken and the Conseil Souverain in Colmar to be obtained.

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

13 – Mutual promise to abide by the above; ratification regulated; place; date; signatures; LS

Text reference to past events

Further contracts between contracting parties

Commentary

Literature

References