Marriage contract no. 120: Dänemark - Mecklenburg-Güstrow

Contract content

A Preamble: To the glory of the Almighty and for the strength and welfare of both countries

Article 1: Life estate established as widow’s pension

Article 2: Royal and princely sovereign rights reserved on life estates

Article 3: Privileges and freedoms of the estates and nobility guaranteed on life estates

Article 4: No sale of parts of the widow’s property while the groom is alive

Article 5: No interference with widow’s rights by descendants while the widow is alive

Article 6: Dowry protected as Sophie’s private property

Article 7: In the event of the premature death of the bride: the bride’s dower and movable property shall pass to the groom and descendants

Article 8: In the event of Sophie’s second marriage: return of the dower, surrender of the bride price and marriage money, including any gains

Article 9: In the event of the premature death of the bride without biological heirs: retention of the bride’s dowry and marriage money by the groom and descendants

Article 10: Sophie shall manage the dower responsibly

Article 11: Guarantee of the articles of the contract by King Frederick and the Danish Imperial Council

B Preamble: by divine providence for the welfare of both countries

Article 1: Marriage settlement or dowry set at 30,000 thalers, plus trousseau listed according to old Mecklenburg custom

Article 2: Official certification of widow’s dower and life annuity

Article 3: Royal and princely sovereign rights reserved on life estate property

Article 4: Assurance of the trousseau by Duke Ulrich

Confessional regulations

Articles VII + IX: In the event of Sophie’s death, her inheritance shall pass to her husband and children; if Sophie dies without issue, the dowry shall remain with her husband, and the remaining possessions shall be transferred to her family in Mecklenburg.

External authorities involved

Danish councillors as guarantors of the treaty

Commentary

Contract in Edition in Part A (DNT II, pp. 305–310, 17 June 1572) and Part B (DNT II, pp. 311–313, 19 June 1572); the numbering of the articles starts again at 1 in Part B. For technical reasons, only the date of the first contract is given above as the contract date.

Literature

Laursen in DNT II, S. 300-305

References

• Print reference: DNT II, S. 305-310 (A), 311-313 (B)
• Contract language print: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 120. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/120.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 120},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/120.html}
}