Marriage contract no. 126: Mecklenburg-Schwerin - Russland

Contract content

Preamble: Naming of the parties involved; marriage at the request of the groom; consent of the groom’s father

1 – Mutual marriage vows

2 – Dowry of 1,000,000 roubles; half of the sum is to be paid in Mecklenburg Schwerin and the Dargun office is designated as security; the other half is to be deposited in Russian banks and earns interest; pension of 10,000 roubles and gifts worth 20,000 roubles from the bride’s father; dowry regulated

3 – The bride’s court is regulated

4 – Widow’s maintenance in accordance with the family contracts of the House of Mecklenburg: 12,000 écus as princess and 16,000 écus as reigning princess

5 – The widow is entitled to the interest from the capital under Art. 2 for life, regardless of whether she is married, widowed or remarried; if, as a widow, she decides against a seat in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 250,000 roubles including interest will be deducted

6 – Education and maintenance of the children settled

7 – Handover of the palace in Rostock in a habitable condition in the event of widowhood; Loss upon relinquishment of widowhood

8 – Bride retains full power of disposal over dowry and personal property

9 – If the widow remarries without heirs, 250,000 roubles of the dowry shall go to the House of Mecklenburg as compensation for the wedding costs

10 – If the widow remarries with heirs, she may keep half of the dowry and all of her remaining property, but the dower shall be forfeited; the other half of the dowry shall go to the children from the first marriage; Regulation regarding debts

11 – If the bride dies before the groom with children: The children shall inherit the entire dowry; the groom administers the assets until the sons reach the age of majority. 12 – If the bride dies before the groom without children: the groom benefits from the dowry for the rest of his life; after the groom’s death, the dowry, with the exception of the 250,000 roubles mentioned in Art. 9, reverts to the bride’s family. An inventory of the bride’s possessions shall be drawn up upon her death.

14 – The bride is guaranteed freedom of religion; a chapel and priests are guaranteed in the bride’s residences; the bride promises to accompany the groom to ceremonies and public functions in Lutheran churches.

15 – Promise by the bride to abide by the order of succession to the throne in the Russian Empire

16 – Execution of the contract in two copies; place; date; signatures; seals

Regulations on succession to the throne

15 – Promise by the bride to abide by the order of succession to the throne in the Russian Empire

Confessional regulations

14 – freie Religionsausübung der Braut garantiert; Garantie einer Kapelle und Priestern in den Residenzen der Braut; die Braut verspricht, den Bräutigam zu Zeremonien und öffentlichen Handlungen in lutherische Kirchen zu begleiten

Regulations on inheritance law

9 – if the widow remarries without heirs, 250,000 roubles of the dowry shall go to the House of Mecklenburg as compensation for the wedding expenses

10 – if the widow remarries with heirs, she may keep half of the dowry and all her remaining property, but the life estate shall be forfeited; the other half of the dowry shall go to the children from the first marriage; Regulation regarding debts

11 – if the bride dies before the groom with children: the children shall inherit the entire marriage property; the groom shall administer the property until the sons reach the age of majority

12 – if the bride dies before the groom without children: the groom may use the dowry for the rest of his life; after the groom’s death, the dowry, with the exception of the 250,000 roubles mentioned in Art. 9, reverts to the bride’s family; an inventory of the bride’s possessions at the time of her death must be drawn up.

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

16 – Two copies of the contract; place; date; signatures; seal

References

• Archive copy: LHAS, 1.1.-15, Nr. 465
• Contract language archive copy: French

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 126. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/126.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 126},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/126.html}
}