Marriage contract no. 134: Preußen - Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Contract content

Preamble: Names of the parties involved; purpose of the marriage; names of the spouses

1 – Mutual marriage vows

2 – Dowry of 15,000 talers; trousseau arranged; bride’s renunciation of inheritance

3 – Instead of a morning gift, the groom guarantees a hand money of 6,000 talers per year; Specification of the bride’s household

4 – Donatio propter nuptias of 15,000 talers; life annuity of 20,000 talers; increase to 30,000 talers if male heirs are fathered; specification of rights to the widow’s estate, the offices of Köpenick, Fürstenwalde and Alt-Landsberg; Replacement of funds if the aforementioned offices are not sufficient to generate the sum; surplus shall not accrue to the widow; provision of the widow’s residence regulated; homage of subjects; subjects shall be left in their liberties; legal reservations of the groom; supply of natural produce upon commencement of widowhood; Provision of another widow’s residence guaranteed should the widow’s residence be temporarily uninhabitable; prohibition of pledging; maintenance of the buildings

5 – Bride dies before groom without children: Reversion of the bride’s property brought into the marriage to the House of Mecklenburg; Jewellery given to the bride by the groom reverts to Prussia; lifelong right of use of the groom’s dowry

6 – Bride dies before groom with children: if the children die before the bride without heirs of their own, the procedure in Art. 5 applies; if the children survive the bride, they inherit the dowry

7 – Groom dies before bride with or without children: commencement of widowhood regulated; jewellery given by the groom’s father or by the groom remains in the possession of the bride, but reverts to the House of Prussia after the bride’s death; Maintenance of the children is regulated.

8 – Remarriage of the widow is regulated: redemption of the widow’s dower is possible.

9 – If one of the spouses dies after the consummation of the marriage but before the monetary payments have been made, the contract shall nevertheless be executed; if one of the spouses dies before the consummation of the marriage, the contract is void. The spouses may make gifts to each other by will, codicil or donation mortis causa, provided that the house contracts are taken into account. Confirmation of the contract; two copies of the contract; place; date; signatures.

Regulations on inheritance law

2 – Dowry of 15,000 talers; trousseau regulated; bride’s renunciation of inheritance

5 – Bride dies before groom without children: the bride’s property brought into the marriage reverts to the House of Mecklenburg; jewellery given to the bride by the groom reverts to Prussia; lifelong right of use of the groom’s dowry

6 – Bride dies before groom with children: if the children die before the bride without their own heirs, the procedure in Art. 5 applies; if the children survive the bride, they inherit the dowry

7 – Groom dies before bride with or without children: commencement of widow’s dower regulated; jewels given by the groom’s father or by the groom remain in the possession of the bride, but revert to the Prussian house after the bride’s death; maintenance of children regulated

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

9 – If one of the spouses dies after consummation of the marriage but before payment of the monetary consideration, the contract shall nevertheless be executed; if one of the spouses dies before consummation of the marriage, the contract shall be void; the spouses may make gifts to each other by will, codicil or donation mortis causa, provided that the house contracts are taken into account; Confirmation of the contract; two copies of the contract shall be drawn up; place; date; signatures.

References

• Archive copy: LHAS, 1.2 Urkunden Land und Haus, Strelitzer Archiv, Nr. 131
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 134. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/134.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 134},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/134.html}
}