Marriage contract no. 135: Brandenburg - Frankreich

  • Date of contract conclusion: 26. Juni 1517
  • Place of contract conclusion: Abbeville

Groom

  • Name: Joachim, Kurprinz von Brandenburg
  • GND: 118557556
  • Year of Birth: 1505
  • Year of Death: 1571
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Confession: katholisch

Bride

  • Name: Renate (Renee) von Frankreich
  • GND: 11892933X
  • Year of Birth: 1515
  • Year of Death: 1575
  • Dynasty: Valois
  • Confession: katholisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Joachim I. von Brandenburg
  • GND: 119214644
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Relationship: Vater

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Franz I. von Frankreich
  • GND: 118534947
  • Dynasty: Valois
  • Relationship: Cousin

Contract content

Articles 1-2: Marriage agreed, subject to prior marriage agreement with King Charles of Spain or Archduke Ferdinand

Article 3: Dowry determined: for Renate’s inheritance claims, payment arranged, Renate’s trousseau arranged

Article 4: Renate’s renunciation of succession rights in France and inheritance from her father and mother in favour of King Francis and his descendants

Article 5: Transfer of dowry and bridal jewellery regulated

Article 6: Community of property of the spouses, possible reversion of dowry share, regulation of inheritance, Renate’s estate according to French custom: demanded by the French side, rejected by the Brandenburg side, German matrimonial property law with dowry, opposed by donatio propter nuptias

Articles 7-8: to overcome the conflicting legal positions: Matrimonial property law in accordance with common law, not agreed in accordance with local custom

Article 9: After the death of the groom: reversion of the dowry to Renate, her children or, if applicable, to the King of France or his descendants

Article 10: Life dower property, life estate for widow’s maintenance specified

Article 11: after the death of the groom: reversion of Renate’s trousseau and jewels to Renate, her children or, if applicable, to the King of France or his descendants

Article 12: transfer of Renate, wedding arranged: when Renate is 12 years old, together with exchange of documents, payment of dowry

Article 13: Renate’s waiver of collateral inheritance claims: demanded by the French side, rejected in principle by the Brandenburg side, only granted in exchange for an additional payment towards the bride’s trousseau, dispute referred back to the principals for decision

Article 14: Ratification regulated

Regulations on inheritance law:

Article 4: Renate’s renunciation of succession rights in France and inheritance from her father and mother in favour of King Francis and his descendants

Article 6: Community of property of the spouses, possible reversion of dowry share, regulation of inheritance, Renate’s estate according to French custom: demanded by the French side, rejected by the Brandenburg side, German matrimonial property law with dowry, opposed by donatio propter nuptias

Article 9: after the death of the groom: reversion of the dowry to Renate, her children or, if applicable, to the King of France or his descendants

Article 11: after the death of the groom: reversion of Renate’s trousseau and jewels to Renate, her children or, if applicable, to the King of France or his descendants

Article 13: Renate’s waiver of collateral inheritance claims: demanded by the French side, rejected in principle by the Brandenburg side, only granted in return for an additional payment towards the bride’s trousseau, dispute referred back to the principals for decision

Further contracts between contracting parties

Agreement of Abbeville 07.1518 [?] on Brandenburg’s support for King Francis’ election as emperor (ADB)

Commentary:

Bridegroom of Roman Catholic denomination until 1539, from then on Lutheran.

Article not numbered in the original.

On this contract, see also the following contract in the holdings of the Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz, shelfmark: GStA, I. HA Rep. 78, No. 24, fol. 44r-46r, available at: https://archivdatenbank.gsta.spk-berlin.de/midosasearch-gsta/MidosaSEARCH/i_ha_rep_78_und_78_a/index.htm?kid=GStA_i_ha_rep_78_und_78_a_8&uid=GStA_i_ha_rep_78_und_78_a_I_HA_Rep_78_Nr_24

Literature:

ADB 14 “Joachim I., Kurfürst von Brandenburg”, p. 75

References