Marriage contract no. 14: Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Wolfenbüttel - Dänemark

Contract content

[Pre] – following marriage agreement between father of bride and groom, following death of father of bride: negotiations on contract execution 1588 until agreement reached – following death of father of groom: marriage contract renegotiated, concluded with the consent of the bride’s mother, bride and imperial councillors, to the praise and glory of God, for the benefit and welfare of both countries, to maintain and increase friendship and trust

1 – Consent given for the bride, transfer and consummation of the marriage determined

2 – Dowry determined, trousseau regulated: after the death of the bride without children, continued use by the groom, reversion regulated

3 – Widow’s property and income determined: widow’s residence, rights of use regulated

4 – Use of widow’s property regulated: register and deeds of prescription regulated, instructions and legal status of servants and subjects regulated, appointment of servants regulated, rights of sovereignty reserved

5 – Appointment and remuneration of servants on widow’s property regulated

6 – Any improvements to widow’s property regulated

7 – Morning gift specified

8-11 – Condition, commencement of use, maintenance of widow’s property regulated: disclosure to third parties prohibited, compensation regulated

12 – In the event of the bride’s second marriage: settlement of widow’s property, interest on donatio proper nuptias, delivery of the bride’s personal possessions regulated, morning gift reserved for the bride

13 – Renunciation of inheritance by bride regulated: in return for dowry payment, on paternal and fraternal inheritance, with the consent of the groom

14 – Compliance guaranteed

Regulations on succession to the throne

Use of widow’s property regulated: rights of dominion reserved - 4

Regulations on inheritance law

Regulation of the bride’s renunciation of inheritance: in return for payment of the dowry, to her father’s and brothers’ inheritance, with the groom’s consent - 13

Text reference to past events

Death of the bride’s and groom’s father mentioned - Pre

Commentary

Bride’s declaration of renunciation of inheritance 21 April 1590 (DNT III, pp. 36-40)

Literature

Laursen in DNT III, pp. 24-29

References

• Print reference: DNT III, pp. 28-36
• Contract language print: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 14. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/14.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 14},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/14.html}
}