Marriage contract no. 145: Sachsen - Pfalz-Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld-Bischweiler

Contract content

Preamble: Marriage by decision of Frederick Augustus I of Saxony; consent of the bride’s relatives; naming of the authorised officials

1 – Betrothal promised; marriage according to Catholic custom; mutual promise to behave towards each other throughout their lives as befits spouses

2 – Dowry of 10,000 guilders; trousseau of 4,000 guilders; payment arranged

3 – Donatio propter nuptias of 14,000 guilders; investment in the electoral estates

4 – Morning gift of 7,000 guilders; 4,000 guilders annually as a hand money for the bride

5 – Investment of dowry and donation propter nuptias in the castle and office of Lichtenburg and Seyda; rights to the widow’s estates specified

6 – Deaths: groom dies before bride with living children: the eldest and secular son shall receive the dowry the donation propter nuptias and the government; the bride is free to use one third of her contributed funds for the other children or for pious purposes; the children are to be provided for according to the customs of the Electoral Saxon House

7 – If the groom dies before the bride without children, the dowry and ‘Illata’ shall pass to the bride’s brothers; if they are no longer alive, to the bride’s sister; Permission to donate the dowry to pious causes.

8 – Mother responsible for guardianship and upbringing of the children.

9 – Life annuity of 40,000 guilders if the widow does not remarry; Lichtenburg Castle as widow’s residence; the widow’s residence shall be brought up to an appropriate standard; Maintenance of the buildings of the widow’s residence regulated; compensation in case of destruction; if the widow takes up residence outside Saxony, her dower is reduced to 25,000 guilders; remarriage of the widow regulated

10 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride

11 – Ratification regulated; place; date; signatures; LS

Regulations on succession to the throne

6 – Deaths: Groom dies before bride with living children: The eldest and worldly son shall receive the dowry, the donation propter nuptias, and the administration; the bride is free to use one third of her contributed funds for the other children or for pious purposes; the children shall be provided for according to the customs of the Electoral Saxon House.

Confessional regulations

1 – Betrothal promised; marriage according to Catholic custom; mutual promise to behave towards each other throughout their lives as befits spouses

Regulations on inheritance law

6 – Deaths: Groom dies before bride with living children: The eldest and worldly son shall receive the dowry, the donation propter nuptias and the administration; the bride is free to use one third of her contributed funds for the other children or for pious purposes; the children shall be provided for according to the customs of the Electoral Saxon House.

7 – If the groom dies before the bride without children, the dowry and ‘Illata’ shall pass to the bride’s brothers; if they are no longer alive, to the bride’s sister; permission to donate the dowry to pious causes

10 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

11 – Ratification regulated; place; date; signatures; LS

References

• Archive copy: Sächsisches Staatsarchiv, 10026 Geheimes Kabinett, Nr. Loc. 00789/09
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitized archive copy: https://www.archiv.sachsen.de/archiv/bestand.jsp?guid=0a5c993e-50b3-4518-94eb-a32f1b83a715&_ptabs=%7B%22%23tab-archivalie%22%3A1%7D#archivalie

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 145. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/145.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 145},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/145.html}
}