Marriage contract no. 148: Mecklenburg-Güstrow - Schweden

Contract content

Preamble: Naming of the parties involved; purpose of the marriage; naming of the marriage partners; confirmation of ratification; consent of the groom’s family

1 – Setting of the wedding date

2 – Dowry set at 100,000 Reichstaler; payment arrangements; bride’s trousseau arrangements; transfer of the bride arrangements

3 – Promise by the groom to marry the bride and treat her appropriately; emphasis on the purpose of the marriage being to foster friendship between the two families

4 – Investment of the dowry regulated; repayment if both spouses die without joint heirs

5 – Morning gift in the amount of 8,000 Reichstaler; interest on the morning gift regulated

6 – Specification of the widow’s dower; rights to the dower; increase in the life estate and dower if the husband’s financial situation improves

7 – The widow retains the right to her dower and life estate if she decides to live outside Mecklenburg or remarry; Appointment of officials

8 – Consent of the groom’s brother, the Duke of Saxony and the Margrave of Brandenburg

9 – Furnishing of the widow’s residence in accordance with her status; reservations regarding the groom’s rights to the widow’s dower; homage paid by subjects regulated

10 – Lutheran upbringing of the children stipulated; free practice of religion guaranteed for the bride

11 – Bride dies before groom without common children: lifelong right of use of the groom’s dowry; reversion of the 100,000 Reichstaler to Sweden; Bride dies before groom with joint children: 50,000 Reichstaler remain for use by the husband and the other 50,000 Reichstaler remain for use by the children; if the groom also dies, his 50,000 Reichstaler also go to the children

12 – Remarriage of the groom regulated

13 – Inheritance of the bride’s personal property regulated

14 – If one of the marriage partners dies before consummation of the marriage, the contract is void

15 – Ratification; place; date

Confessional regulations

10 – Lutheran upbringing of the children stipulated; free practice of religion guaranteed for the bride

Regulations on inheritance law

11 – Bride dies before groom without children: lifelong right of use of the groom’s dowry; reversion of 100,000 Reichstaler to Sweden; Bride dies before groom with children together: 50,000 Reichstaler remain for use by the husband and the other 50,000 Reichstaler remain for use by the children; if the groom also dies, his 50,000 Reichstaler also go to the children.

13 – Inheritance of the bride’s personal property regulated

External authorities involved

8 – Consent of the groom’s brother, the Duke of Saxony and Margrave of Brandenburg

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

15 – Ratification; Place; Date

References

• Archive copy: LHAS, 2.12-1/9 Eheschließungen, Sign.: 134
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 148. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/148.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 148},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/148.html}
}