Marriage contract no. 152: Pfalz-Veldenz - Schweden

Contract content

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

1 – Proposal attested by the groom; acceptance of the proposal by the bride’s brother

2 – The wedding date is set for December 1

3 – Dowry of 100,000 talers; bride’s trousseau regulated; transfer of the bride regulated; 8,000 talers upon the bride’s arrival for the “journey home”

4 – Waiver of the bride’s inheritance; use of the dowry regulated; appropriate treatment of the bride by the groom guaranteed

5 – Morning gift of 4,000 talers; the investment of the morning gift is to generate 200 talers annually for the bride; the bride is free to use the sum as she sees fit, in accordance with tradition in the house

6 – The two offices, castles, and towns of Lauterecken and Remigsbergh are designated as the widow’s dower; life estate annuity of 5000 talers; compensation from the chamber if the dower is insufficient to generate the life estate annuity; assurance by the groom to obtain the consent of relatives; rights of the bride to the dower exercised

7 – Groom dies before bride with or without jointly produced heirs: Enjoyment of the life estate guaranteed for the bride; if the bride has had children with the groom and remains in the country, she is entitled to the life estate and half of the income from the dowry as a widow; if she has not had children and remains in the country, she is entitled to the life estate and the income from the entire dowry; if she remarries, leaves the country, and has not produced any children, she is entitled to the life estate, the full 100,000 talers, and the transfer of her property; if there are children produced together, they receive half of the dowry and, after the death of the bride, also her trousseau

8 – According to custom in the principality, sons conceived together have a right to succession; daughters conceived together have a right to a dowry, jewelry, clothes, maintenance, and trousseau

9 – If the bride dies without jointly begotten heirs, half of the dowry and the bride’s remaining property shall fall to the Crown of Sweden; the remaining half shall remain in the Palatinate

10 – Promise on the part of the Palatinate to uphold all points in the contract; mutual promise to abide by the above

11 – Signatures; location; date; seal

Regulations on succession to the throne

8 – According to custom in the principality, sons conceived together have a right to succession; daughters conceived together have a right to a dowry, jewelry, clothes, maintenance, and trousseau

Regulations on inheritance law

4 – Waiver of the bride’s inheritance; use of the dowry regulated; appropriate treatment of the bride by the groom guaranteed

7 – Groom dies before bride with or without jointly produced heirs: Enjoyment of the life estate guaranteed for the bride; if the bride has had children with the groom and remains in the country, she is entitled to the life estate and half of the income from the dowry as a widow; if she has not had children and remains in the country, she is entitled to the life estate and the income from the entire dowry; if she remarries, leaves the country, and has not produced any children, she is entitled to the life estate, the full 100,000 talers, and the transfer of her property; if there are children produced together, they receive half of the dowry and, after the death of the bride, also her trousseau

9 – If the bride dies without jointly begotten heirs, half of the dowry and the bride’s remaining property shall fall to the Crown of Sweden; the remaining half shall remain in the Palatinate

Commentary

The original contract is not divided into articles

References

• Archive copy: SE/RA/25.1/1/B (1562)
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitized archive copy: https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/R0001245_00001#?xywh=-1069%2C0%2C5651%2C2474

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 152. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/152.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 152},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/152.html}
}