Marriage contract no. 16: Dänemark - Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Calenberg

Contract content

Pre – to the praise and glory of God, for the strengthening and welfare of both countries: marriage agreed

1 – Consent given for bride, marriage agreed: date for consummation reserved

2 – Dowry determined, trousseau arranged

3 – Morning gift determined

4 – Widow’s estate determined: as widow’s residence, with widow’s income for widow’s support, rights of use regulated

5 – Salary, appointment of servants, instruction of subjects on widow’s estate regulated

6 – Bride’s rights of use on widow’s estate regulated: rights of lordship reserved

7 – Appointment of church and school servants on widow’s estates regulated: only Lutheran pastors appointed

8-9 – Inspection of widow’s estates before consummation of marriage regulated, subject to improvement

10 – In case of poor condition of widow’s estates: improvement regulated

11 – Royal protection of the bride on widow’s estates, deed of prescription regulated

12 – After moving into widow’s estates: legal status of subjects regulated

13 – Opening of widow’s estates to third parties, transfer to third parties, alliances with third parties prohibited

14 – Alienation, encumbrance of widow’s estates prohibited, preservation regulated

15 – After death of groom without children: receipt, use of widow’s estates and widow’s residence, widow’s maintenance regulated

16 – After death of groom: maintenance of bride until receipt of widow’s estates, furnishing of widow’s residence regulated

17 – After the death of the groom: transfer of movable property, clothing and jewellery to the bride regulated

18 – In the event of the bride’s second marriage: redemption of widow’s property, payment of dowry, interest on donatio propter nuptias and morning gift regulated

19 – Inheritance of dowry, bride’s estate to children from first and second marriages regulated

20 – After payment of dowry: transfer of widow’s property regulated

21 – After death of groom without children: widow’s maintenance regulated, after death of bride, reversion of dowry, donatio propter nuptias regulated

22 – Liability of the bride for the groom’s debts, further claims of the bride against the groom’s family excluded

23 – Noble duty of service to the bride on widow’s property regulated

24 – Succession of sons regulated: in accordance with inheritance agreement between the groom and the Danish crown prince

25 – After death of spouse before marriage: contract void

26 – Compliance promised

Regulations on succession to the throne

Succession of sons regulated: in accordance with inheritance agreement between groom and Danish crown prince - 24

Confessional regulations

Appointment of church and school servants on widow’s estates regulated: only Lutheran pastors appointed - 7

Regulations on inheritance law

Inheritance of dowry, bride’s estate to children from 1st and 2nd marriages regulated - 19

Commentary

cf. Marriage contract Denmark - Saxony 1633 as preliminary document: Art. 1-26 as in 1633 Art. 1-14, 21-32

Literature

Laursen in DNT IV, pp. 370-381

References

• Print reference: DNT IV, pp. 382-390
• Contract language print: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 16. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/16.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 16},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/16.html}
}