Marriage contract no. 162: Polen - Frankreich

Contract content

Article 1: French designated as the language of the contract

Article 2: Dowry set at 700,000 écus or 2,100,000 livres

Article 3: Composition of the dowry explained, close relationship of the bride to the French royal family emphasised, renunciation of inheritance by Louise Marie regulated

Article 4: Payment terms for 200,000 livres of the dowry amount regulated, to be paid by the King of France by the end of 1646

Article 5: Provision of 900,000 livres of the dowry amount regulated, sale of goods to raise the sum mentioned, Parisian bankers involved

Article 6: Payment of a further 600,000 livres of the dowry by the end of 1645, subject to the settlement of disputed inheritance issues relating to Mantua and Montferrat, arbitration by the French crown

Article 7: The King of Poland is granted free disposal of 600,000 livres from the dowry if the marriage remains childless and Louise Marie dies before him; if he dies before her, she receives this sum, regardless of whether or not the marriage produced children.

Article 8: 900,000 livres of the dowry are paid to Louise Marie in return for her waiver of rights

Article 9: Payment of the remaining sum of the dowry and rights of disposal of the King of Poland over the sum are regulated, inheritance of or right of succession to dowry shares are regulated

Article 10: Wladislaw’s life estate or wedding gift to Louise Marie in the form of goods and land ownership as widow’s property or widow’s maintenance is regulated; Wladislaw is obliged to obtain the consent of the Polish Parliament (Sejm); guarantee that Louise Marie will not be deprived of the goods even after his death is assured; administration of widow’s property is regulated.

Article 11: Morning gift regulated; if the marriage remains childless: reversion of the life estate and morning gift to Wladislaw in the event of her premature death

Article 12: Louise Marie’s rights as a subject of the French crown remain in force; her children and members of her household are also granted the rights of French subjects

Article 13: French subjects who go to Poland in the service of Luise Marie, as well as their spouses, retain all rights resulting from this status

Article 14: Share of annual income from Luise Marie’s estates in France is protected from creditors

Article 15: Ratification by the King of Poland and the Ambassador of the King of France is regulated.

Article 16: Registration of the treaty is regulated by the Parliament of Paris, among others.

Article 17: Compliance is guaranteed.

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 3: […] Luise Marie’s renunciation of inheritance settled

Article 6: Payment of a further 600,000 livres of the dowry by the end of 1645 settled, subject to the settlement of disputed inheritance issues relating to Mantua and Montferrat […]

Article 9: […] Inheritance of or inheritance rights to portions of the dowry settled

Estates involved

Article 16: Registration of the contract regulated by the Parliament of Paris, among others

External authorities involved

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 15: Ratification by the King of Poland and Ambassador of the King of France regulated

Commentary

Ü - Luise Marie’s proximity to the French royal family emphasised (Narratio) At the time the contract was concluded, Louis XIV was a minor and therefore only formally acted as the bride’s representative.

References

• Print reference: Dumont 1726-1739, Bd. VI:1, S. 326-328
• Contract language print: French
• Digitized print: https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1263173g/f366

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 162. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/162.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 162},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/162.html}
}