Marriage contract no. 183: Frankreich - Hessen-Rheinfels-Rotenburg

  • Date of contract conclusion: 26. Juni 1728
  • Place of contract conclusion: Rotenburg/Fulda

Groom

  • Name: Ludwig Heinrich von Bourbon, Prinz von Condé
  • GND: 102279071
  • Year of Birth: 1692
  • Year of Death: 1740
  • Dynasty: Bourbon-Condé
  • Confession: Katholisch

Bride

  • Name: Caroline von Hessen-Rheinfels-Rotenburg
  • GND: 143420607
  • Year of Birth: 1714
  • Year of Death: 1741
  • Dynasty: Hessen (Rheinfels-Rotenburg)
  • Confession: Katholisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Louise Françoise von Bourbon
  • GND: 129541486
  • Dynasty: Bourbon (Frankreich)
  • Relationship: Mutter
  • Name: Ludwig Heinrich von Bourbon
  • GND: 102279071
  • Dynasty: Bourbon-Condé
  • Relationship: /

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Ernst II. Leopold, Landgraf von Hessen-Rotenburg
  • GND: 137840497
  • Dynasty: Hessen (Rheinfels-Rotenburg)
  • Relationship: Vater
  • Name: Eleonore von Löwenstein-Wartheim
  • GND: 1070048232
  • Dynasty: Löwenstein-Wertheim
  • Relationship: Mutter

Contract content

Article 1: Marriage agreed

Article 2: Engagement and marriage organised in Rotenburg with procurator for Louis Henry of Bourbon, under the responsibility of the bride’s brother, Prince Alexander of Hesse-Rheinfeld

Article 3: Arrangements for Caroline’s voyage to Strasbourg mentioned

Article 4: Solemnization and consummation of the marriage agreed upon in Chalons-sur-Marne

Article 5: Gift of money from King Louis to Louis Henri: in honouring of belonging to the royal house

Article 6: Dowry fixed at 20.000 Rhenish florins, payment regulated, sum determined to remain with Louis Henri

Article 7: Donatio propter nuptias fixed at 20.000 Rhenish florins: to provide for the dowager, both if children are born of the marriage and if they remain childless, as Caroline’s personal property

Article 8: Morning gift regulated

Article 9: Donation of bridal jewels by Ludwig Heinrich arranged (worth 10,000 livres)

Article 10: Caroline’s sustenance during the marriage fixed at 40.000 livres per year

Article 11: Regulation of dowager’s livelihood equal to 30.000 livre per year, no liability for spouse’s debts

Article 12: Dowager’s residence determined, choice thereof depends on whether male offspring results from the marriage

Article 13: Caroline’s renunciation of inheritance regulated: Subject to the eventualities of succession with Louis Henri’s consent

Article 14: Louis Henri’s matrimonial property defined: inheritable within his line

Article 15: Separate administration of Caroline’s matrimonial property determined

Article 16: Renunnciation of joint property determined, consent of the contracting parties, King Louis and Caroline’s brothers declared

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 13: Caroline’s renunciation of inheritance regulated: Subject to the eventualities of succession with Louis Henri’s consent Louis Henri’s matrimonial property defined: inheritable within his line

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 13: Caroline’s renunciation of inheritance regulated: Subject to the eventualities of succession with Louis Henri’s consent

Article 16: Renunnciation of joint property determined, consent of the contracting parties, King Louis and Caroline’s brothers declared

Commentary

2nd marriage of Louis Henri - with the consent of, after courtship by King Louis (preamble) - Louis Henri’s mother: Louise Francoise of Bourbon, legitimate daughter of Louis XIV with mistress; religion not clearly assigned here; contract itself is not divided into articles; digital copy can be accessed at the URL given using the shelfmark (TRA17280001).

References