Marriage contract no. 200: Hessen - Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Date of contract conclusion: 5. August 1500
- Place of contract conclusion: s. l.
Groom
- Name: Wilhelm II. von Hessen
- GND: 133272605
- Year of Birth: 1469
- Year of Death: 1509
- Dynasty: Hessen
- Confession: katholisch
Bride
- Name: Anna von Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- GND: 116013346
- Year of Birth: 1485
- Year of Death: 1525
- Dynasty: Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Confession: katholisch
Actors of the Groom
- Name: Wilhelm II. von Hessen
- GND: 133272605
- Dynasty: Hessen
- Relationship: /
Actors of the Bride
- Name: Magnus II. von Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- GND: 120063840
- Dynasty: Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- Relationship: Vater
Contract content
Marriage agreed
Dowry set at 20,000 guilders (payment terms specified in dowry agreement)
Trousseau for the bride’s journey specified (silverware, clothes, jewellery)
Donatio propter nuptias also set at 20,000 guilders from the town, castle and court of Rotenburg (lifetime allowance), of which she is to receive one guilder per year in the event of widowhood (excluding hunting rights, corvée labour, food, fishing, fines, offences and similar income)
Officials and residents of the town of Rotenburg shall acknowledge the allocation of the Leibgeding by oath
Morning gift set at princely standards
In the event of the bride’s death without a child: the groom is entitled to use the dowry for life; after his death, it reverts to Mecklenburg
If heirs to the estate are born from the marriage, the dowry remains with Hesse
Regulations on inheritance law
In the event of the bride’s death without an heir to the estate: the groom is entitled to use the dowry for life; after his death, it reverts to Mecklenburg
If heirs to the estate are born from the marriage, the dowry remains with Hesse
Further contracts between contracting parties
First dowry agreement dated 21 October 1500 (Regesten der Landgrafen von Hessen, No. 3303); Second dowry agreement dated 11 June 1502 (Regesten der Landgrafen von Hessen, No. 3300); Renunciation of inheritance rights by the bride dated 17 November 1502 (Regesten der Landgrafen von Hessen, No. 3303); Settlement regarding the outstanding silver tableware dated 6 March 1503 (Regesten der Landgrafen von Hessen, No. 3302)
Commentary
The information on the content of the contract is based on the information in the ‘Regesten der Landgrafen von Hessen’ (Regest No. 3298) in LAGIS.
References
- Archive copy: HStAM, Urk. 1, 1794 (decayed)
- Contract language archive copy: German
- Digitized archive copy: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/digitalMediaViewer.action?archivalDescriptionId=6088196&selectId=158780492
- Regest: https://www.lagis-hessen.de/de/subjects/idrec/sn/lgr/id/3298
Recommended citation
Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 200. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/200.html.
@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit,
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 200},
url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/200.html}
}