Marriage contract no. 206: Hessen-Kassel - Hessen-Darmstadt

Contract content

Article 1: Marriage agreed between Landgrave Maximilian and Princess Friederike Charlotte, mutual marriage vows exchanged, marriage arrangements made

Article 2: Dowry set at 20,000 guilders, plus a voluntary gift of a further 4,000 guilders, payment and interest in the event of late payment regulated

Article 3: Dowry in the form of jewelry, silverware, etc. worth 10,000 guilders guaranteed, in accordance with the custom of the House of Hesse and the will of Landgrave Ludwig VI of 1664; bridal jewelry guaranteed, provision of jewelry and furniture for Friederike Charlotte regulated, rights of ownership and use thereof regulated; if Friederike Charlotte dies before Maximilian without issue, he is entitled to the usufruct of the dowry and her estate, unless otherwise stipulated in her will or by fideicommissum; inheritance rights regulated

Article 4: Friederike Charlotte is awarded a further 50,000 guilders from her maternal inheritance by Landgrave Ernst Ludwig, which had previously been invested in Hesse-Darmstadt

Article 5: In accordance with general custom in the Empire and especially with Saxon-Hessian inheritance fraternization: Friederike Charlotte’s renunciation of her paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance, with Maximilian’s consent, is regulated by the execution of a letter of renunciation, except in the event of the extinction of the male line of the House of Hesse-Darmstadt. Exception in relation to a portion of the maternal inheritance specified in a will

Article 6: Landgrave Karl of Hesse-Kassel guarantees a dowry of 2,000 Reichstalers and an annual life annuity of 200 Reichstalers, in addition to this: donation of jewels guaranteed after consummation of the marriage, reversion of the dowry regulated

Article 7: Landgrave Karl guarantees Friederike Charlotte an annual allowance of 1,000 Reichstalers

Article 8: Landgrave Karl’s financial contribution to the couple’s household is regulated

Article 9: Provision and furnishing of a widow’s residence befitting her status regulated, annual widow’s pension set at 4,000 Reichstalers, of which 3,000 are to be paid in cash and 1,000 in kind, regardless of whether or not the marriage produces legitimate heirs; Further provisions regarding the widow’s maintenance and upkeep of the widow’s residence; in the event of the destruction of the widow’s residence, appropriate replacement shall be provided

Article 10: Friederike Charlotte is granted jurisdiction and administration of the widow’s estate, subject to the sovereign’s authority and regalia as well as special provisions of the widow’s pension agreement; Friederike Charlotte receives limited jurisdiction over her court servants, protection of the widow’s estate guaranteed by Landgrave Karl and his heirs

Article 11: Obligations of officials and subjects on the widow’s estate towards Friederike Charlotte are regulated, inspection of the widow’s estate by Landgrave Ernst is regulated.

Article 12: Friederike Charlotte is obliged to respect the rights and freedoms of her subjects.

Article 13: Possible redemption of the widow’s estate is regulated

Article 14: Freedom from debt of the widow’s estate is guaranteed

Article 15: In accordance with the inheritance agreement of the House of Hesse, the widow’s estate may not be placed under foreign control, pledged, or transferred without the consent of the heirs and successors of Landgrave Karl

Article 16: If Maximilian dies before Friederike Charlotte: Regulation of the widow’s residence and assurance of support in furnishing the widow’s residence

Article 17: Regulation of the widow’s residence in accordance with her rank, including furnishings and provisions

Article 18: Assurance of timely payment of the widow’s pension and maintenance of the widow’s residence by the heirs and descendants of Landgrave Karl

Article 19: Friederike Charlotte is obliged not to make any claims beyond the prescribed widow’s dower in the event of Maximilian’s death

Article 20: in the event of a relocation of the widow’s residence, an amicable settlement regarding the widow’s dower is provided for

Article 21: In the event of Maximilian’s death: Friederike Charlotte’s rights of ownership to all property brought into the marriage and acquired during the marriage are regulated; if she also dies and no legitimate heirs have been born from the marriage: her estate reverts to Hesse-Darmstadt

Article 22: In the event of a second marriage of Friederike Charlotte: Payment of the dowry and use of the morning gift regulated

Article 23: Reservation of the sovereign’s authority over the dower estate with all associated rights agreed for Landgrave Karl and his heirs: Subjects there remain liable for taxes and duties to the Landgrave; Obligation of Maximilian and his heirs to provide Friederike Charlotte with her annual widow’s income regulated

Article 24: Friederike Charlotte exempt from liability for debts incurred by Maximilian during his lifetime; the widow’s next heirs liable for her debts

Article 25: If Maximilian dies leaving minor children from the marriage, Friederike Charlotte may exercise guardianship jointly with other guardians as long as she does not remarry

Article 26: Assurance of religious freedom: Friederike Charlotte and her household may practice the Lutheran faith privately at any time without hindrance

Article 27: Settlement of any disputes regarding the marriage agreement in accordance with imperial law, unless amicably negotiable between the houses of Hesse-Darmstadt and Hesse-Kassel; in this case: recourse to an arbitrator agreed; compliance agreed

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 25: If Maximilian dies leaving minor children from the marriage, Friederike Charlotte may exercise guardianship jointly with other guardians as long as she does not remarry

Confessional regulations

Article 26: Assurance of religious freedom: Friederike Charlotte and her household may freely practice the Lutheran faith in private at any time

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 3: If Friederike Charlotte dies before Maximilian without leaving any heirs, he shall be entitled to the usufruct of her dowry and estate, unless otherwise stipulated in her will or by fideicommissum; inheritance law regulated

Article 5: In accordance with general custom in the empire and especially with Saxon-Hessian inheritance fraternization: Friederike Charlotte’s renunciation of her paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance, with Maximilian’s consent, execution of a letter of renunciation (Verzichtsbrief) regulated, except in the event of the extinction of the male line of the House of Hesse-Darmstadt; Exception in relation to a portion of the maternal inheritance specified in the will

Text reference to past events

Article 3: mentions the will of Landgrave Ludwig VI from 1664; Article 5: mentions the Saxon-Hessian inheritance alliance; Article 15: mentions the inheritance union of the House of Hesse

Commentary

Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel was a non-ruling Landgrave. For further information, see: https://www.lagis-hessen.de/pnd/137327617

Literature

Franz 2014, p. 22; Philippi 1976, p. 517

References

• Archive copy: HStAM, Urk. 3, Nr. 369
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitized archive copy: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/digitalMediaViewer.action?archivalDescriptionId=6156211

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 206. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/206.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 206},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/206.html}
}