Marriage contract no. 209: Frankreich - Hessen-Kassel

Contract content

Article 1: Marriage contract concluded between the procurator for Henri Charles de la Trémouille and Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Kassel

Article 2: Early transfer of sovereignty over various territories and estates that are part of the inheritance of the Dukes of Trémouille, with the associated territories and rights, to Henri Charles as a wedding gift, based on a comprehensive agreement on the division of his parents’ inheritance with his siblings

Article 3: The Duke and Duchess of Trémouille undertake to remit all debts owed by Henri Charles

Article 4: Dowry set at 150,000 livres, payment of the sum to the bride and groom to be made in several installments; in return: Emilie’s renunciation of inheritance in favor of her brother, Landgrave Wilhelm VI, and his male descendants; if the male line of the House of Hesse-Kassel dies out, Emilie may assert her rights

Article 4: Payment of an additional 24,000 livres for Emilie’s clothing and jewelry, guaranteed by Landgravine Amalie

Article 5: Community of property agreed between the spouses, valid from the day of their marriage; agreement that the dowry sum will be included in the community of property, the additional 45,000 livres will formally remain in Emilie’s possession, and upon dissolution of the community of property, she will receive the sum and all movable property that she brings into the marriage, free of any debts of her husband

Article 6: Upon the death of one of the spouses, the 45,000 livres shall be awarded to the surviving partner, regardless of whether the community of property continues to exist or not

Article 7: Widow’s pension of 12,000 livres per year is regulated, dower and widow’s residence are guaranteed; even if Emilie remarries after the death of Henri Charles, she is still entitled to the widow’s pension.

Article 8: If the Duchess of Trémouille dies before Emilie, the latter receives the barony and the castle of Vitré as her dower.

Article 9: If Emilie dies before Henri Charles, he may use the dowry without restriction for six years from the date of her death; after this period, 50,000 livres shall revert to Hesse-Kassel, and he may use the remaining 100,000 livres for the rest of his life; after his death, they shall be returned to Hesse-Kassel

Article 10: Waiver of interest on the dowry sum by Hesse-Kassel.

Article 11: Upon the death of Henri Charles: Payment of the dowry to Emilie within four years in annual installments of 37,500 livres, plus interest.

Article 12: Investment and interest on the dowry during the marriage regulated.

Article 13: Ratification regulated, consent and compliance by all parties guaranteed.

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 2: premature transfer of sovereignty over various territories and estates that are part of the inheritance of the Dukes of Trémouille, with the associated territories and rights, to Henri Charles as a wedding gift, based on a comprehensive agreement on the division of the parental inheritance with his siblings

Article 4: Dowry set at 150,000 livres […]; in return: Emilie’s renunciation of inheritance in favor of her brother, Landgrave William VI, and his male descendants; if the male line of the House of Hesse-Kassel dies out, Emilie may assert her rights

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 13: Ratification regulated, consent and compliance assured by all parties

References

• Archive copy: HStAM, Urk. 3, Nr. 318
• Contract language archive copy: French
• Digitized archive copy: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/digitalMediaViewer.action?archivalDescriptionId=6156226

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 209. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/209.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 209},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/209.html}
}