Marriage contract no. 21: England - Spanien

Contract content

[Pre] – after goodwill between both sides had grown through the conclusion of an alliance, becoming indissoluble (77 re), following the dissolution of the marriage between Arthur, Prince of Wales, and his bride through Arthur’s death (77 re – 78 li), out of mutual love and unity between the princes, to continue and strengthen the alliance, to renew the relationship with the virtuous bride, since marriage, as the seed of the state, brings happy consequences such as offspring, to the praise of God and religion, for the protection of the state, for peace and the benefit of both kingdoms and their subjects, after obtaining papal dispensation: Marriage agreed (78 li), authorised negotiators appointed (78re:)

(Powers of attorney for negotiators inserted) (78 re – 81 re)

The following articles of the contract drawn up by negotiators:

[1] – Obtaining of papal dispensation for bride and groom agreed (81 re)

[2] – Marriage agreed: within two months of exchange of ratifications, dispensations (82 li)

[3] – Dowry determined: offset against dowry share for bride’s first marriage (82 li – 82 re)

[4] – Payment of dowry regulated: partially at the age of 15 for the groom, in money, silverware and jewels, with the pledging of Spanish royal property, the state treasury and the possessions of Spanish subjects (82 re – 83 re)

[5] – Widow’s estate regulated: return of deeds relating to widow’s estate from first marriage before new marriage, transfer of deeds relating to new widow’s estate agreed upon at new marriage, bride’s waiver of further claims regulated (84 li – 84 re)

[6] – In the event of succession to the English throne: increase in widow’s estate to one third of the English corvée agreed (84 re)

[7] – In the event of the death of the bride’s siblings: Spanish succession to the throne, regency reserved for the bride (84 re)

[8] – in the event of succession to the English throne: dowry as agreed for other English queens, with the pledging of English royal property, the state treasury and the possessions of English subjects (84 re – 85 li)

[9] – in the event of the groom’s death before succession to the throne: English succession to the throne promised to the firstborn son of the bride and groom (85 li)

[10] – Ratification, exchange of documents agreed within six months (85 li – 85 re)

Regulations on succession to the throne

in the event of English succession to the throne by the groom: increase in widow’s estate to one third of the English corvée agreed - 6

in the event of the extinction of the bride’s siblings: Spanish succession to the throne, regency reserved for the bride - 7

in the event of the groom’s succession to the English throne: dowry as agreed for other English queens, with the pledging of English royal property, the state treasury and the possessions of English subjects - 8

in the event of the groom’s death before succession to the throne: English succession to the throne promised to the firstborn son of the bride and groom - 9

Regulations on inheritance law

in the event of the groom’s death before succession to the throne: English succession to the throne promised to the firstborn son of the bride and groom - 9

External authorities involved

Obtaining papal dispensation mentioned - 1

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Ratification by the bride’s father on 24 September 1503, bride’s mother on 30 September 1503 mentioned (Rymer 1704-1717, vol. XIII, p. 85f.)

Text reference to past events

Marriage between Arthur, Prince of Wales, and bride, death of Arthur mentioned - Pre

Further contracts between contracting parties

Alliance of London 10 July 1499

Trade agreement of Richmond 23 June 1503

Alliance of Windsor 9 February 1506

Commentary

Marriage between Arthur, bride referred to as ‘consummatum’ (78 li)

References

• Archive copy: TNA E 30/694, referenced in Parry/Hopkins 1970, vol. II, p. 34
• Print reference: Rymer 1704-1717, vol. XIII, pp. 77-85
• Contract language print: Latin

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 21. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/21.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 21},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/21.html}
}