Marriage contract no. 211: Österreich - Spanien (Kastilien/Aragon)

  • Date of contract conclusion: 5. November 1495
  • Place of contract conclusion: Mecheln

Groom

  • Name: Philipp I. von Österreich (‘der Schöne’)
  • GND: 11864162X
  • Year of Birth: 1578
  • Year of Death: 1605
  • Dynasty: Habsburg (Österreich)
  • Confession: katholisch

Bride

  • Name: Johanna I. von Kastilien (‘die Wahnsinnige’)
  • GND: 118557793
  • Year of Birth: 1479
  • Year of Death: 1555
  • Dynasty: Trastámara
  • Confession: katholisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Maximilian I., Kaiser
  • GND: 118579371
  • Dynasty: Habsburg (Österreich)
  • Relationship: Vater

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Ferdinand II., König von Aragon
  • GND: 118686712
  • Dynasty: Trastámara
  • Relationship: Vater
  • Name: Isabella I. von Kastilien
  • GND: 11863982X
  • Dynasty: Trastámara
  • Relationship: Mutter

Contract content

Preamble: Announcement of marriage and engagement, double wedding between Philip of Austria and Joanna of Castile, and John of Castile and Margaret of Austria, for the glory and honor of God, Christ, and for the preservation and advancement of the Christian faith, for eternal glory, for alliance, friendship, union of the participating kingdoms, monarchies, appointment of the procurator of the Catholic Monarchs

Art. 1: Dowry regulated, each party pays equal dowry

Art. 2-3: Dowry or morning gift regulated, to enable the brides to maintain a lifestyle befitting their status, annual payment of 20,000 gold scudi, secure investment of the funds in various locations, cities, castles, etc. to be identified within two months of the marriage for security purposes

Art. 4: Allocation of suitable widow’s estates guaranteed

Art. 5: Transfer of Margarethe to Spain guaranteed, within one month of conclusion of the contract

Art. 6: Transfer of Johanna to Flanders guaranteed, within two months of conclusion of the contract

Art. 7: Succession arrangements for both couples in accordance with the applicable rules of succession

Art. 8: General and perpetual alliance between Maximilian and Habsburg and the Catholic Monarchs or Spain and their children and successors and descendants, for the honor, preservation, and growth of their empires.

Art. 9: Understanding and cooperation on all matters concerning Italy, for the common benefit and welfare of Christendom.

Art. 10: Joint warfare in Italy.

Art. 11: Mutual assurance of compliance and ratification

Art. 12: Declaration by Spanish procurator Francisco Rojas regarding compliance

Art. 13: Assurance of consent and ratification by Philip, Margaret, John, and Joanna

Art. 14-15: Ratification within five months and personal signature of the monarchs regulated

Regulations on succession to the throne

Art. 7: Succession regulations for both couples according to the applicable rules of succession

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Art. 11: Compliance and ratification mutually assured

Art. 14-15: Ratification within five months and personal signature of the monarchs regulated

Commentary

The treaty regulates two marriages, cf. Marriage Treaty Spain (Castile/Aragon) - Austria 1495.

Treaty concluded on behalf of the Catholic Monarchs by procurator Francisco de Rojas.

Articles in the original treaty are not numbered.

Literature

Wiesflecker 1959; Kohler 1992

References