Marriage contract no. 216: Mecklenburg-Schwerin - Brandenburg

  • Date of contract conclusion: 17. Januar 1524
  • Place of contract conclusion: Köln

Groom

  • Name: Albrecht VII. von Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • GND: 120438879
  • Year of Birth: 1488
  • Year of Death: 1547
  • Dynasty: Mecklenburg
  • Confession: Katholisch

Bride

  • Name: Anna von Brandenburg
  • GND: 133245128
  • Year of Birth: 1507
  • Year of Death: 1567
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Confession: Katholisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Albrecht VII. zu Mecklenburg
  • GND: 120438879
  • Dynasty: Mecklenburg
  • Relationship: /

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Joachim I. Nestor von Brandenburg
  • GND: 119214644
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Relationship: Vater

Contract content

Article 1 (fol. 48v): Marriage decided upon to settle disputes between the two principalities

Article 2 (fol. 49r): Date of marriage, payment of dowry, and consummation of marriage set

Article 3 (fol. 49r): Dowry amounts to over 20,000 guilders, princely jewelry, silver tableware, etc., horses for the bride guaranteed, payment after consummation of the marriage regulated

Article 4 (fol. 49r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride for herself and her descendants to the inheritance of her parents agreed

Article 5 (fol. 49r-49v): If the bride’s father dies without male heirs, the bride and her descendants inherit a fixed share

Article 6 (fol. 49v): Regulation regarding the effects of a planned division of the inheritance of the groom and his brother

Article 7 (fol. 49v-50r): princely residence granted to the bride, dower, rights of use, 5,000 guilders promised for annual maintenance

Article 8 (fol. 50r-50v): regulations regarding the duties of loyalty of officials, homage and oath

Article 9 (fol. 50r-50v): Payment of the marriage money guaranteed by the bride’s guardians or their heirs

Article 10 (fol. 51r): Morning gift promised after consummation of the marriage and payment of the dowry

Article 11 (fol. 51r): if Anna dies after consummation of the marriage without producing any legitimate children: reversion of the dowry regulated according to customary law

Article 12 (fol. 51r-51v): Mutual assistance guaranteed

Article 13 (fol. 51v-52r): Anna’s maintenance set at 5,000 guilders annual interest

Article 14 (fol. 52r): Residence of the bride regulated, associated possessions and rights as well as rights of use regulated

Article 15 (fol. 52r-52v): Widow’s residence and widow’s property with rights of use and furnishings regulated

Article 16 (fol. 52v-53r): Obligation of Albrecht’s descendants to comply with the terms of the contract after his death

Article 17 (fol. 53r): Prohibition on the sale and pledging of heirlooms by Albrecht’s descendants

Article 18 (fol. 53r): Appointment of officials to the widow’s property

Article 19 (fol. 53v-54r): Bequests and pledging among descendants

Article 20 (fol. 54r): Regulation of the redemption of the widow’s estates by payment of 30,000 guilders by Albrecht’s descendants to Anna if she does not move into her widow’s residence after his death

Article 21 (fol. 54r-54v): Guarantee of Anna’s right of return, regulation of the transport of her movable property

Article 22 (fol. 54v): Obligation of the groom’s descendants to comply with the contract

Article 23 (54v-55r): Sealing by Albrecht and his brother regulated

Article 24 (55r-56v): Declaration of renunciation of inheritance by Anna in accordance with the relevant articles of the marriage contract

Article 25 (fol. 57r-57v): Regulations regarding the redemption of the dower by Albrecht’s descendants

Article 26 (fol. 94r-94v): Provisions regarding the dower, annual income of 5,000 guilders reaffirmed, inheritance regulated, inheritance provisions between the groom and his brother mentioned; procedure with dowry regulated in the event of division of inheritance with the brother: in this case, another dowry is allocated that is similar to the one actually agreed upon

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 4 (fol. 49r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride for herself and her descendants to the inheritance of her parents agreed

Article 5 (fol. 49r-49v): If the bride’s father dies without male heirs, the bride and her descendants inherit a fixed share

Article 11 (fol. 51r): If Anna dies after consummation of the marriage without producing any children, the dowry reverts according to customary law

Article 19 (fol. 53v-54r): Bequests and pledges among descendants regulated

Article 24 (55r-56v): Declaration of renunciation of inheritance by Anna in accordance with the relevant articles of the marriage contract

Article 25 (fol. 57r-57v): Regulations regarding the redemption of the dower by Albrecht’s descendants

Article 26 (fol. 94r-94v): Regulations regarding the dower, annual income of 5,000 guilders reaffirmed, inheritance regulated, inheritance regulations between the groom and his brother mentioned; procedure with dowry regulated in the event of division of inheritance with the brother: in this case, another dowry is allocated that is equal to the one actually agreed upon

References