Marriage contract no. 217: Brandenburg - Sachsen

Contract content

Article 1 (fol. 58v): Marriage decided

Article 2 (fol. 58v): Representative for the marriage ceremony appointed in the absence of the bride and groom, powers of attorney established

Article 3 (fol. 59r): The dowry amounts to 20,000 guilders

Article 4 (fol. 59r): Consummation of the marriage determined

Article 5 (fol. 59r): Bride’s journey to the groom regulated

Article 6 (fol. 59r): Refutation amounts to 20,000 guilders

Article 7 (fol. 59r, 67r): County/castle of Rippin as the bride’s residence with all rights of use and furnishings, regulations regarding income

Article 8 (fol. 59r-59v): 4,000 guilders annually, rights of use, annual interest

Article 9 (fol. 59v): Regulations regarding officials

Article 10 (fol. 60r-60v): dower awarded and regulated, alienation and reimbursement regulated

Article 11 (fol. 60v, 66v): 4,000 guilders set as annual income

Article 12 (fol. 61r): Bride’s journey to the groom regulated

Article 13 (fol. 61r, 65v-66r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride of all paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance; inheritance only occurs if all other heirs of the bride’s father are deceased

Article 14 (fol. 61r): If there are heirs from the agreed marriage: after the death of the groom, the bride retains her clothes, jewelry, and silverware

Article 15 (fol. 61v): Lifetime use and enjoyment by the groom regulated

Article 16 (fol. 61v): Braueschafft Castle with all appurtenances, 2,000 guilders annually.

Article 17 (fol. 62r): Inheritance of the dowry and the donatio propter nuptias regulated.

Article 18 (fol. 62r-62v): If all biological heirs from the marriage have died: Inheritance of dowry, donatio propter nuptias, etc. regulated.

Article 19 (fol. 62v): With or without heirs: after the death of the groom, the bride inherits the dowry, the donatio propter nuptias, the morning gift, as well as the castle with all appurtenances and rights of use and life estate

Article 20 (fol. 62v): ?

Article 21 (fol. 63r): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom, the dower can be redeemed with 20,000 guilders of the dowry and 20,000 guilders of the donatio propter nuptias

Article 22 (fol. 63r-63v): After receipt of the dowry and the donatio propter nuptias payment, guarantee and pledge?…

Article 23 (fol. 63v): Inheritance of dowry and donatio propter nuptias payment regulated: The groom remains in possession of the dowry and the dowry payment for life; after the death of the groom, the heirs inherit the sum; after the death of the heirs, their heirs inherit the sum; if there are no heirs from the marriage, George of Saxony and his heirs inherit 20,000 guilders, the 20,000 guilders of the dowry are to go to the brother Margrave Joachim and his heirs

Article 24 (fol. 63v): The bride is excluded from all debts of the groom (existing or future debts) and cannot be made liable for them.

Article 25 (fol. 64r): The widow’s property shall not be sold or pledged; this also applies to the descendants; if the property is not needed by Margrave Joachim and his descendants: The descendants of the bride may use the property

Article 26 (fol. 64r): Regulations concerning rights of use and vassals on the widow’s property

Article 27 (fol. 64r): Damage to the widow’s property shall be paid for and rectified

Article 28 (fol. 64r): The taxes from the widow’s estates are reserved for the House of Brandenburg.

Article 29 (fol. 66v-67r): Further financial regulations

Article 30 (fol. 67v): Descendants are obliged to continue to provide for the widow and her dower.

Article 31 (fol. 67v): Pledging and sale of heirlooms excluded

Article 32 (fol. 68r): The widow receives 2,000 guilders annually if there are no heirs.

Article 33 (fol. 68r-68v): Further regulations regarding the reimbursement of the dower.

Article 34 (fol. 69r): Councillors mentioned

Article 35 (fol. 69v): Receipt for 15,000 guilders paid by the bride’s father

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 11 (fol. 61r): The bride’s renunciation of her paternal, maternal and fraternal inheritance is regulated; Inheritance only occurs if all other heirs of the bride’s father are deceased.

Article 13 (fol. 61v): In the event of Magdalena’s death without heirs: lifetime right of use and enjoyment of the dowry for Joachim regulated; after his death: reversion to her heirs agreed.

Article 16 (fol. 62r-62v): If all heirs from the marriage have died: inheritance of dowry, donatio propter nuptias, etc. is regulated.

Article 21 (fol. 63v): Inheritance of dowry and donatio propter nuptias is regulated: The groom remains in possession of the dowry and donatio propter nuptias for life; after the death of the groom, the heirs inherit the sum; after the death of the heirs, their heirs inherit the sum; if there are no heirs from the marriage, George of Saxony and his heirs inherit 20,000 guilders, the 20,000 guilders of the dowry are to go to his brother Margrave Joachim and his heirs

Article 27 (65v-66r): Assurance of renunciation of inheritance by means of a letter of renunciation

Article 30 (fol. 67v): Pledging and sale of heirlooms excluded

Commentary

The original contract does not have numbered articles. The regest includes additional documents relating to the contract.

References

• Archive copy: GStA, I. HA Rep. 78, Nr. 24, fol. 58r-64v
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitized archive copy: https://archivdatenbank.gsta.spk-berlin.de/midosasearch-gsta/MidosaSEARCH/i_ha_rep_78_und_78_a/index.htm?kid=GStA_i_ha_rep_78_und_78_a_8&uid=GStA_i_ha_rep_78_und_78_a_I_HA_Rep_78_Nr_24

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 217. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/217.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 217},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/217.html}
}