Marriage contract no. 220: Brieg - Brandenburg

  • Date of contract conclusion: 5. Februar 1545
  • Place of contract conclusion: Köln

Groom

  • Name: Georg II. von Brieg
  • GND: 120227029
  • Year of Birth: 1523
  • Year of Death: 1586
  • Dynasty: Piasten
  • Confession: Lutherisch

Bride

  • Name: Barbara von Brandenburg
  • GND: 104211539
  • Year of Birth: 1527
  • Year of Death: 1595
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Confession: Lutherisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Friedrich II. von Brieg
  • GND: 118535692
  • Dynasty: Piasten
  • Relationship: Vater

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Joachim II. Hector von Brandenburg
  • GND: 118557556
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Relationship: Vater

Contract content

Article 1 (fol. 150v): Marriage decided; wedding set for 8 years later

Article 2 (fol. 151r): The dowry amounts to 20,000 guilders in Brandenburg currency, to be paid in installments after the consummation of the marriage; receipts required

Article 3 (fol. 151r-151v): Trousseau of silver tableware, clothing, and jewelry awarded

Article 4 (fol. 151v): The donatio propter nuptias is 20,000 guilders in Markish currency

Article 5 (fol. 151v-152r): Life annuity awarded, rights of use and usufruct established, princely residence and widow’s residence awarded, 4,000 guilders for annual maintenance

Article 6 (fol. 152r): Morning gift awarded

Article 7 (fol. 152r-152v): Widow’s dower granted, homage by subjects and officials established, rights of use established

Article 8 (fol. 152v): Prescription mentioned

Article 9 (fol. 152v): Regulations concerning officials

Article 10 (fol. 152v-153r): Financial regulations in the event that the assurances to the widow cannot be fulfilled, provision by the heirs

Article 11 (fol. 153r): Regulations in the event of debts, regulations in the event of damage to the widow’s dower, protection and insurance of the widow’s dower and morning gift guaranteed

Article 12 (fol. 153r-153v): Inspection of the widow’s dower and property after the wedding night

Article 13 (fol. 153v-154r): Inheritance regulations in the event that there are no heirs

Article 14 (fol. 154r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride to all paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance and appanage, as long as this line is not extinct; otherwise, the bride receives a portion of the inheritance

Article 15 (fol. 154r-154v): inheritance regulations concerning 20,000 guilders, clothing, jewelry, etc.; if the groom dies before the bride, she receives full rights of disposal over the morning gift, the marriage goods, the dowry, and the aforementioned castle and offices, etc.

Article 16 (fol. 154v-155r): Rights of use and usufruct for dower and morning gift guaranteed

Article 17 (fol. 155r): Oaths and vows guaranteed

Article 18 (fol. 155r): Regulations regarding inheritance, forfeiture, and payments

Article 19 (fol. 155r-155v): Regulations and stipulations regarding the transfer of the widow’s dower and property, maintenance, interest, and pensions

Article 20 (fol. 155v-156r): Redemption of the dower with 40,000 possible or lifelong possession of the dower by the bride, or only half of the dower usable in exchange for half of the marriage settlement, further regulations on the transfer of the dower

Article 21 (fol. 156r): if the bride and groom die without biological heirs, the bride’s male relatives inherit (20,000 guilders, Trousseau , etc.)

Article 22 (fol. 156v): Life estate letter mentioned

Article 23 (fol. 156v): Bride is excluded from all debts of the groom’s father and the groom incurred before or during the marriage

Article 24 (fol. 157r): Widow’s property may not be sold or pledged; the groom’s father and the groom are excluded from rights of use; the bride’s rights of use to secular and ecclesiastical fiefs belonging to the Leibgeding

Article 25 (fol. 157v-158r): if one of the spouses dies before consummation of the marriage, the marriage contract is invalid; provision agreed in the event of breach of contract

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 13 (fol. 153v-154r): Inheritance provisions if there are no heirs.

Article 14 (fol. 154r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride to all paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance and appanage, as long as this line is not extinct; otherwise, the bride receives a portion of the inheritance

Article 15 (fol. 154r-154v): Inheritance law provisions regarding 20,000 guilders, clothing, jewelry, etc.; if the groom dies before the bride, she receives full rights of disposal over the morning gift, the marriage goods, the dowry, and the aforementioned castle and offices, etc.

Article 18 (fol. 155r): Inheritance regulations, regulations regarding forfeiture and payments

Article 21 (fol. 156r): If the bride and groom die without biological heirs, the bride’s male relatives inherit (20,000 guilders, Trousseau , etc.).

Commentary

The original contract does not have numbered articles.

References