Marriage contract no. 226: Schaumburg-Lippe - Hessen-Kassel

Contract content

Article 1: Landgravine Amalie Elisabeth, as guardian of Landgrave Wilhelm VI and in consultation with Hermann of Hesse-Rotenburg and Philipp of Schaumburg-Lippe, decides on his marriage to Sophie

Article 2: Philipp’s promise to honor and love his future wife in accordance with the ideal of Christian princely marriage

Article 3: Dowry set at 20,000 guilders, in accordance with the coinage regulations of Emperor Ferdinand I of 1559 and the custom of the House of Hesse-Kassel. The dowry is to be paid after the consummation of the marriage in return for the transfer of the widow’s dower and its confirmation by means of a receipt.

Article 4: Trousseau regulated: Amalie Elisabeth provides Sophie with silver tableware, clothing, jewelry, etc. in exchange for a written waiver on the part of Sophie.

Article 5: donatio propter nuptias set at 20,000 guilders, widow’s dower granted with the consent of Philip’s sister, Elisabeth von Holstein-Schaumburg und Sternberg; Bequest of the widow’s estate, which was already held by Hedwig of Hesse-Kassel, sworn obligation of present and future officials, servants, and subjects to Sophie after payment of the dowry; in the event that something happens to Philipp or the widow’s estate is devastated by war, Sophie shall receive her widow’s pension from other possessions, furnishings of the widow’s residence regulated, Philipp’s successors are obliged to protect Sophie, Rodenberg office excluded from the regulations

Article 6: Morning gift determined: stately jewel, 4,000 guilders and 300 Reichstaler annually from the town and office of Lipperoda, Sophie’s property and inheritance rights regulated, reversion of the morning gift to Philipp’s successors regulated if there are no legitimate heirs from the marriage

Article 7: If Sophie dies after consummation of the marriage without leaving any legitimate heirs or a will: reversion of silverware, jewelry, and clothing to her legal heirs

Article 8: Philipp is granted co-ownership of the dowry brought by Sophie; after his death: reversion of the dowry to the ruling prince of Hesse-Kassel, the house and office of Stadthagen and possibly the house and office of Rodenberg agreed as collateral, officials and subjects shall be bound by oath to Sophie until the reversion of the dowry

Article 9: Obligations of officials and subjects towards Sophie in the event of her widowhood are regulated, inheritance of dowry, donatio propter nuptias and inventory to her heirs are regulated; if Philipp dies before Sophie, she retains silver tableware, jewels, clothes and jewelry

Article 10: The house and office in Stadthagen are to be adequately stocked and furnished as widow’s dower property; Sophie is to have a year’s pension available in advance; the widow’s dower is to be furnished with the necessary inventory; reversion after Sophie’s death to the ruling prince of Schaumburg-Lippe is regulated. if Sophie remarries after Philipp’s death: reversion of the marriage money to Philipp’s successor, lifelong payment of 2,000 guilders annually instead of payment of the dowry, Sophie’s renunciation of her dower, cancellation of the oath of allegiance of the officials and subjects, return of the letter and seal; after Sophie’s death, the marriage money shall fall to Philipp’s successor.

Article 11: If there are heirs, but Sophie has further children in a second marriage, the marriage money shall be distributed equally, but the morning gift shall only go to existing heirs from her marriage to Philipp

Article 12: If no children are born from the second marriage, two-thirds of the dowry and the morning gift shall go to the heirs, the remaining third shall remain with Sophie; if there are no heirs, the dowry shall go to Philipp’s successor.

Article 13: Sophie shall not be liable for any debts Philipp may have.

Article 14: Sophie is obliged to maintain the dower residence; she is prohibited from selling or pledging the dower property, etc.

Article 15: Philipp reserves for himself and his heirs the superiority and sovereignty of his country.

Article 16: The contract is certified.

Article 17: Ratification and approval by Elisabeth of Holstein-Schaumburg-Lippe.

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 15: Philipp reserves the superiority and sovereignty of his country for himself and his heirs

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 4: Dowry regulated: Amalie Elisabeth provides Sophie with silver tableware, clothing, jewelry, etc. in exchange for a written waiver from Sophie

Article 6: Morning gift determined: stately jewels, 4,000 guilders, and 300 Reichstaler annually from the town and office of Lipperoda, Sophie’s property and inheritance rights regulated, reversion of the morning gift to Philipp’s successor regulated if there are no legitimate heirs from the marriage

Article 7: If Sophie dies after consummation of the marriage without leaving any legitimate heirs or a will: reversion of silver tableware, jewelry, and clothing to her legal heirs

Article 8: Philipp is granted co-ownership of the dowry brought by Sophie; after his death: reversion of the dowry to the ruling prince of Hesse-Kassel, the house and office of Stadthagen and, if necessary, the house and office of Rodenberg agreed as collateral; officials and subjects shall be bound by oath to Sophie until the reversion of the dowry

Article 9: Obligations of officials and subjects towards Sophie in the event of her widowhood are regulated, inheritance of dowry, donatio propter nuptias and inventory to her heirs are regulated; if Philipp dies before Sophie, she retains silver tableware, jewels, clothes and jewelry

Article 11: If there are heirs, but Sophie has further children in a second marriage, the dowry is to be divided equally, while the morning gift is only payable to existing heirs from her marriage to Philipp.

Article 12: If no children are born from the second marriage, two-thirds of the dowry and the morning gift shall go to the heirs, the remaining third shall remain with Sophie; if there are no heirs, the dowry shall go to Philipp’s successor.

External authorities involved

Article 1: Amalie Elisabeth decides (in consultation with Hermann of Hesse-Rotenburg and as guardian for Landgrave Wilhelm VI) together with Philipp of Schaumburg-Lippe on the marriage between him and Sophie

Article 5: donatio propter nuptias of 20,000 guilders from Philipp. Dowry agreement with the consent of his sister Elisabeth of Holstein-Schaumburg and Sternberg. The dower, which was already held by Hedwig of Hesse-Kassel. Officials, servants, and subjects shall be bound to Sophie by oath after payment of the dowry. If officials, etc., should die, the new officials shall be bound to Sophie. In the event that something happens to Philipp or the land is devastated by invasions, fire, and robbery, Sophie shall receive the dower rents from other possessions. The new widow’s residence was to be furnished as planned. Philipp’s successors were to protect Sophie. The office of Rodenberg was excluded.

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 17: Ratification and approval by Elisabeth of Holstein-Schaumburg-Lippe

Text reference to past events

Article 3: Dowry set at 20,000 guilders, in accordance with the coinage regulations of Emperor Ferdinand I of 1559 […]

Commentary

The contract itself is not divided into articles.

The bride’s renunciation mentioned in Article 4 is presumably to be understood as a renunciation of inheritance.

References

• Archive copy: HStAM, Urk. 3, Nr. 284
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitized archive copy: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/digitalMediaViewer.action?archivalDescriptionId=6156272

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 226. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/226.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 226},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/226.html}
}