Marriage contract no. 230: Hessen - Sachsen

Contract content

Article 1: Marriage agreed, reference to Hessian-Saxon inheritance alliance

Article 2: Dowry set at 20,000 guilders, payment to be made after consummation of the marriage, receipt of the sums paid to be provided

Article 3: Trousseau in the form of clothing, silverware, and jewelry guaranteed, as befits a princess of Saxony

Article 4: Dowry set at 20,000 guilders

Article 5: Morning gift of 5,000 guilders guaranteed

Article 6: Property may not be mortgaged or encumbered

Article 7: The bride’s princely residence in Gießen and Grünberg and her rights of authority and rights of use over the aforementioned places and all associated property are regulated; 6,500 guilders are guaranteed as the bride’s annual income from the mortgaged property in Gießen and Grünberg; it is agreed that the old customs of local jurisdiction will be retained; Regulation of homage by officials and subjects and duties of loyalty to Christine or, in the event of her death, to her father or her heirs until the dowry lapses

Article 8: Maintenance of the dower and appropriate compensation regulated in the event that the agreed annual income from the properties cannot be achieved; in the event of certain damage, such as fire, Philipp’s heirs and the bride’s father or his heirs shall each bear half of the repair costs

Article 9: Protection and insurance of the dower guaranteed by Philipp’s heirs and descendants

Article 10: Prior inspection of the designated widow’s estate by the Saxon side agreed upon in order to check the buildings and determine whether the guaranteed 6,500 guilders in annual income can be generated

Article 11: If the Saxon side finds defects in the dower property, Philipp is obliged to repair them immediately in a manner befitting his status

Article 12: Transfer of the bride regulated

Article 13: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride to all paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance as long as male heirs from this line are still alive

Article 14: Regulation of the rights of disposal over the Trousseau brought into the marriage by Christine in the event that she dies before the groom after consummation of the marriage and leaves no bodily heirs; agreement to draw up an inventory of her possessions for the Saxon side; Philipp is granted lifelong use of the Trousseau ; after his death, it reverts to the bride’s paternal line if there are no heirs from the marriage; if there are heirs from the marriage, the dowry reverts to them.

Article 15: Philipp is also granted lifelong use of the dowry after Christine’s death; after his death, it reverts to the Saxon side.

Article 16: After Christine’s death: the rights of disposal and sovereignty of the bride’s father or his heirs over the widow’s estate until its redemption through repayment of the dowry, etc., are regulated.

Article 17: The obligation of loyalty of the officials and subjects on the widow’s estate towards the Saxon side until redemption is regulated, and the transfer of income from the estate to Saxony until then is regulated.

Article 18: If the bride and groom die and there are no living heirs, the dowry, counter-dowry, etc. shall be dealt with as above; if there are still living heirs from the marriage, they shall inherit the dowry, counter-dowry, etc.

Article 19: If Philipp dies, Christine shall immediately be entitled to the marriage property, dowry, and morning gift, as well as the aforementioned estates, Gießen and Grünberg, together with the dominion and jurisdiction over them; rights of use to the trousseau, gifts received, and marital household goods, etc., shall be regulated, provided she does not remarry.

Article 20: If Christine remarries after Philipp’s death: redemption of the Leibgeding, the 20,000 guilders of the Widerlage, the 20,000 guilders of the dowry, and the 5,000 guilders of the Morgengabe are regulated. as soon as the total sum of 45,000 guilders has been paid out, she must relinquish the life annuity and release all officials and subjects in Giessen and Grünberg from their duty of loyalty; inheritance of the sum to existing heirs from the marriage to Philip or their heirs is regulated.

Article 21: If both spouses die without leaving any living heirs, the dowry shall revert to the House of Saxony and the morning gift to the House of Hesse; the morning gift shall be at Christine’s free disposal

Article 22: Christine shall not be denied her own income and gains

Article 23: Christine shall not be burdened with any debts incurred by Philip before or during the marriage

Article 24: Christine shall not sell or transfer the widow’s estate without the consent of Philip’s heirs and successors

Article 25: Christine may not make use of her dower to the detriment of Philipp’s heirs and descendants, unless she is restricted in her rights by those heirs and descendants

Article 26: Equipment and armament of the castles belonging to the dower are regulated

Article 27: Regulation on the handling of landgrave fiefs on the dower estates

Article 28: Regulations concerning the clergy and castle men on the dower estates

Article 29: Tax revenues and the granting of knightly fiefs are reserved for Philip and his heirs and descendants; mutual compliance with the contract is guaranteed

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 13: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride of all paternal, maternal, and fraternal inheritance as long as male heirs from this line are still alive

Article 14: Regulation of the rights of disposal over the dowry brought into the marriage by Christine in the event that she dies before the groom after consummation of the marriage and leaves no bodily heirs; Agreement to draw up an inventory of her possessions for the Saxon side; Philipp is granted lifelong use of the Trousseau ; after his death, it reverts to the bride’s paternal line if there are no heirs from the marriage; if there are heirs from the marriage, the dowry reverts to them

Article 15: Philipp is also granted lifelong use of the dowry after Christine’s death; after his death, it reverts to the Saxon side.

Article 20: If Christine remarries after Philipp’s death: redemption of the Leibgeding, the 20,000 guilders dowry, the 20,000 guilders dowry, and the 5,000 guilders morning gift is regulated. as soon as the total sum of 45,000 guilders has been paid out, she must relinquish the dower and release all officials and subjects in Giessen and Grünberg from their duty of loyalty; inheritance of the sum to existing heirs from the marriage to Philipp or their heirs is regulated.

Article 21: If both spouses die without leaving any living heirs, the dowry shall revert to the House of Saxony and the morganate to the House of Hesse; the morning gift shall be at Christine’s free disposal.

Article 16: After Christine’s death: The rights of disposal and sovereignty of the bride’s father or his heirs over the widow’s estate until its redemption by repayment of the dowry, etc., are regulated.

Article 18: If the bride and groom die and there are no living biological heirs, the dowry, counter-dowry, etc. shall be dealt with as above; if there are still living biological heirs from the marriage, they shall inherit the dowry, counter-dowry, etc.

Text reference to past events

Article 1: […] Reference to Hessian-Saxon inheritance brotherhood

Further contracts between contracting parties

Renewal of the Hessian-Saxon inheritance alliance July 9, 1520 - Hessian-Saxon alliance agreement for the defense of the faith May 2, 1526

Commentary

The original agreement does not have numbered articles.

References

• Archive copy: HStA Drd, 10001 O.U. 10426
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 230. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/230.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 230},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/230.html}
}