Marriage contract no. 246: Sachsen-Coburg - Sachsen

Contract content

Article 1 (p. 1): Consent of Johann Georg, Margrave of Brandenburg (Elector) and Georg Friedrich mentioned

Article 2 (p. 1): Marriage decided

Article 3 (pp. 1-2): After consummation of the marriage, the bride shall receive 30,000 talers as a dowry; receipt for sums paid required

Article 4 (p. 2): Trousseau of jewellery, silverware, clothing, etc. awarded in accordance with the bride’s status

Article 5 (p. 2): The morning gift amounts to 7,000 talers in principal or 350 talers as an annual pension, prescription and insurance mentioned

Article 6 (p. 2): The donation propter nuptias amounts to 30,000 talers

Article 7 (p. 2): Widow’s residence in Römhild and offices in Leutenberg, Veilsdorf, Eiffelt, including appurtenances, determined; rights of disposal regulated; consent and agreement of Johann Georg and Georg Friedrich mentioned

Article 8 (p. 2): Chamber courts mentioned

Article 9 (p. 2-3): 6,000 talers allocated for the bride’s maintenance on her estates, animal breeding and husbandry regulated

Article 10 (p. 3): Deficits in maintenance are to be paid from the Coburg Chamber

Article 11 (p. 3): Corvée labour, fishing rights, wood supply, etc. regulated

Article 12 (p. 3): Salaries of officials regulated on the basis of the life estate mention of the consent of the Duke of Saxony

Article 13 (p. 3): The bride is free to pay the officials herself

Article 14 (p. 3): The bride may appoint and dismiss the officials

Article 15 (p. 3): Homage to the officials after consummation of the marriage is regulated

Article 16 (p. 3): After the death of the bride and groom, the Duke of Saxony and his heirs inherit half of the donation propter nuptias

Article 17 (p. 3): The bride’s dominion over the dower is regulated, provision is regulated by prescription

Article 18 (p. 3-4): Mention of hereditary homage

Article 19 (p. 4): Defence of the goods and possessions regulated

Article 20 (p. 4): Use of the dower is reserved for the bride

Article 21 (p. 4): Before consummation: Inspection of the widow’s dower by the bride’s father regulated, defects to be compensated by the groom and the Chamber of Coburg

Article 22 (p. 4): Condition of the widow’s dower and chambers regulated

Article 23 (pp. 4-5): Protection of the widow’s dower and insurance regulated

Article 24 (p. 5): The secular and ecclesiastical subjects of the dower remain subject to the rights determined by the groom.

Article 25 (p. 5): The bride is prohibited from opening the widow’s property without the permission of the groom or his heirs; the property may not be encumbered with debts or granted as a fief.

Article 26 (p. 5): Improvement of the widow’s residence promised, if necessary

Article 27 (p. 5): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride for herself and her descendants to the inheritance of the House of Saxony, mention of the drafting of a letter of renunciation; The bride and her heirs shall only inherit once all male heirs of the House of Saxony have died. Article 28 (pp. 5-6): If the bride dies after consummation of the marriage and before the groom, without leaving any heirs: The groom shall receive the lifelong right of use of the 30,000 talers of the dowry. After the death of the groom, the dowry reverts to the House of Saxony; until repayment is made, the bride’s father or his heirs shall dispose of the aforementioned estates and 3,000 talers annually.

Article 29 (p. 6): The widow or the bride’s father or his heirs shall take possession of the widow’s dower; homage and oaths shall be administered by officials.

Article 30 (p. 6): The transfer of the 30,000 guilders shall take place in Leipzig.

Article 31 (p. 6): The morning gift shall be inherited in accordance with the bride’s will; if she does not determine the inheritance herself, the morning gift shall remain with the groom.

Article 32 (p. 7): If the bride dies before the groom without any living heirs: The groom receives the right of disposal over the trousseau for life in exchange for the handover of an inventory list; after the groom’s death, the trousseau reverts to the bride’s father or his heirs.

Article 33 (p. 7): If there are heirs from the marriage but they die before the inheritance, the aforementioned rules of inheritance apply.

Article 34 (p. 7): If there are heirs from the marriage: The groom and the heirs inherit the dowry and the trousseau.

Article 35 (pp. 7-8): If the groom dies before the bride and there are minor heirs: The bride receives control over the aforementioned property; rights of use and maintenance are regulated, and the widow retains these rights as long as she does not remarry

Article 36 (p. 8): Provision of wine, beer, food, etc. for the widow’s residence is promised

Article 37 (p. 8): After the death of the groom, the bride receives the life estate, the morning gift, 6,350 talers annually and the trousseau.

Article 38 (pp. 8-9): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: The groom’s heirs may redeem the dower for 30,000 talers of the dowry, 350 talers of the morning gift and 7,000 talers; instead of the donation propter nuptias, the widow receives 3,000 talers annually; after her death, this sum falls to the joint Leibserben from the first marriage or to the groom’s next heirs

Article 39 (p. 9): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom and there are heirs from the second marriage and she has heirs from the first marriage: The dowry of 30,000 talers shall be divided between the children from the first and second marriages.

Article 40 (p. 9): Regulation of the transfer of the dower, regulation of the release of officials from their oaths to the bride.

Article 41 (p. 9): If the widow does not remarry and has no heirs, she shall spend her widowhood on the dower, the dowry shall revert to the bride’s father and his heirs, and the donation propter nuptias shall go to the groom’s heirs.

Article 42 (p. 10): Even after the death of the groom, the bride may not be held liable for any of the groom’s debts, regardless of whether these were incurred before or after the consummation of the marriage; the claims may also not relate to the dowry, the trousseau, etc.

Article 43 (p. 10): Regulations governing knightly services during the inspection of the Leibgeding

Article 44 (p. 10): Promise to comply with the contract

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 16 (p. 3): After the death of the bride and groom, the Duke of Saxony and his heirs shall inherit half of the donation propter nuptias

Article 18 (p. 3-4): Mention of homage

Article 27 (p. 5): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride for herself and her descendants to the inheritance of the House of Saxony, mention of the drafting of a letter of renunciation; Inheritance for the bride and her heirs shall only occur when all male heirs of the House of Saxony have died.

Article 28 (p. 5-6): If the bride dies after consummation of the marriage and before the groom without leaving any heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the 30,000 talers of the dowry; After the death of the groom, the dowry reverts to the House of Saxony; until repayment is made, the bride’s father or his heirs shall have the aforementioned dominions and 3,000 talers annually

Article 29 (p. 6): Accession to the widow’s dower by the widow or the bride’s father or his heirs is regulated, homage and oaths are regulated by officials.

Article 31 (p. 6): The morning gift shall be inherited in accordance with the bride’s will; if she does not determine the inheritance herself, the morning gift shall remain with the groom.

Article 32 (p. 7): If the bride dies before the groom without any living heirs: The groom receives the right of disposal over the trousseau for life in exchange for the handover of an inventory list; after the death of the groom, the trousseau reverts to the bride’s father or his heirs

Article 33 (p. 7): If there are heirs from the marriage but they die before the inheritance, the aforementioned rules of inheritance apply.

Article 34 (p. 7): If there are heirs from the marriage: The groom and the heirs inherit the dowry and the trousseau.

Article 35 (p. 7-8): If the groom dies before the bride and there are minor heirs: The bride receives control over the aforementioned goods, rights of use and maintenance, and the widow retains these rights as long as she does not remarry.

Article 37 (p. 8): After the death of the groom, the bride receives the life estate, the Morgengabe, 6,350 talers annually and the trousseau

Article 38 (pp. 8-9): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: The groom’s heirs may redeem the dower for 30,000 talers of the dowry, 350 talers of the morning gift and 7,000 talers. Instead of the donatio propter nuptias, the widow receives 3,000 talers annually. After her death, this sum goes to the joint heirs from the first marriage or to the groom’s next heirs.

Article 39 (p. 9): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom and has heirs from the second marriage and she has heirs from the first marriage: The dowry of 30,000 talers shall be divided between the children from the first and second marriages.

Article 41 (p. 9): If the widow does not remarry and has no heirs, she shall spend her widowhood on the dowry, the dowry shall revert to the bride’s father and his heirs, and the donatio propter nuptias shall go to the groom’s heirs.

External authorities involved

Article 1 (p. 1): Consent of Johann Georg, Margrave of Brandenburg (Elector) and Georg Friedrich mentioned

Article 7 (p. 2): Widow’s residence in Römhild and offices in Leutenberg, Veilsdorf, Eiffelt, including appurtenances, established; rights of disposal regulated; consent and agreement of Johann Georg and Georg Friedrich mentioned Article 12 (p. 3): Remuneration of officials regulated in accordance with the Leibgedinge; agreement of the Duke of Saxony mentioned

Commentary

The marriage was dissolved in 1593.

The original contract is not divided into articles.

References

• Archive copy: HStA Drd 10001 O.U. 12152 (1584 V 5)
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 246. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/246.html.

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title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 246},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/246.html}
}