Marriage contract no. 248: Sachsen - Preußen

Contract content

Article 1 (pp. 1-2): Marriage agreed

Article 2 (p. 2): Consent and approval of the Emperor mentioned

Article 3 (p. 2): Ceremony and consummation regulated

Article 4 (p. 2): The dowry amounts to 30,000 guilders, 21 silver groschen are granted for one guilder

Article 5 (p. 2): Trousseau befitting her rank in jewellery, silverware and precious stones guaranteed

Article 6 (p. 3): The donation propter nuptias amounts to 30,000 guilders

Article 7 (p. 3): Dowry guaranteed; Eulenberg office and appurtenances specified; if there is a deficiency in the dowry, it must be remedied

Article 8 (p. 3): The bride receives 6,000 guilders annually from the dower for her maintenance, rights of use mentioned, jurisdiction over subjects specified; fiefs and corvée labour regulated; bailiffs mentioned, homage specified; the groom reserves the regulations concerning the sovereign’s authority and knightly services for himself and his heirs

Article 9 (pp. 3-4): If necessary, the widow is entitled to knightly services in accordance with her princely status and reputation; knightly services are regulated

Article 10 (p. 4): Supplies on the dower are regulated: deficiencies must be compensated

Article 11 (p. 4): An inventory list must be drawn up for the household goods; the household goods may not be sold and must remain on the dower estate.

Article 12 (p. 4): The dower estate may be used by the groom if there is a need to do so.

Article 13 (p. 4): Inspection of the dower by representatives of the groom’s guardian and representatives of the bride’s family; mention of the groom’s approval

Article 14 (p. 4): After consummation of the marriage, the bride receives a prescription for 400 guilders as a morning gift, interest is regulated, she also receives a princely jewel, and she continues to receive an additional 100 guilders annually for life; the bride may use these sums freely

Article 15 (pp. 4-5): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry and trousseau in exchange for the handover of an inventory list; after the death of the groom, the dowry and trousseau revert to the bride’s parents, the bride’s sisters or their children, and the next heirs.

Article 16 (p. 5): If there are joint heirs, but they die before the bride and groom without leaving any heirs, the above provisions shall remain in force.

Article 17 (p. 5): If there are joint heirs, but they also die shortly after the death of the bride and groom: The inheritance of the dowry, donation propter nuptias and trousseau shall be governed by the usual rules.

Article 18 (pp. 5-6): If the widow remarries and has no heirs from her first marriage: The widow’s dower and all bequests may be redeemed for 60,000 guilders, 30,000 guilders shall be handed over directly, the other 30,000 guilders shall bear interest, the widow’s dower shall be pledged as security for the pension; if the widow dies, the interest shall be void and the groom’s heirs shall have no obligation to pay.

Article 19 (p. 6): If the widow remarries and has children: 45,000 guilders shall be set instead of 60,000 guilders, 22,500 guilders shall be handed over directly to the widow, the other 22,500 guilders shall be reimbursed with an annual 2,150 guilders as a lifetime pension, in which case the widow’s dower shall not be encumbered with any debts, and neither the widow’s dower nor parts thereof may be disposed of or sold; Use in accordance with the customary right of dower.

Article 20 (p. 6): Maintenance and condition of the widow’s dower and the princely residences regulated, even in the event of the reversion of the widow’s dower.

Article 21 (p. 6): Use of the widow’s dower by the groom’s heirs excluded.

Article 22 (p. 6): Defence of the dower regulated; the groom reserves for himself and his descendants the opening and protection of land and population; the costs are to be borne by the groom or his heirs.

Article 23 (p. 6): Ecclesiastical fiefs belonging to the dower remain in their old status.

Article 24 (p. 6): The regulations regarding knightly fiefs are reserved.

Article 25 (pp. 6-7): Damage to the dower caused by war, fire or other devastation shall be compensated by the groom or his heirs; the dower shall be provided with wood if necessary; defects in the dower must be compensated; protection of the dower is regulated.

Article 26 (p. 8): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride of all paternal, maternal and fraternal inheritance, renunciation of succession by the bride for herself and her descendants for Prussia; inheritance by the bride shall only occur if there are no male heirs of her parents; Inheritance of Jülich-Kleve-Berg regulated, imperial privileges and confirmation mentioned, marriage contract and succession of the bride’s eldest sister, Anna von Brandenburg, mentioned and regulated, payment arrangements for 91,000 guilders, payment arrangements for 140,000 guilders, payment arrangements for 60,000 guilders

Article 27 (p. 9): If the bride’s eldest sister dies and leaves no heirs: The inheritance shall be divided among her sisters, inheritance as stipulated by Duke William of Jülich-Kleve-Berg; division of the inheritance among the bride’s mother and her siblings.

Article 28 (p. 9): The representatives of the bride and groom confirm the aforementioned points and promise to comply with them

Article 29 (p. 9): Promise to comply with the contract

Article 30 (pp. 9-10): Both sides receive a copy of the contract

Article 31 (p. 10): Councillors and witnesses named

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 26 (p. 8): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride of all paternal, maternal and fraternal inheritance, renunciation of succession by the bride for herself and her descendants for Prussia; inheritance by the bride shall only occur if there are no male heirs of her parents; Inheritance of Jülich-Kleve-Berg regulated, imperial privileges and confirmation mentioned, marriage contract and succession of the bride’s eldest sister, Anna von Brandenburg, mentioned and regulated, payment arrangements for 91,000 guilders, payment arrangements for 140,000 guilders, payment arrangements for 60,000 guilders

Article 27 (p. 9): If the bride’s eldest sister dies and leaves no heirs: The inheritance shall be divided among her sisters, inheritance as determined by Duke William of Jülich-Kleve-Berg; division of the inheritance among the bride’s mother and her siblings.

Confessional regulations

Artikel 23 (S. 6): Kirchliche Lehen, die zur Mitgift gehören, behalten ihren bisherigen Status.

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 8 (p. 3): The bride receives 6,000 guilders annually from the dower for her maintenance, rights of use are mentioned, jurisdiction over subjects is established; fiefs and corvée labour are regulated; bailiffs are mentioned, homage is stipulated; the groom reserves the regulations concerning the sovereign’s authority and knightly services for himself and his heirs.

Article 15 (pp. 4-5): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry and trousseau in exchange for the handover of an inventory list; after the death of the groom, the dowry and trousseau revert to the bride’s parents, the bride’s sisters or their children, and the next heirs.

Article 16 (p. 5): If there are joint heirs, but they die before the bride and groom without leaving any heirs, the above provisions shall remain in force.

Article 17 (p. 5): If there are joint heirs, but they also die shortly after the death of the bride and groom: The inheritance of the dowry, donation propter nuptias and trousseau shall be governed by the usual rules.

Article 18 (pp. 5-6): If the widow remarries and has no heirs from her first marriage: The widow’s dower and all bequests may be redeemed for 60,000 guilders, 30,000 guilders shall be handed over directly, the other 30,000 guilders shall bear interest, the widow’s dower shall be pledged as security for the pension; if the widow dies, the interest shall be void and the groom’s heirs shall have no obligation to pay.

Article 19 (p. 6): If the widow remarries and has children: 45,000 guilders shall be set instead of 60,000 guilders, 22,500 guilders shall be handed over directly to the widow, the other 22,500 guilders shall be reimbursed with an annual 2,150 guilders as a lifetime pension, in which case the widow’s dower shall not be encumbered with any debts, and neither the widow’s dower nor parts thereof may be disposed of or sold; Use in accordance with the customary right of life estate.

Article 26 (p. 8): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride of all paternal, maternal and fraternal inheritance, renunciation of succession by the bride for herself and her descendants for Prussia; inheritance by the bride shall only occur if there are no male heirs of her parents; Inheritance of Jülich-Kleve-Berg regulated, imperial privileges and confirmation mentioned, marriage contract and succession of the bride’s eldest sister, Anna von Brandenburg, mentioned and regulated, payment arrangements for 91,000 guilders, payment arrangements for 140,000 guilders, payment arrangements for 60,000 guilders

Article 27 (p. 9): If the bride’s eldest sister dies and leaves no heirs: The inheritance shall be divided among her sisters, inheritance as stipulated by Duke William of Jülich-Kleve-Berg; division of the inheritance among the bride’s mother and her siblings.

External authorities involved

Article 2 (p. 2): Consent and approval of the Emperor mentioned

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 2 (p. 2): Consent and approval of the Emperor mentioned

Text reference to past events

Article 27 (p. 9): If the bride’s eldest sister dies without leaving any heirs: The inheritance shall be divided among her sisters, as stipulated by Duke William of Jülich-Kleve-Berg; division of the inheritance among the bride’s mother and her siblings.

Further contracts between contracting parties

Commentary

The original contract is not divided into articles.

Elector Joachim Friedrich acted as regent for the bride’s mentally confused father, Albrecht Friedrich, from 1603 to 1608.

Literature

References

• Archive copy: HStA Drd 10001 O.U. 12667( 1607 VI 15)
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 248. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/248.html.

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title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 248},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/248.html}
}