Marriage contract no. 252: Sachsen-Zeitz - Schleswig-Holstein-Glücksburg

Contract content

Article 1 (pp. 1-2): Marriage decided, public betrothal mentioned

Article 2 (p. 2): Consummation mentioned

Article 3 (p. 2): The dowry amounts to 15,000 Reichstaler

Article 4 (p. 2): Instead of silver trousseau, the bride receives 2,000 Reichstaler, other trousseau promised

Article 5 (p. 2): The bride’s trousseau includes a wedding dress

Article 6 (p. 2): The payment period is 1 year after consummation of the marriage, obligation mentioned, receipt to be issued in Hamburg

Article 7 (p. 2-3): The bride does not renounce her inheritance, but inherits equal shares with her sisters

Article 8 (p. 3): After consummation of the marriage, the bride receives a prescription for 6,000 Reichstaler with an annual interest rate of 5% as a mornig gift, rights of use and enjoyment regulated

Article 9 (p. 3): The donation propter nuptias amounts to 15,000 Reichstaler

Article 10 (p. 3): The 30,000 Reichstaler are to be invested as a life annuity

Article 11 (pp. 3-4): Witwe and appurtenances specified, rights of use regulated, jurisdiction regulated, additional specification mentioned

Article 12 (p. 4): The widow shall receive 3,000 Reichstaler annually from the Witwe for her maintenance

Article 13 (p. 4): If the Witwe cannot yield 3,000 Reichstaler annually: The shortfall shall be compensated for by other goods, insurance mentioned.

Article 14 (p. 4): Letter of sovereignty from the Elector of Saxony to the officials and subjects on the widow’s dower mentioned.

Article 15 (p. 4): Maintenance of the widow’s dower regulated if the widow’s income is insufficient for this purpose.

Article 16 (p. 4): The regalia, state order, church order, state sovereignty, knightly services, appeals, feudal lordships, taxes, coinage, hereditary homage and opening of the widow’s dower, the sovereign’s superiority remains reserved for the groom and his heirs

Article 17 (pp. 4-5): Damage and defects to the dower caused by soldiers shall be compensated by the groom’s family

Article 18 (p. 5): The Elector of Saxony reserves the right to appoint the bride’s officials and servants, regulating the oath of office of the bride’s officials and servants

Article 19 (p. 5): Obedience of the subjects on the dower and its appurtenances is regulated; the subjects shall be allowed to continue in their customs

Article 20 (p. 5): Protection of the bride and the dower by the heirs of the Elector of Saxony is regulated; defence of the widow, the dower and the subjects is promised

Article 21 (p. 5): The dower estate shall not be encumbered by debts of the Saxon electors; reimbursement is regulated

Article 22 (p. 5): Upon taking possession of the dower estate, an inventory list of the stock shall be drawn up; all items and movable property found on the dower estate upon taking possession must remain there

Article 23 (p. 6): If the supplies on the widow’s dower are insufficient, the shortfall must be reimbursed

Article 24 (p. 6): Sale, pledging or transfer of the widow’s dower prohibited; opening of the widow’s dower without the permission of the House of Saxony prohibited

Article 25 (p. 6): Structural maintenance regulated by the House of Saxony

Article 26 (p. 6): Supply of wood etc. on the dowry estate guaranteed if the existing wood is insufficient

Article 27 (p. 6): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry, trousseau and gifts in exchange for issuing an inventory list; after the groom’s death, the estate passes to the bride’s next of kin or to the persons designated by her in her will

Article 28 (pp. 6-7): If the groom dies before the bride and there are minor heirs: guardianship as prescribed by Duke Moritz’s decree, the care and upbringing of the children must not be at the expense of the widow’s dower, receipt of the widow’s dower regulated; use of the widow’s dower regulated as long as the widow does not remarry; provision of household goods and dower property regulated; the bride receives the right of disposal over the prescription, the mornig gift, the trousseau, any inheritance and gifts.

Article 29 (p. 7): If the widow remarries: The 15,000 Reichstaler of the dowry and the 15,000 Reichstaler of the donation propter nuptias must be reimbursed by the groom’s heirs, the mornig gift must continue to be paid for life, transfer of the widow’s allowance regulated.

Article 30 (pp. 7-8): If the bride remarries and has children from her second marriage: The 15,000 Reichstaler dowry shall be divided between the children from the first and second marriages after her death, the 15,000 Reichstaler donation propter nuptias shall go exclusively to the groom’s heirs, and the deposit shall then be forfeited.

Article 31 (p. 8): The widow’s life on the widow’s dower is regulated; after the widow’s death, the widow’s dower reverts to the groom’s family.

Article 32 (p. 8): The bride may dispose of, give away or bequeath any property not related to the marriage property.

Article 33 (p. 8): After the widow’s death or departure, the same number of household goods and supplies must remain on the dower as were present when the widow moved in, according to the inventory list.

Article 34 (p. 8): If the bride and groom die and there are no heirs: Until the sums have been repaid to the bride’s father or his heirs, the bride’s family shall have the right of disposal over the dower and its appurtenances, and the homage and obedience of the subjects shall be secured.

Article 35 (p. 8): Any debts of the groom must be paid by his heirs; the bride has no payment obligations; debts of the bride shall be paid by the donation propter nuptias.

Article 36 (pp. 8-9): If the bride or groom dies before consummation of the marriage: marriage contract invalid.

Article 37 (p. 9): Recess and signatures

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 7 (pp. 2–3): The bride does not renounce her inheritance, but inherits equal shares with her sisters.

Article 27 (p. 6): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry, trousseau and gifts in exchange for the presentation of an inventory list; after the death of the groom, the estate passes to the bride’s next of kin or to the persons designated by her in her will.

Article 28 (pp. 6-7): If the groom dies before the bride and there are minor heirs: guardianship is prescribed in accordance with Duke Moritz’s decree; the care and upbringing of the children must not be at the expense of the widow’s dower; receipt of the widow’s dower is regulated; use of the widow’s dower regulated as long as the widow does not remarry; provision of household goods and dower property regulated, the bride receives the right of disposal over the prescription, the mornig gift, the trousseau, any inheritance and gifts.

Article 30 (pp. 7-8): If the bride remarries and has children from her second marriage: the 15,000 Reichstaler dowry shall be divided after her death between the children from her first and second marriages; the 15,000 Reichstaler donation propter nuptias shall go exclusively to the groom’s heirs; the deposit shall then be forfeited.

Article 32 (p. 8): The bride may dispose of, gift or bequeath any property not related to the marriage property.

Article 34 (p. 8): If the bride and groom die and there are no heirs: Until the sums have been repaid to the bride’s father or his heirs, the bride’s family shall have the right of disposal over the widow’s dower and appurtenances, and the homage and obedience of the subjects shall be secured.

Estates involved

Article 14 (p. 4): Letter of sovereignty from the Elector of Saxony to the officials and subjects of Wittum mentioned

Commentary

Original contract not divided into articles

References

• Archive copy: Archivexemplar**: HStA Drd 10001 O.U. 13219 (1650 V 1)

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 252. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/252.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 252},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/252.html}
}