Marriage contract no. 258: Pommern - Brandenburg

Contract content

Article 1 (fol. 97r-97v)- Marriage agreed upon

Article 2 (fol. 97v)- Solemnization and consummation of the marriage regulated

Article 3 (fol. 97v-98r)- The dowry amounts to 20,000 guilders, receipt for the sum paid required

Article 4 (fol. 98r)- Trousseau of clothes, jewels, etc. promised

Article 5 (fol. 98r)- The donatio propter nuptias amounts to 20,000 guilders

Article 6 (fol. 98r)- Arrangements for donatio propter nuptias and morning gift

Article 7 (fol. 98r)- Dower fixed, rights of use, hunting rights etc. regulated, jurisdiction regulated

Article 8 (fol. 98r-98v)- The dowager receives 5,000 guilders a year on the dower as a provision, services fixed, rights of use again regulated

Article 9 (fol. 98v)- Further financial regulations and interest mentioned

Article 10 (fol. 98v)- Dower and morning gift exempt from taxes

Article 11 (fol. 98v-99r)- Homage of the subjects and officials regulated after the solemnization and consummation of the marriage, regulations regarding the officials and subjects; pledgers mentioned, transfer of ownership of dower regulated after the solemnization and consummation of the marriage and marriage; after the death of the dowager: homage of the subjects and officials to the heirs of the bridegroom stipulated

Article 12 (fol. 99r)- Prescription mentioned

Article 13 (fol. 99r)- When appointing new officials: immediate homage to the bride regulated

Article 14 (fol. 99r)- Accession of the dower regulated

Article 15 (fol. 99r-99v)- In the event of defects on the dower: reimbursement promised

Article 16 (fol. 99v)- Reimbursement for damage or alienation of the dower regulated; assistance and equipment with wood regulated

Article 17 (fol. 99v)- Insurance of morning gift and dower mentioned

Article 18 (fol. 99v-100r)- Inspection of the dower is arranged after the solemnization and consummation of the marriage

Article 19 (fol. 99v-100r)- The bride receives 5,000 guilders a year for her dower.

Article 20 (fol. 100r)- If the dower does not correspond to the bride’s status: improvement fixed

Article 21 (fol. 100r)- If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the dowry and the trousseau

Article 22 (fol. 100r-100v)- The bride renounces all paternal, maternal and fraternal inheritance; the bride only inherits if all male members of her family die; letter of renunciation required

Article 23 (fol. 100v)- If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs in rem: The groom receives the lifelong right of use over the trousseau, delivery of an inventory list to the bride’s father or his heirs prescribed, after the groom’s death the trousseau reverts to the bride’s father, his heirs or the next heirs of the house

Article 24 (fol. 100v-101r)- If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use over the dowry; after the groom’s death, the dowry reverts to the bride’s father, his heirs or the bride’s closest heirs

Article 25 (fol. 101r)- Until the sums have been repaid, the bride’s father or his heirs have the right to dispose of the dower lands and 1,200 guilders per year, excluding any other prescription of the dower

Article 26 (fol. 101r-101v)- Oaths, vows and obedience regulated on the dower to the bride, the bride’s father or the bride’s heirs after the solemnization and cosummation of the marriage

Article 27 (fol. 101v)- Hereditary homage mentioned, accession to dower mentioned

Article 28 (fol. 101v)- If the bride dies and there are heirs who die while the bride is still alive: The validity of the previously agreed inheritance arrangements is determined

Article 29 (fol. 101v-102v)- If the groom dies before the bride and there are heirs from the marriage: The inheritance is to be distributed differently, the commencement of the dower and claiming of the morning gift regulated, dower letter mentioned, lifelong rights of use stipulated, the bride receives the trousseau, immediate transport of the trousseau to the dowager’s residence mentioned; everything the bride has received during the marriage is to remain in her possession

Article 30 (fol. 102v)- Assured food supply on the dower

Article 31 (fol. 102v-103r)- If the dowager remarries, if there are no male heirs from the marriage: Redemption of the dower regulated, the redemption sum is 40,000 guilders; if there are male heirs, the redemption sum is 35,000 guilders; payment regulations regarding the donatio propter nuptias, lifelong interest regulated, rights of use and utilisation defined, the bride can use the sums without restriction

Article 32 (fol. 103r)- Cession of the dower regulated after payment of the redemption sum

Article 33 (fol. 103r)- Once the redemption sum has been paid, the bride’s father or his heirs will receive an insurance certificate letter

Article 34 (fol. 103r-103v)- If the bride dies, the groom receives the lifelong right of disposal over the marriage property; after his death, the marriage property passes to the joint heirs from the marriage, after their death to the heirs of the heirs

Article 35 (fol. 103v)- If the bride and groom die and there are no heirs in rem: The dowry reverts to the bride’s father or his heirs; until the sum has been paid, the bride’s father or his heirs have the right to dispose of half of the dower

Article 36 (fol. 103v)- If the dower is redeemed: Until the redemption sum is repaid, the bride’s father or his heirs have the right to dispose of half of the dower

Article 37 (fol. 103v-104r)- Dower letter mentioned

Article 38 (fol. 104r)- The bride is not liable or pledgeable for any debts of the groom

Article 39 (fol. 104r)- Sale or transfer of the dower lands without the permission of the groom or his heirs is prohibited

Article 40 (fol. 104r)- Use of the dower by the groom or his heirs prohibited

Article 41 (fol. 104r)- The bride may use the dower and the morning gift freely

Article 42 (fol. 104r)- The bride is entitled to the secular and spiritual fiefs on the dower, the knightly fiefs are excluded

Article 43 (fol. 104r)- Knight’s services regulated

Article 44 (fol. 104r-104v)- Regulations regarding the feudal tenants on the dower lands, payments regulated by the bride

Article 45 (fol. 104v)- The levying of taxes on the dower lands is regulated

Article 46(fol. 104v-105r)- Compliance with the contract promised

Article 47 (fol. 105r)- Regulations regarding referral and dower letter

Article 48 (fol. 105r)- The bride receives 5,000 guilders as an annual annuity from the dowry, the donatio propter nuptias and the morning gift, the prescription of which is fixed at a princely court or castle, among other things

Article 49 (fol. 105r)- Transfer of the 5,000 gulden dower, the morning gift etc. to the castles and offices of Barth, Tribsees, Damgarten

Article 50 (fol. 105r-105v)- Allocations to the dower are regulated: Upper and lower courts, interest, pensions, fisheries, etc

Article 51 (fol. 105v-106r)- The commencement of the dower is regulated, rights of use and utilisation are regulated, officials and subjects are mentioned, suspension of taxes for the dower is regulated

Article 52 (fol. 106r)- Rights, such as land law, are regulated

Article 53 (fol. 106r)- The dower lands must be preserved in their original condition; heirlooms may not be moved or sold

Article 54 (fol. 106r)- The dower lands are to be filled with officials who come from Pomerania, oaths of the officials to the bride regulated

Article 55 (fol. 106r-106v)- Oaths made by the officials to the bride on the dower lands regulated, loyalty and obedience to the bride promised

Article 56 (fol. 106v)- The dower shall remain unaffected by the groom’s descendants’ and heirs’ transactions etc.; otherwise another office must be provided as a replacement within 4 weeks

Article 57 (fol. 106v)- Regulations regarding servants, 40 horses awarded; oaths, duties, etc. mentioned after the groom’s death

Article 58 (fol. 106v-107r)- If there is a lack of goods or financial means on the dower lands: The heirs and descendants of the bridegroom are to reimburse the deficiencies; overflow of the office regulated, regulations regarding the officials

Article 59 (fol. 107r)- If the dower lands are pledged or mortgaged: The heirs and descendants of the bridegroom must redeem the dower lands, oaths and oaths of the officials and subjects to the bride are regulated

Article 60 (fol. 107r-107v)- If the bride remarries after the groom’s death: the dower is settled, the trousseau remains with the bride

Article 61 (fol. 107v-108r)- Compliance with the contract promised.

Article 62 (fol. 120r)- Dower letter and referral letter

Article 63 (fol. 120r)- Philip of Pomerania, son of the bridegroom from his first marriage, appears as an actor

Article 64 (fol. 120r)- The bride receives 5,000 guilders a year in pensions, rents, etc. to provide for her; referral and prescription of dowry, donatio propter nuptias and morning gift mentioned

Article 65 (fol. 120r-120v)- Dowager’s residence awarded, movable and immovable property mentioned

Article 66 (fol. 120v)- The first mention is made of the regulations regarding the division of the duchies of Pomerania-Wolgast and Pomerania-Stettin between Duke George’s son, Philip I, and his uncle Barnim IX.

Article 67 (fol. 120v)- Confirmation of the transfer of the dower and the morning gift, dower lands Barth, Damgarten, Klempenow, Tribsees and Grimmen confirmed, Dowager’s residence determined; courts, leases, hunting rights, use of wood etc. regulated

Article 68 (fol. 120v-121r)- Sum of 5,000 guilders confirmed

Article 69 (fol. 121r)- Compliance with the previous articles promised

Article 70 (fol. 121r)- Rights of use regulated

Article 71 (fol. 121r)- Compliance with the articles is also regulated for future heirs and descendants

Article 72 (fol. 121r)- Loyalty and obedience of officials and subjects assured

Article 73 (fol. 121v)- The bride can appoint her own officials from Pomerania on the dower lands

Article 74 (fol. 121v)- The officials of the Barth office continue to be employed in the event of the Duke of Pomerania or his heirs ceding the dower lands

Article 75 (fol. 121v-122r)- Regulations regarding taxes, the dower is exempt from taxes

Article 76 (fol. 122r)- Sale or pledging of heirlooms or parts of dower lands prohibited

Article 77 (fol. 122r)- In the event of war-related damage to the dower lands, these are to be reimbursed by the Duke of Pomerania or his heirs; if necessary: Compensation regulated by another office

Article 78 (fol. 122r-123r)- Horses are awarded to the offices and servants, a list of servants, obedience and duty of the servants to the bride are regulated as long as she has the dower lands at her disposal

Article 79 (fol. 123r)- Hereditary homage mentioned, obligation of officials and servants to the Duke of Pomerania and his heirs mentioned, obligation to national service and military service regulated

Article 80 (fol. 123r)- Provision for the bride on the dower lands regulated; if these are not sufficient for this: Reimbursement by the Duke of Pomerania or his heirs regulated

Article 81 (fol. 123r)- Further financial arrangements regarding dower lands

Article 82 (fol. 123r-124r)- Changes regarding the division of the land with Barnim IX of Pomerania-Stettin within the next 8 years reserved, division of inheritance regulated; if parts of the dower lands are then in Barnim’s territory, these are to be exchanged for other offices and castles; 5,000 guilders confirmed for annual provision, provision of horses regulated; assignment of dower lands and release of officials and subjects from duties, oaths and obedience regulated; new oaths of officials and subjects regulated

Article 83 (fol. 124r-124v)- If the bride remarries: the other provisions of the contract continue to apply, the dower is settled, the bride keeps the trousseau and her other possessions

Article 84 (fol. 124v)- Inventory list of the household effects of the dower lands required, payment of a sum prescribed; if the dower lands are redeemed, the household effects must remain on the dower lands

Article 85 (fol. 124v-125r)- Reimbursement of damages to the dower land by the bride regulated

Article 86 (fol. 125r)- Councillors and witnesses mentioned

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 82 (fol. 123r-124r)- Changes regarding the division of the land with Barnim IX of Pomerania-Stettin (https://d-nb.info/gnd/10099721X) within the next 8 years reserved, division of inheritance regulated; if parts of the dower lands are then in Barnim’s territory, these are to be exchanged for other offices and castles; 5,000 guilders confirmed for annual provision, provision of horses regulated; assignment of dower lands and release of officials and subjects from duties, oaths and obedience regulated; new oaths of officials and subjects regulated

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 21 (fol. 100r)- If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the dowry and the trousseau

Article 22 (fol. 100r-100v)- The bride renounces all paternal, maternal and fraternal inheritance; the bride only inherits if all male members of her family die; letter of renunciation required

Article 23 (fol. 100v)- If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs in rem: The groom receives the lifelong right of use over the trousseau, delivery of an inventory list to the bride’s father or his heirs prescribed, after the groom’s death the trousseau reverts to the bride’s father, his heirs or the next heirs of the house

Article 24 (fol. 100v-101r)- If the bride dies before the groom and there are no heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use over the dowry; after the groom’s death, the dowry reverts to the bride’s father, his heirs or the bride’s closest heirs

Article 25 (fol. 101r)- Until the sums have been repaid, the bride’s father or his heirs have the right to dispose of the dower lands and 1,200 guilders per year, excluding any other prescription of the dower

Article 27 (fol. 101v)- Hereditary homage mentioned, accession to dower mentioned

Article 28 (fol. 101v)- If the bride dies and there are heirs who die while the bride is still alive: The validity of the previously agreed inheritance arrangements is determined

Article 29 (fol. 101v-102v)- If the groom dies before the bride and there are heirs from the marriage: The inheritance is to be distributed differently, the commencement of the dower and claiming of the morning gift regulated, dower letter mentioned, lifelong rights of use stipulated, the bride receives the trousseau, immediate transport of the trousseau to the dowager’s residence mentioned; everything the bride has received during the marriage is to remain in her possession

Article 34 (fol. 103r-103v)- If the bride dies, the groom receives the lifelong right of disposal over the marriage property; after his death, the marriage property passes to the joint heirs from the marriage, after their death to the heirs of the heirs

Article 35 (fol. 103v)- If the bride and groom die and there are no heirs in rem: The dowry reverts to the bride’s father or his heirs; until the sum has been paid, the bride’s father or his heirs have the right to dispose of half of the dower

Article 79 (fol. 123r)- Hereditary homage mentioned, obligation of officials and servants to the Duke of Pomerania and his heirs mentioned, obligation to national service and military service regulated

External authorities involved

Article 66 (fol. 120v)- The first mention is made of the regulations regarding the division of the duchies of Pomerania-Wolgast and Pomerania-Stettin between Duke George’s son, Philip I, and his uncle Barnim IX. Article 82 (fol. 123r-124r)- Changes regarding the division of the land with Barnim IX of Pomerania-Stettin within the next 8 years reserved, division of inheritance regulated; if parts of the dower lands are then in Barnim’s territory, these are to be exchanged for other offices and castles; 5,000 guilders confirmed for annual provision, provision of horses regulated; assignment of dower lands and release of officials and subjects from duties, oaths and obedience regulated; new oaths of officials and subjects regulated

Commentary

Contract not divided into articles in the original.

Contains 2 dower letters with different issuers on the groom’s side (1st letter: Bridegroom, fols. 116r-119r; 2nd letter: son of the bridegroom from his first marriage, Philip I of Pomerania-Wolgast, fols. 120r-125v).

References

• Archive copy: GStA, I. HA Rep. 78, Nr. 24, fol. 97r – 108r, 120r-125v
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 258. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/258.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 258},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/258.html}
}