Marriage contract no. 275: Kurland - Brandenburg

Contract content

1 – Preamble: Marriage for the praise and glory of God and to maintain and strengthen friendship; mutual declaration of intent to marry by both parties

2 – Free practice of religion guaranteed for the wife; court chaplain assured; practice of religion at a designated place in Miltau and in the wife’s chambers; education of children regulated: sons must be raised Lutheran; daughters may also be raised Reformed

3 – Dowry of 40,000 talers

4 – Trousseau regulated

5 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride according to the custom of the house in the presence of male heirs; the renunciation of inheritance for the Julisch von Klevisch lands is dealt with separately

6 – mornig gift of 10,000 Reichstalers guaranteed

7 – Hand money of 8,000 Reichstalers annually, provision, appointment and jurisdiction of the bride’s court regulated

8 – Widow’s provision regulated; donation propter nuptias in the amount of the dowry; 2,000 Reichstalers are added to the life estate

9 – Widow’s dower regulated: commencement, rights of use, replacement, widow’s residence, rights of subjects, appointment of officials; all of the above to be confirmed and ratified by the King of Poland; further regulations on taxes, privileges, attendance, provision of the widow’s dower, inventory, replacement, prohibition of pledging

10 – Deaths regulated; husband survives wife without living joint heirs: reversion of dowry and trousseau; husband retains lifelong right of use; if there are joint heirs, they inherit the dowry and trousseau

11 – Wife survives husband: use of entire dower while remaining a widow; inheritance of other possessions of the bride regulated; remarriage of the widow regulated

12 – If one of the two marriage partners dies after consummation of the marriage but before completion of the payments, these must still be made; if one of the two marriage partners dies before consummation of the marriage, the contract is void; Gifts by

will, codicil or donatio mortis causa are freely permitted as long as they do not violate the house contracts

13 – Mutual promise to fulfil the contents of the contract; marriage letter is written in duplicate and signed by the future spouses.

Confessional regulations

3 – Freedom of religious worship guaranteed for the wife; court chaplain assured; worship at a designated place in Miltau and in the wife’s chambers; education of children regulated: sons must be raised Lutheran; daughters may also be raised Reformed.

Regulations on inheritance law

5 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride according to the customs of the house in the presence of male heirs; renunciation of inheritance for the Julisch von Klevischen lands is dealt with separately.

11 – Wife survives husband: use of entire marriage property if widowhood remains unchanged; inheritance of other property of the bride regulated; remarriage of the widow regulated.

External authorities involved

10 - King of Poland confirms the regulations

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

14 – Mutual promise to fulfil the terms of the contract; marriage letter is written in duplicate and signed by the future spouses themselves, with seals attached.

Text reference to past events

Further contracts between contracting parties

References

• Archive copy: GStA PK, BPH, Rep. 35, Nr. 442
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 275. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/275.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 275},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/275.html}
}