Marriage contract no. 278: Brandenburg - Brandenburg-Ansbach

  • Date of contract conclusion: 10. Dezember 1547
  • Place of contract conclusion: Augsburg

Groom

  • Name: Johann Georg zu Brandenburg
  • GND: 102111588
  • Year of Birth: 1525
  • Year of Death: 1598
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Confession: Lutherisch

Bride

  • Name: Sabina von Brandenburg-Ansbach
  • GND: 1015025196
  • Year of Birth: 1529
  • Year of Death: 1575
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Ansbach)
  • Confession: Lutherisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Joachim II. von Brandenburg
  • GND: 118557556
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Brandenburg)
  • Relationship: Vater

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Aemilia von Sachsen
  • GND: 119662892
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Ansbach)
  • Relationship: Stiefmutter
  • Name: Moritz von Sachsen
  • GND: 118584138
  • Dynasty: Wettin (Albertiner)
  • Relationship: Regent?
  • Name: Albrecht II. von Brandenburg-Kulmbach
  • GND: 118647776
  • Dynasty: Hohenzollern (Kulmbach)
  • Relationship:

Contract content

1 – Names of the negotiating parties: Moritz of Saxony, Albrecht of Brandenburg and Joachim II of Brandenburg, with the prior knowledge and confirmation of the regents and councillors of the bride’s brother Georg Friedrich, who was still a minor

2 – Contributions from the bride’s family: dowry of 12,000 guilders agreed, trousseau for the bride

3 – Payments by the husband’s family: donation propter nuptias of the same amount agreed; mornig gift of 4,000 guilders agreed

4 – Widow’s dower agreed; legal reservations stated; homage agreed

5 – Bride may freely dispose of morning gift and trousseau

6 – Bride dies before her husband: Use of the dowry guaranteed for the husband; without joint heirs, the dowry reverts to the bride’s family; with joint heirs, the dowry reverts to the husband’s family

7 – Regulations regarding debts

8 – Regulations regarding the death of the husband before the bride; remarriage as a widow regulated; Provisions regarding the inheritance of the dowry

9 – After consummation of the marriage, the contractual obligations must be fulfilled, even if one of the spouses dies within a year; if the husband or wife dies before consummation, the contract is void

10 – Regulations regarding inheritance matters: The wife’s fraternal inheritance is regulated according to the custom of the House of Brandenburg

11 – Hand money of 400 guilders per annum guaranteed

12 – Contract to be signed and sealed

Regulations on inheritance law

10 – Regulations concerning inheritance matters: The wife’s fraternal inheritance shall be regulated according to the custom of the House of Brandenburg.

Commentary

The contract only refers to ‘Albrecht Margrave of Brandenburg’ etc. among the parties involved. It could also refer to another Albrecht, and the information is only provisional.

References

  • Archive copy: GStA PK BHP, Rep. N² 1
  • Contract language archive copy: German