Marriage contract no. 280: Brandenburg - Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Contract content

1 – Mutual marriage vows

2 – Reformed education of joint heirs stipulated; dowry guaranteed by husband

3 – Instead of a dowry, the bride herself pays 20,000 Reichstaler

4 – mornig gift of 6,000 Reichstaler is invested and bears interest annually

5 – Donatio propter nuptias of 20,000 Reichstaler

6 – Regulations regarding the widow’s dower and life estate: The duchy, castle and town of Crossen as well as the office, castle and town of Potsdam serve as life estate; Homage, reservations, compensation and inventory are regulated; Letter of confirmation from the Roman-German Majesty for Crossen, because Crossen is a Bohemian fiefdom.

8 – Deaths are regulated; in the event of the husband’s death before his wife: life estate jewels, etc. are to be delivered to the wife.

9 – In the event of the death of the wife with heirs: the inheritance goes to the children, but the husband receives the right of use

10 – In the event of the death of the wife without joint heirs: the inheritance goes to the husband; in accordance with the custom of the House of Brunswick and because the wife is provided with an increased dower

11 – Remarriage of the widow is regulated; redemption of the widow’s dower is possible

12 – Promise to abide by the above; the husband makes it clear that the widow’s dower is of greater value than is customary in the House, but that this shall have no consequences for future contracts; signatures of the contracting parties, L.S.

Confessional regulations

2 – Reformed education of joint heirs stipulated; dowry guaranteed by husband

Regulations on inheritance law

8 – Deaths are regulated; in the event of the husband’s death before his wife: life estate jewels, etc. are to be delivered to the wife.

9 – In the event of the death of the wife with heirs: the inheritance goes to the children, but the husband receives the right of use

10 – In the event of the death of the wife without joint heirs: the inheritance goes to the husband; in accordance with the custom of the House of Brunswick and because the wife is provided with an increased dower

External authorities involved

6 – Letter of confirmation from the Holy Roman Emperor for Crossen, because Crossen was a Bohemian fiefdom

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Signatures of the contracting parties, L.S.

Commentary

The bride later converted to Calvinism.

References

• Archive copy: GStA PK BPH, Rep. 35, 230
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 280. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/280.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 280},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/280.html}
}