Marriage contract no. 282: Sachsen-Zeitz - Brandenburg

Contract content

1 – To maintain and strengthen the friendship between the two houses

2 – Mutual marriage vows

3 – The wife is granted the free practice of her religion and a court chaplain; only outside the residence

4 – Education of the children: sons must be raised Lutheran, daughters may also be raised Reformed

5 – Dowry set at 20,000 talers, trousseau regulated

6 – Renunciation of the bride’s paternal inheritance in the presence of male heirs; the Cleves and Jülich inheritance claims are treated separately from the others

7 – mornig gift in the form of 200 talers annually from 4,000 talers of capital and jewellery; hand money of 1,500 talers

8 – Regulations regarding the bride’s court

9 – Donatio propter nuptias of 40,000 talers; life estate of 4,000 talers guaranteed

10 – Dowry regulated: castle, town and office of Schleusingen are attributed to the bride; rights of use specified; compensation regulated; surpluses regulated; Schleusingen as widow’s residence; regulations regarding subjects (employment and homage, freedoms); groom’s reservations regarding use; creation of an inventory; prohibition of sale

11 – If the bride dies before her husband without having any children together: the dowry reverts to the bride’s family; the husband retains rights of use for his entire life; if there are children together, the dowry is inherited by them

12 – Husband dies before the bride with or without joint heirs: Bride receives lifetime possession and use of the entire dower and dowry

13 – Regulations regarding the bride’s remarriage

14 – If joint heirs die before their parents without having produced children of their own, the dowry reverts to the bride’s family as in 11; the donatio propter nuptias reverts to the husband’s family

15 – If one of the two marriage partners dies after consummation of the marriage but before the payments have been made, these must still be made

16 – If one of the two marriage partners dies before consummation of the marriage, the contract is void

17 – Promise to abide by the above; two copies of the contract are to be signed

Confessional regulations

3 – The wife is granted the free practice of her religion and a court chaplain; only outside the residence

4 – Education of the children: sons must be raised Lutheran, daughters may also be raised Reformed

Regulations on inheritance law

6 – Renunciation of the bride’s paternal inheritance in the presence of male heirs; the Cleves and Jülich inheritance claims are treated separately from the others

11 – If the bride dies before her husband without having any children together: the dowry reverts to the bride’s family; the husband retains rights of use for his entire life; if there are children together, the dowry is inherited by them

12 – Husband dies before the bride with or without joint heirs: Bride receives lifetime possession and use of the entire dower and dowry

14 – If joint heirs die before their parents without having had children of their own, the dowry shall pass to the bride’s family in accordance with Article 11; the donatio propter nuptias shall revert to the husband’s family.

References

• Archive copy: GStA PK BHP, Rep. 35, 423
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 282. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/282.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 282},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/282.html}
}