Marriage contract no. 284: Sachsen-Meiningen - Brandenburg

Contract content

1 – Benefit: Reinforcement of the Duke’s high regard for the royal house, friendship and trust; mutual marriage vows

2 – Contribution from the bride: 40,000 Reichstaler; in the event of the bride’s death without heirs, this shall remain on the estates of the first marriage

3 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride with the exception of the lands of Cleves and Jülich

4 – Instead of a mornig gift, the husband shall present a ‘princely gift’; 3,000 Reichstaler in cash annually

5 – Donatio propter nuptias of 40,000 Reichstaler; donatio propter nuptias to be invested in the Principality of Coburg as a widow’s dower and life estate 8,000 guilders as life annuity; life annuity may be increased by 4,000 Reichstaler

6 – Regulations regarding the widow’s dower: surpluses; replacement; homage; issuance of an additional letter with obligations regarding the widow’s dower debts; rights of subjects

7 – Free exercise of religion guaranteed for the wife; court chaplain assured

8 – Further provisions regarding the dower: Reservata of the husband; protection of the dower; prohibition of sale

9 – Education of children regulated according to the house contracts of Saxony: Sons must be raised Lutheran; daughters may also be Reformed

10 – Husband dies before the bride: bride receives ownership and use of the entire dower, dowry and donation propter nuptias for life; dower expires upon remarriage; if the widow also dies, the dowry goes to the next heir and the donation propter nuptias to the husband’s family

11 – If the wife dies before consummation of the marriage, but the payments have already been made, the payments do not have to be repaid; however, if the husband dies, the payments are repaid.

12 – Promise to abide by the above; two copies to be signed.

Regulations on succession to the throne

Confessional regulations

7 – Free exercise of religion guaranteed for the wife; court chaplain assured

9 – Education of children regulated according to the house contracts of Saxony: Sons must be raised Lutheran; daughters may also be Reformed

Regulations on inheritance law

3 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride with the exception of the lands of Cleves and Jülich

10 – Husband dies before the bride: bride receives ownership and use of the entire dower, dowry and donation propter nuptias for life; dower expires upon remarriage; if the widow also dies, the dowry goes to the next heir and the donation propter nuptias to the husband’s family

References

• Archive copy: GStA PK BHP, Rep. 35, 458
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 284. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/284.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 284},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/284.html}
}