Marriage contract no. 293: Württemberg - Brandenburg

Contract content

1 – Benefit: Marriage to increase and confirm friendship; marriage approved

2 – Wedding date and location discussed: Date to be negotiated outside of the contract, location is Stuttgart

3 – Dowry set at 15,000 talers, trousseau guaranteed

4 – Bride waives inheritance rights to paternal and fraternal inheritance if there is a male heir

5 – Gifts from the husband: Donatio propter nuptias in the amount of the dowry; mornig gift of 400 guilders per year: to be supplemented from the dowry and donation propter nuptias; hand money of 400 guilders

6 – Widow’s dower regulated: castle, town and office of Brackenheim designated as seat; life estate of 4,000 guilders; homage regulated; regulation of ecclesiastical fiefs in the widow’s dower concerning the filling of parish positions; reservation of rights regulated; prohibition on sale of the widow’s dower

7 – In the event of the bride’s death without heirs: Dowry reverts to the previous owner after the husband has also died

8 – In the event of the death of the bride or husband with joint heirs: dowry and donation propter nuptias are inherited by the heirs

9 – Death of the husband before the bride and heirs: guardianship of the bride in the case of minor heirs regulated; regulations regarding the assumption of the dower; Regulation of the bride’s remarriage.

10 – In the event of the bride’s death with children from another marriage: The dowry is divided between the heirs of the first and second marriages; gifts belonging to the mornig gift go to the heirs of the first marriage.

11 – The death of the wife or husband before consummation of the marriage renders the contract null and void; if the bride dies after consummation of the marriage but before the dowry has been handed over, both parties must fulfil their contractual obligations

12 – Promise to abide by the above; copy of the contents in two letters, which are handed over to the parties; place, date, seal and signatures

Regulations on inheritance law

4 – Bride waives inheritance rights to paternal and fraternal inheritance if there is a male heir

References

• Archive copy: GStA PK BPH, Rep. 32, W4
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 293. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/293.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 293},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/293.html}
}