Marriage contract no. 309: Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Wolfenbüttel - Barby-Mühlingen

Contract content

Article 1 – Marriage agreed

Article 2 – 7,000 Meissen guilders agreed as trousseau and bride price, to be paid one year after consummation of the marriage against receipt; 2,000 Reich guilders to be paid in the immediate vicinity of the consummation of the marriage

Article 3 – Christine waives her inheritance rights as long as there are still heirs of her deceased father with claims

Article 4 – Mornig gift of a one-time payment of 6,000 Reichstalers or 300 Reichstalers annually, as well as a donation propter nuptias of 7,000 guilders

Article 5 – In the event of Rudolph’s death, Christine shall remain free of any debts owed by Rudolph.

Article 6 – Inspection of the dower by Jobst Günther, as well as its receipt, homage and oaths by officials in the event of Rudolph’s death.

Article 7 – Inheritance in the event of Christine’s death is regulated, but the marriage settlement shall remain in Rudolph’s possession. Life annuity is regulated. In the event of Christine’s widowhood, she shall continue to have access to the entire marriage settlement and the widow’s estate as long as she does not remarry. If the widow’s estate cannot generate 3,000 talers annually, the Principality of Wolfenbüttel shall pay the difference. Maintenance of the associated buildings, etc. is regulated; the widow’s estate may only be opened at the behest of the Dukes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, but the bride shall not incur any expenses or damages.

Article 8 – Repeated reference to the fact that subjects and officials must take on duties and oaths upon taking up the dower and must familiarise themselves with the agreements of this contract.

Article 9 – Reference to the fact that the ruling sovereign must pay for any shortfalls if the dower cannot generate the agreed 3,000 guilders per year. Furthermore, Christine shall not bear the costs of all officials and economic authorities outside the dower budget.

Article 10 – Note that upon her death, if she has retained her widowhood, an inventory shall be made of all the dower’s associated assets; distribution between the ruling sovereign and Christine’s heirs shall be regulated.

Article 11 – In the event of remarriage, Christine shall be paid a one-off sum of 3,000 talers, and the 300 talers per annum otherwise due shall be discontinued. The 14,000 guilders in marriage money and donation propter nuptias shall be payable to her for as long as she lives and shall be paid in annual instalments of 1,400 guilders, even if she has to vacate the dower in the event of remarriage. Upon her death, all payment obligations shall be waived.

Article 12 – Payment of debts incurred by heirs

Article 13 – If either party to the marriage dies before consummation, the surviving party shall not be obliged to do anything.

Article 14 – Promise to comply with the contract

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 3 – Christine waives her inheritance rights as long as there are still heirs of her deceased father with claims

Article 7 – Inheritance in the event of Christine’s death is regulated, but the marriage settlement shall remain in Rudolph’s possession. Life annuity is regulated. In the event of Christine’s widowhood, she shall continue to have access to the entire marriage settlement and the widow’s estate as long as she does not remarry. If the widow’s estate cannot generate 3,000 talers annually, the Principality of Wolfenbüttel shall pay the difference. Maintenance of the associated buildings, etc. is regulated; the widow’s estate may only be opened at the behest of the Dukes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, but the bride shall not incur any expenses or damages.

Article 10 – Note that upon her death, if she has retained her widowhood, an inventory shall be made of all the dower’s associated assets; distribution between the ruling sovereign and Christine’s heirs shall be regulated.

Article 12 – Payment of debts incurred by heirs

References

• Archive copy: NLA WO, 3 Urk, 2 Nr. 23
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 309. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/309.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 309},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/309.html}
}