Marriage contract no. 318: Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Wolfenbüttel - Anhalt-Zerbst

Contract content

Preamble: Invocation of God, declaration by the contracting parties to unite in Christian matrimony to the praise and honour of God

Article 1: The wedding shall take place on 26 October in Zerbst, including the consummation of the marriage

Article 2: Augustus (Zerbst) promises a dowry of 10,000 talers, the sum is to be insured in Hitzacker, receipt mentioned

Article 3: Trousseau in the form of silver tableware, clothes and jewellery mentioned

Article 4: Dorothea’s renunciation of inheritance is regulated, corresponding letter of renunciation is mentioned, but does not apply to sisterly cases outside the House of Anhalt

Article 5: August (the Younger) guarantees a donation propter nuptias of 10,000 talers, with the consent of his brother and his cousins

Article 6: After consummation of the marriage, promise of jewellery and mornig gift in the amount of 4,000 guilders principal, which shall bear interest at 200 guilders per annum; hand money shall be paid in the amount of 200 guilders

Article 7: The castle, house, town and office of Hitzacker shall serve as a dower; a corresponding register of the uses of the dower shall be created; the dower shall yield an annual income of 2,000 talers; if this income is not achieved, compensation shall be paid by Duke Julius Ernst

Article 8: Hereditary homage by officials upon the death of August (the Younger) is mentioned.

Article 9: If the dower suffers damage in any way or other defects occur, these shall be remedied by the heirs and descendants, or another dower residence shall be found if Hitzacker does not meet the widow’s status-appropriate requirements.

Article 10: As long as Dorothea resides there, the dower residence shall not be claimed by August’s heirs or descendants or transferred to anyone else.

Article 11: Agreement on the inspection of the dower property by Augustus (Anhalt) to examine possible income and any defects; Preparation of a register of uses by Augustus (Anhalt) required.

Article 12: If the dower property yields greater income than agreed, Dorothea shall be able to use it as long as she does not change her widow’s residence.

Article 13: Should Julius Ernst die before the widow’s dower becomes due, and the monastery and office of Scharnebeck be inherited by August (the Younger), Dorothea shall be free to choose whether she wishes to take up residence there or in Hitzacker when the widow’s dower becomes due

Article 14: Should Dorothea die after consummating the marriage without leaving any joint heirs, the silverware, clothes, jewels and other goods brought into the marriage by her shall revert to the House of Anhalt, unless Dorothea has left other instructions to this effect; a corresponding inventory shall be drawn up.

Article 15: The 10,000 talers dowry shall revert to Prince Augustus (Anhalt) in guardianship for Prince Johan of Anhalt or corresponding male descendants.

Article 16: In the event of Dorothea’s death, Hitzacker shall be pledged at 1,000 talers annually until the repayment of the reversion; only after the payment shall the dower be handed over and all officials and subjects be released from their oaths and duties.

Article 17: If there are joint heirs, the marriage settlement and other legacies shall be inherited by them.

Article 18: In the event of a widow’s dower, Dorothea shall be immediately entitled to move into her dower residence, as mentioned in the dower letter; in addition, contrary to Saxon law, she shall receive 4,000 talers as well as supplies of wine, fruit, grain, etc. as her property; The descendants and feudal successors of the deceased groom shall ensure that all deficiencies are remedied and that the appropriate conditions are created to enable the widow to live a life befitting her status on the dower estate.

Article 19: Should Dorothea change her widowhood status and remarry, she must be paid for the money she has contributed and the mornig gift; if joint male heirs are left behind, half of the sum shall be paid out; only when the payment has been made shall Dorothea relinquish her personal property and her inheritance and release the officials, bailiffs and subjects from their oaths.

Article 20: Recidivism regulated

Article 21: Dorothea shall not be held liable for her husband’s debts.

Article 22: Upon leaving the widow’s dower, Dorothea and her heirs shall leave everything as found, with a corresponding inventory mentioned; furthermore, no changes shall be made to the dower property without the consent of Duke August and his heirs and descendants; feudal rights regulated by the widow

Article 23: Scope of the sovereign rights of the sovereign prince in various matters relating to the widow’s estate

Article 24: Prescriptions regarding the widow’s life estate and mornig gift shall be handed over to Dorothea before the wedding, with the express approval and confirmation of the groom’s brothers and cousins

Article 25: Mention of two copies of the contract

Regulations on succession to the throne

Confessional regulations

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 4: Dorothea’s renunciation of inheritance is regulated, corresponding letter of renunciation is mentioned, but does not apply to sisterly cases outside the House of Anhalt

Article 17: If there are joint heirs, the marriage settlement and other legacies shall be inherited by them.

Estates involved

External authorities involved

Article 5: August (the Younger) guarantees a donation propter nuptias of 10,000 talers, with the consent of his brother and his cousins

Article 24: Prescriptions regarding the widow’s life estate and mornig gift shall be handed over to Dorothea before the wedding, with the express approval and confirmation of the groom’s brothers and cousins

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 5: August (the Younger) guarantees a donation propter nuptias of 10,000 talers, with the consent of his brother and his cousins

Article 24: Prescriptions regarding the widow’s life estate and mornig gift shall be handed over to Dorothea before the wedding, with the express approval and confirmation of the groom’s brothers and cousins

Commentary

Original contract not divided into articles.

Literature

References

• Archive copy: NLA WO, 3 Urk, 2 Nr. 12
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 318. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/318.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 318},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/318.html}
}