Marriage contract no. 345: Baden - Hessen-Darmstadt

  • Date of contract conclusion: 9. Juni 1774
  • Place of contract conclusion: Karlsruhe

Groom

  • Name: Karl Ludwig von Baden
  • GND: 11772971X
  • Year of Birth: 1755
  • Year of Death: 1801
  • Dynasty: Baden-Durlach
  • Confession: lutherisch

Bride

  • Name: Friederike Amalie von Hessen-Darmstadt
  • GND: 119440679
  • Year of Birth: 1754
  • Year of Death: 1832
  • Dynasty: Hessen-Darmstadt
  • Confession: lutherisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Karl Friedrich von Baden
  • GND: 118560166
  • Dynasty: Baden-Durlach
  • Relationship: Vater

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Ludwig IX. von Hessen-Darmstadt
  • GND: 102119686
  • Dynasty: Hessen-Darmstadt
  • Relationship: Vater

Contract content

Preamble: Names of the marriage partners and parties involved; parental consent

1 – Mutual marriage vows

2 – Dowry settled: 20,000 guilders, payment settled

3 – Bridal trousseau in accordance with the customs of the house; due to the observance of the house and the great-grandfather’s will, 18,000 guilders for this purpose

4 – Funds given to the bride by her grandmother, her mother and the Empress of Russia, as well as everything else she inherits, are considered her personal property; she may dispose of these funds as she sees fit

5 – In the event of the wife’s death without a will or heirs, the husband retains beneficial ownership of everything left behind, including the personal property

6 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride regulated: due to tradition and the fraternal inheritance between Saxony and Hesse, with the exception of the extinction of the male line of Hesse.

7 – Morning gift regulated: 10,000 guilders, reversion of the morning gift to the husband’s family in the event of the bride’s death without bodily heirs.

8 – 2000 guilders as a pin money, as long as the bride is not a widow.

9 – Assumption of maintenance of the bride’s farm by her husband.

10 – Dowry regulated: 8000 guilders from the Mühlburg office, payment in kind regulated.

11 – Jurisdiction over the bride’s servants regulated

12 – Homage of subjects; protection of the widow’s dower; freedoms of subjects

13 – Promise to abide by the contract

14 – Signatures and seals

Regulations on inheritance law

4 – Funds gifted to the bride by her grandmother, her mother and the Empress of Russia, as well as all other items she inherits, are considered her personal property; she may dispose of these funds as she sees fit

6 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride regulated: due to tradition and the inheritance alliance between Saxony and Hesse, with the exception of the extinction of the male line of Hesse

7 – Morning gift regulated: 10,000 guilders, reversion of the morning gift to the husband’s family in the event of the bride’s death without issue

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

14 – Signatures and seals

References