Marriage contract no. 365: Kurpfalz - Ostfriesland

  • Date of contract conclusion: 2. Juli 1583
  • Place of contract conclusion: Heidelberg

Groom

  • Name: Ludwig VI. von der Pfalz
  • GND: 10211112X
  • Year of Birth: 1539
  • Year of Death: 1583
  • Dynasty: Wittelsbacher (Pfalz-Simmern)
  • Confession: lutherisch

Bride

  • Name: Anna von Ostfriesland
  • GND: 137877986
  • Year of Birth: 1562
  • Year of Death: 1621
  • Dynasty: Cirksena
  • Confession: lutherisch

Actors of the Groom

  • Name: Ludwig VI. von der Pfalz
  • GND: 10211112X
  • Dynasty: Wittelsbacher (Pfalz-Simmern)
  • Relationship: /

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Edzard II. von Ostfriesland
  • GND: 118858173
  • Dynasty: Cirksena
  • Relationship: Vater

Contract content

Preamble (p. 2): Marriage decided

Article 1 (p. 2): Marriage decided

Article 2 (pp. 2–3): Dowry (20,000 guilders), payment arrangements

Article 3 (p. 3): trousseau

Article 4 (pp. 3–4): donatio propter nuptias (20,000 guilders), annual pension (2,000 guilders); referral of widow’s estate

Article 5 (pp. 4–5): If the groom dies before the bride and after consummation of the marriage: commencement of widowhood, homage to the officials on the widow’s property, receipt of the trousseau and other possessions

Article 6 (p. 5): Supplies on the widow’s property at the time of occupancy, household

Article 7 (p. 5): If the groom dies before the bride: the bride is not liable for debts.

Article 8 (pp. 5-6): Sale/transfer of the widow’s property by the bride without the consent of the groom’s heirs is prohibited.

Article 9 (p. 6): Use of the widow’s residence by others is prohibited, regulations on feuds, etc.

Article 10 (p. 6): Protection of the bride on the widow’s property.

Article 11 (pp. 6-7): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: retention of the dowry, donatio propter nuptias and annual pension.

Article 12 (pp. 7-8): If the bride dies and there are no joint heirs: reversion of the dowry to the bride’s father/his heirs, payment regulations, inheritance of the trousseau, gifts, etc. to the bride’s father/his heirs.

Article 13 (pp. 8-9): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no joint heirs: The trousseau and other possessions shall pass to the bride’s father/his heirs, the groom shall receive the lifelong right of use of the dowry, reversion after the death of the groom, repayment arrangements

Article 14 (p. 9): Claims exceeding the scope of the marriage contract are excluded

Article 15 (p. 9): If there are joint heirs: provision as for the descendants from the groom’s first marriage

Article 16 (pp. 9-10): Morning gift (4,000 guilders), annual pension (200 guilders); payment until possible redemption by the groom’s heirs, rights of use; inheritance of the morning gift: reversion to the Palatinate

Article 17 (pp. 10-11): reversion of the widow’s household goods; inspection of the widow’s household goods by the bride’s father

Article 18 (p. 11): If the bride/groom dies before consummation of the marriage: marriage contract invalid

Article 19 (p. 11): Bride’s renunciation of succession and property; provisions in the event of the bride’s line dying out

(pp. 11-12): Signatures mentioned

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 19 (p. 11): Renunciation of inheritance rights by the bride; provisions in the event of the extinction of the bride’s line

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 5 (pp. 4–5): If the groom dies before the bride and after consummation of the marriage: commencement of widowhood, homage to the officials on the widow’s property, receipt of the trousseau and other possessions

Article 11 (pp. 6-7): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: receipt of the dowry, donatio propter nuptias and annual pension

Article 12 (pp. 7-8): If the bride dies and there are no joint heirs: reversion of the dowry to the bride’s father/his heirs, payment arrangements, inheritance of the trousseau, gifts, etc. to the bride’s father/his heirs

Article 13 (pp. 8-9): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no joint heirs: the trousseau and other possessions fall to the bride’s father/his heirs, the groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry, reversion after the death of the groom, repayment arrangements

Article 16 (pp. 9-10): Morning gift (4,000 guilders), annual pension (200 guilders); payment until possible redemption by the groom’s heirs, rights of use; inheritance of the morning gift: reversion to the Palatinate.

Article 17 (pp. 10-11): Reversion of the widow’s household goods; Inspection of the widow’s property by the bride’s father

Article 19 (p. 11): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride in terms of succession and property; provisions in the event of the bride’s line dying out

Commentary

Original contract divided into articles

No pagination/numbering of the contract pages

Literature

Press, Volker, ‘Ludwig VI.’ in: Neue Deutsche Biographie 15 (1987), pp. 414-415 [online version]; URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd10211112X.html#ndbcontent [12 March 2025].

References