Marriage contract no. 371: Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel - Mecklenburg-Güstrow

Contract content

Preamble: Invocation of God, profession of faith in the union of the houses of Brunswick-Lüneburg-Wolfenbüttel and Mecklenburg-Güstrow through the marriage of Augustus the Younger and Sophia Elisabeth

Article 1: Mention of courtship of the bride, marriage promised by Johann Albrecht, mention of consummation; Sophie Elisabeth’s parents insist on her religious freedoms with a request that these not be restricted in any way and that she not be dissuaded from the true religion in any way; she should have the freedom to call upon appropriate ministers and other religious servants as she desires

Article 2: Dowry of 15,000 Reichstalers against receipt after consummation of the marriage agreed

Article 3: Trousseau in the form of clothes, jewellery and silverware mentioned, or alternatively 6,000 Reichstalers, but without carts and horses

Article 4: Renunciation of inheritance with letter of renunciation mentioned

Article 5: Dowry and associated prescription and reversion mentioned; morning gift on the day after consummation of the marriage in the amount of 3,000 Reichstalers or 425 Reichstalers as an annual pension, with 106 Reichstalers per quarter accordingly

Article 6: Donatio propter nuptias of 15,000 Reichstalers confirmed; Marriage money and Donatio propter nuptias to be insured at the Lüchow house, which, together with all its appurtenances, is to serve as a widow’s dower in the event of the death of August’s brother Julius Ernst and as long as the latter agrees to this in advance – otherwise the Hitzacker office as the seat of the widow’s dower

Article 7: If Sophia Elisabeth survives August, she shall receive 6,000 Reichstaler annually from the income of the Hitzacker office, or from the nearest offices, such as Lüchow, if the income is insufficient and this has already fallen to him due to the death of August’s brother; In the event of Julius Ernst’s premature death, Sophie Elisabeth shall receive the 6,000 Reichstaler directly from her dower in Lüchow.

Article 8: The sovereign’s rights of superiority are mentioned; however, any corresponding opening of the dower estates by a sovereign shall be done without damage, expense or disadvantage to the widow, or shall be reimbursed accordingly.

Article 9: Mention of hereditary homage and associated letter; however, subjects shall retain their rights and freedoms.

Article 10: August’s heirs and descendants shall offer protection to the widow and her dower and shall not claim any dower produce or similar items.

Article 11: Inventory of the widow’s property mentioned; upon moving in, supplies consisting of one year’s yield shall be available; in case of shortage, supplies shall be replenished from other localities.

Article 12: The widow is not authorised to sell, pledge or open to others any property belonging to the widow’s estate without the knowledge of August’s heirs and descendants; however, she is obliged to maintain the buildings as long as the necessary materials can be obtained from the widow’s estate – if not, the heirs and descendants shall remedy the situation.

Article 13: If Sophie Elisabeth dies before August, he shall be entitled to dispose of the dowry, whereby the trousseau and other items in Sophie Elisabeth’s possession shall be bequeathed to her rightful heirs or as stipulated in a corresponding will.

Article 14: Should August also die, the dowry must be paid out to Johann Albrecht and his heirs or descendants against a receipt.

Article 15: Guardianship of joint minor biological heirs is clarified should August die prematurely and Sophie Elisabeth not change her widowhood status.

Article 16: The widow shall be permitted to maintain a priest on her dower and to hold religious ceremonies at her discretion.

Article 17: However, should she change her widowhood, August’s heirs and descendants must reimburse her the 15,000 Reichstaler dowry; until this has been done, she shall receive an annual pension of 1062.5 Reichstaler and shall not leave the widow’s estate until she has been paid accordingly.

Article 18: If Sophia Elisabeth should have children in a subsequent marriage, these children and the children from her marriage to August shall be equally entitled to the 15,000 Reichstaler dowry, whereas the 15,000 Reichstaler Donatio propter nuptias shall only go to August’s heirs.

Article 19: If Sophie Elisabeth does not remarry, she shall be able to remain in the dower quietly and protected until the end of her life, after which it shall revert to August’s heirs and successors.

Article 20: Other items in her possession shall, after her death, be distributed to heirs or friends in accordance with a will, or shall go to Johann Albrecht and his descendants or closest friends.

Article 21: August’s heirs shall receive the dower property with the same quantities of household goods and supplies as recorded in the inventory when Sophie Elisabeth moved in, with the exception of items worn out through daily use.

Article 22: The widow’s estate and the income derived from it, as well as the oaths of the subjects serving there, shall only expire when the marriage money and inheritance have been paid in full to Johann Albrecht or his heirs.

Article 23: August and his heirs reserve the right to deposit the morning gift of 425 Reichstalers per annum to Sophie Elisabeth or her heirs as capital of 3,000 Reichstalers.

Article 24: August’s debts shall be borne by his heirs and descendants and shall not be a burden on Sophie Elisabeth, just as her debts arising from the dower estates must be paid off by her and her heirs or close friends.

Article 25: The validity of the contract shall lapse should one of the two parties die before consummation of the marriage.

Article 26: Augustus promises to obtain confirmation from the Emperor and the feudal lord as further assurance for his future wife.

Article 27: Mention of two identical copies of the marriage contract, seals and signatures present.

Confessional regulations

Article 1: Courtship of the bride mentioned, marriage promised by Johann Albrecht, consummation mentioned; Sophie Elisabeth’s parents insist on her religious freedoms with a request that these not be restricted in any way and that she not be dissuaded from the true religion in any way; she shall have the freedom to call upon appropriate ministers and other religious servants as she desires

Article 16: The widow shall be permitted to maintain a priest on her dower and to hold religious ceremonies as she sees fit

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 4: Renunciation of inheritance mentioned in letter of renunciation

Article 13: If Sophie Elisabeth dies before August, he shall be able to dispose of the marriage settlement, whereby the trousseau and other items in Sophie Elisabeth’s possession shall be bequeathed to her rightful heirs or as stipulated in a corresponding will

Article 18: If Sophia Elisabeth should have children in a subsequent marriage, these children and the children from her marriage to August shall be equally entitled to the 15,000 Reichstaler dowry, whereas the 15,000 Reichstaler Donatio propter nuptias shall only go to August’s heirs.

Article 19: If Sophie Elisabeth does not remarry, she shall be able to remain in peace and security on the dower estate until the end of her life, which shall revert to August’s heirs and successors after her death.

Article 20: Other items in her possession shall, after her death, pass to heirs or friends in accordance with a will, or to Johann Albrecht and his descendants or closest friends.

External authorities involved

Article 6: Donatio propter nuptias of 15,000 Reichstalers confirmed; marriage money and Donatio propter nuptias shall be insured at the Lüchow house, which, together with all its appurtenances, shall serve as a dower if August’s brother Julius Ernst should die and as long as he agrees to this in advance – otherwise the Hitzacker office shall serve as the dower residence.

Article 7: If Sophia Elisabeth survives August, she shall receive 6,000 Reichstaler annually from the income of the Hitzacker office, or from the nearest offices, such as Lüchow, if the yield is insufficient and this has already fallen to him due to the death of August’s brother;

In the event of Julius Ernst’s premature death, Sophie Elisabeth shall receive the 6,000 Reichstaler directly from her dower Lüchow.

Article 26: August promises to obtain confirmation from the Emperor and the feudal lord as further assurance for his future wife.

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 26: August promises to obtain confirmation from the Emperor and the feudal lord as further assurance for his future wife.

Article 6: Donatio propter nuptias of 15,000 Reichstaler confirmed; Marriage money and Donatio propter nuptias to be insured on the Lüchow house, which, together with all its appurtenances, is to serve as a widow’s dower in the event of the death of August’s brother Julius Ernst and as long as the latter agrees to this in advance – otherwise the office of Hitzacker is to serve as the widow’s dower residence.

Commentary

Original not divided into articles, every second page numbered.

References

• Archive copy: NLA WO 3 Urk, 2 No. 17
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 371. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/371.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 371},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/371.html}
}