Marriage contract no. 378: Ostfriesland - Schweden

  • Date of contract conclusion: 21. August 1558
  • Place of contract conclusion: Stockholm

Groom

  • Name: Edzard II. von Ostfriesland
  • GND: 118858173
  • Year of Birth: 1532
  • Year of Death: 1599
  • Dynasty: Cirksena
  • Confession: lutherisch

Bride

  • Name: Katharina Wasa
  • GND: 119025655
  • Year of Birth: 1539
  • Year of Death: 1610
  • Dynasty: Wasa (Schweden)
  • Confession: lutherisch

Actors of the Groom

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

Actors of the Bride

  • Name: Gustav I. Wasa
  • GND: 118699431
  • Dynasty: Wasa (Schweden)
  • Relationship: Vater

Contract content

Preamble: Names of the parties; purpose of the marriage

Article 1: Promise of marriage on the Swedish side; date of marriage and Stockholm as the venue specified

Article 2: Dowry settled: 100,000 talers; bride’s trousseau specified; annex settled

Article 3: Promise by the Count to marry the bride and provide her with appropriate court servants

Article 4: Groom grants the bride the office of Norden and Berum as a dowry; with the consent of the groom’s mother; Life annuity of 6,000 Geldrian Reyther; if the offices are not sufficient for the life annuity, the groom shall supplement it from his rent chamber; No further claims on Sweden by the groom Article 5: Further provisions regarding the dower: Written confirmation from the mother, the nobility and the provinces; Rights of use of the bride; homage of the subjects; accession upon the death of the groom; appointment of officials

Article 6: Protection of the dower guaranteed

Article 7: Reversion of the dower upon the death of the bride; the bride must remain loyal to the government of East Frisia

Article 8: Upon the death of the bride without heirs, silver, clothing, jewels and half of the 100,000 talers shall revert to Sweden, unless she stipulates otherwise in her will

Article 9: Remarriage of the bride regulated

Article 10: The eldest son shall assume the government of East Frisia upon the death of the groom; provision for the other children regulated

Article 11: Promise to abide by the above; place, date, signatures and seals

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 10: The eldest son of the couple shall assume the government of East Frisia after the death of the groom

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 7: Reversion of the dower in the event of the bride’s death; the bride must remain loyal to the government of East Frisia

Article 8: Upon the death of the bride without heirs, the silver, clothes, jewels and half of the 100,000 talers shall revert to Sweden, unless she specifies otherwise in her will

Estates involved

Article 5: Further provisions regarding the dower: Written confirmation from the mother, the nobility and the provinces

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 1: Promise to abide by the above; place, date, signatures and seals

References