Marriage contract no. 382: Brandenburg-Schwedt - Hessen-Kassel

Contract content

Preamble: Naming of the parties; purpose of the marriage

Article 1: Naming of the marriage partners; mutual agreement to become engaged

Article 2: The groom guarantees to honour, love and duly attend to the bride throughout her life

Article 3: Dowry settled: 30,000 Reichstaler

Article 4: Bride brings 20,000 Reichstaler in paraphernalia money into the marriage, which shall be used by the groom for his administration and usufruct throughout his life, but shall remain the property of the bride

Article 5: Trousseau of the bride regulated

Article 6: Bride receives part of the inheritance of her father’s mother-in-law and wife

Article 7: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride

Article 8: 4,000 Reichstaler morning gift; morning gift with 300 Reichstaler interest per annum

Article 9: 6,000 Reichstaler as pin money for the bride

Article 10: Bride’s court regulated

Article 11: Donatio propter nuptias of 30,000 Reichstaler; life annuity of 8,000 Reichstaler; investment in the Friedland monastery, the villages of Ringenwalde, Kleinbarnim, Metzdorf, Bollersdorf and Britzhagen, the Quilitz district and the towns of Knappendorf, Rosenthal and Görlsdorf; Compensation in the event of destruction and in the event that the dower is insufficient for the 8,000 Reichstaler

Article 12: Friedrichfeld Castle is advertised as a widow’s residence; furnished with furniture and inventory befitting her status

Article 13: Regulation of the widow’s right of residence: the widow may delay moving into the widow’s residence for three months at no cost to herself; 4,000 Reichstaler Leibgedinge (widow’s allowance) shall be paid to the widow in advance for furnishing the residence

Article 14: Regulation of the appointment of officials to the widow’s residence; regulations on the provision of natural produce

Article 15: Regulation of the maintenance of the buildings

Article 16: Death, bride dies without children before groom: reversion of dowry, paraphernalia money and property of the bride; lifelong right of use by the husband; widow’s property is considered a pledge

Article 17: Bride dies with children before groom: inheritance of her property to her children

Article 18: Groom dies before bride: bride may take up her widow’s estate without hindrance

Article 19: Remarriage of the bride regulated: widow’s estate as pledge for repayment of dowry; use of the remarriage gift; bequest of the widow’s residence; inheritance of the marriage property by children from second marriage

Article 20: Regulation concerning debts of the marriage partners

Article 21: If one of the marriage partners dies after consummation of the marriage but before payment of the monetary benefits, these must still be paid

Article 22: If one of the marriage partners dies before consummation of the marriage, the contract is void

Article 23: Inheritance by will, codicillum and donationis mortis causa are still possible as long as they do not violate the house contracts

Article 24: Promise to abide by the above; promise by Karl Albrecht to obtain the consent of his brother Wilhelm

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 6: Bride receives a portion of the estate of her mother-in-law and father’s wife.

Article 7: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride.

Article 16: Death, bride dies without children before the groom: reversion of the dowry, paraphernalia funds and property of the bride; lifelong right of use by the husband; widow’s property is considered a pledge

Article 17: Bride dies with children before groom: inheritance of her property to her children

Article 19: Remarriage of bride regulated: widow’s property as pledge for repayment of dowry; use of remarriage; bequest of the widow’s residence; inheritance of the marriage property by children from a second marriage

Commentary

The marriage was not concluded.

References

• Archive copy: HStAM, Urk. 3, 371, HStAM 4 a 85/15
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitalized archive copy: https://arcinsys.hessen.de/arcinsys/digitalMediaViewer.action?archivalDescriptionId=6156215&selectId=158844810

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 382. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/382.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 382},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/382.html}
}