Marriage contract no. 384: Sachsen-Polen - Bayern

Contract content

Preamble: Names of the parties involved; decision to marry; purpose of the marriage; papal dispensation mentioned; names of the officials involved in the negotiations

Article 1: Promise to marry; consent of the mothers; marriage according to Catholic custom

Article 2: Dowry of 100,000 talers; trousseau regulated

Article 3: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride

Article 4: Donatio propter nuptias of 100,000 talers; investment in the town of Pretzsch and the district and town of Finsterwalde

Article 5: Morning gift of 50,000 guilders

Article 6: Deaths; if the groom dies before the bride: The bride remains the owner of her dowry, clothes and silverware; an inventory of the bride’s property is to be drawn up; use of the Donatio propter nuptias is permitted

Article 7: Pretzsch Castle is to serve as the widow’s residence; unhindered practice of religion therein; trousseau of the castle regulated; repair of the buildings regulated; compensation in the event of destruction guaranteed

Article 8: Life annuity of 60,000 guilders if widowhood remains unchanged; payment regulated; rights to the widow’s estate regulated; prohibition on selling or pledging the widow’s estate; if the widow decides to take up residence outside Saxony, the life annuity is reduced to 40,000 guilders

Article 9: Remarriage of the widow regulated: life annuity ceases; income from the entire marriage property remains unchanged

Article 10: Bride dies before groom: if there are children, the bride’s inheritance remains with the groom’s family; if there are no children, the bride’s property and dowry revert to the bride’s family; The groom retains usufruct of the dowry

Article 11: Promise to abide by the above; drafting of the contract in two identical copies; ratification regulated; place; date; signatures; L.S.

Confessional regulations

Article 1: Marriage according to Catholic custom

Article 7: Pretzsch Castle shall serve as the widow’s residence; unhindered practice of religion on this

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 3: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride

Article 10: Bride dies before groom: if there are children, the bride’s inheritance remains with the groom’s family; if there are no children, the bride’s property and dowry revert to the bride’s family; groom retains usufruct of the dowry

External authorities involved

Pope: Preamble: papal dispensation mentioned

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 11: Promise to abide by the above; drafting of the contract in two identical copies; ratification regulated

References

• Archive copy: HStA Drd, 10026 Secret Cabinet, No. Loc. 00787/05
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitalized archive copy: https://www.archiv.sachsen.de/archiv/bestand.jsp?guid=42cc81d3-b73a-44ec-82e5-6e18982e56e8&_ptabs=%7B%22%23tab-digitalisat%22%3A1%7D#digitalisat

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 384. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/384.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 384},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/384.html}
}