Marriage contract no. 388: Schleswig-Holstein-Sondernburg-Plön - Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Contract content

Article 1 (fol. 1r): Marriage decided, consent of the groom’s mother

Article 2 (fol. 1r-1v): Dowry (20,000 guilders/17,500 Reichstaler), payment arrangements, trousseau

Article 3 (fol. 1v): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride, consent of the groom, inheritance only occurs upon extinction of the bride’s male line; further inheritance options through will

Article 4 (fol. 1v-2r): Donatio propter nuptias (17,500 Reichstaler); investment, widow’s property (villages etc.; rights of use), 4,000 Reichstaler (annual income, interest from Donatio propter nuptias and dowry, rights of use); commencement of widowhood (homage etc. of subjects and servants on the widow’s property); receipt and use of the widow’s property

Article 5 (fol. 2r-2v): If the aforementioned sum cannot be achieved: compensation

Article 6 (fol. 2v): Regulations on possible surpluses; appointment/dismissal of servants

Article 7 (fol. 2v): Regulations on priesthoods and pastors

Article 8 (fol. 2v): Structural condition of the widow’s estates (repair, in case of destruction: replacement)

Article 9 (fol. 2v-3r): Inspection of the widow’s property

Article 10 (fol. 3r): Protection of the bride and the dower

Article 11 (fol 3r): Encumbering the dower with debts is excluded, freedom from debt

Article 12 (fol. 3r): Reservations regarding the widow’s property for the heirs and descendants of the groom

Article 13 (fol. 3r-3v): Occupancy of the widow’s property, receipt of the trousseau and other possessions, etc., movable property, supplies, compensation for deficiencies

Article 14 (fol. 3v): Pledging, allocation, opening of the widow’s estate, etc. without the consent of the groom’s heirs and successors excluded; unusual encumbrances, etc. of the subjects excluded, retention of freedoms, etc.

Article 15 (fol. 3v): Construction timber and firewood

Article 16 (fol. 3v): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no joint heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry; after the death of the groom: reversion, payment arrangements for the reversion

Article 17 (fol. 3v-4r): Inventory (trousseau, other possessions of the bride), if no disposition exists: the groom receives the lifelong right of use; after the death of the groom: reversion; possibility of inheritance by will, regulations on household goods and supplies

Article 18 (fol. 4r): If the groom dies before the bride and there are minor heirs: guardianship, maintenance, choice of residence for the bride; if there are no heirs: receipt of widow’s property, use

Article 19 (fol. 4r-4v): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: reimbursement of the dowry and Donatio propter nuptias, lifelong payment of interest, transfer of the widow’s dower

Article 20 (fol. 4v): If there are also descendants from the bride’s second marriage: the dowry and other possessions of the bride shall pass to the descendants from the first and second marriages; if there are no descendants from the second marriage: sole inheritance to the descendants from the first marriage; the Donatio propter nuptias shall pass to the heirs and successors of the groom, cancellation of interest

Article 21 (fol. 4v): Inheritance for the male heirs, subject to the father’s disposition; maintenance for the daughters, trousseau, dowry

Article 22 (fol. 4v): If there are only female descendants: The dominion shall pass to the next heirs, allod; maintenance of the daughters, trousseau, dowry

Article 23 (fol. 4v): If the groom dies before the bride and the bride does not remarry: lifelong use of the widow’s estate, protection, after the death of the widow: reversion; inheritance options by will through the bride

Article 24 (fol. 5r): Re-equipping with household goods and supplies on the widow’s estate after the widow’s death

Article 25 (fol. 5r): Repayment regulations for the reversion of the dowry, etc. (if no other wills, etc. exist)

Article 26 (fol. 5r): Debt settlement

Article 27 (fol. 5r): Morning gift (300 Reichstaler annually)

Article 28 (fol. 5r): If the bride/groom dies after consummation of the marriage and before payment of the dowry: Marriage contract valid; if the bride/groom dies before consummation: Marriage contract invalid

Article 29 (fol. 5r): Further inheritance options by will by bride/groom (no conflict with other inheritance regulations recorded)

Article 30 (fol. 5r): Improvements to widow’s rights possible

Article 31 (fol. 5v): Regulations on clauses not yet specified in the marriage contract

Article 32 (fol. 5v): Promise to comply with the contract, two copies of the contract, signatures of the groom’s brothers, date, signatures

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 21 (fol. 4v): Estate for male heirs, subject to paternal disposition; maintenance for daughters, trousseau, dowry

Article 22 (fol. 4v): If there are only female descendants: the dominion falls to the next heirs, allod; maintenance for daughters, trousseau, bride price

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 3 (fol. 1v): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride, consent of the groom, inheritance only occurs upon extinction of the bride’s male line; further inheritance options through will

Article 16 (fol. 3v): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no joint heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry; after the death of the groom: reversion, payment arrangements for the reversion

Article 17 (fol. 3v-4r): Inventory (trousseau, other possessions of the bride), if no disposition exists: the groom receives the right of use for life; after the death of the groom: reversion; possibility of inheritance by will, regulations regarding household goods and supplies

Article 20 (fol. 4v): If there are also descendants from the bride’s second marriage: the dowry and other possessions of the bride go to the descendants from the first and second marriages; if there are no descendants from the second marriage: sole inheritance to the descendants from the first marriage; the dowry goes to the heirs and successors of the groom, cancellation of interest

Article 21 (fol. 4v): Inheritance for the male heirs, subject to the father’s disposition; maintenance for the daughters, trousseau, dowry

Article 22 (fol. 4v): If there are only female descendants: The dominion shall pass to the next heirs, allod; maintenance of the daughters, trousseau, dowry

Article 23 (fol. 4v): If the groom dies before the bride and the bride does not remarry: lifelong use of the widow’s estate, protection, after the death of the widow: reversion; inheritance options by will through the bride

Article 25 (fol. 5r): Repayment arrangements for the reversion of the dowry, etc. (if no other wills, etc. exist)

Article 29 (fol. 5r): Further inheritance options by will by bride/groom (no conflict with the other inheritance provisions recorded)

External authorities involved

Article 32 (fol. 5v): Promise to comply with the contract, two copies of the contract, signatures of the groom’s brothers, date, signatures

Commentary

No foliation/numbering of the contract pages in the original No division into articles in the original

Literature

Sommeregger, ‘Johann Adolf’ in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 50 (1905), pp. 684-686 [online version]; URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd122803574.html#adbcontent [07.08.2025].

References

• Archive copy: Wolfenb. NLA 3 Urk 5 No. 15 (1673 III 24)
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 388. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/388.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 388},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/388.html}
}