Marriage contract no. 389: Sachsen-Gotha - Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Contract content

Invocation of God (fol. 1r)

Preamble (fol. 1r-2r): Mention of the bride being widowed, consent of the bride’s mother, marriage decided

Article 1 (fol. 2r-2v): Marriage decided, consummation

Article 2 (fol. 2v-3r): Dowry (17,500 talers, plus 2,500 talers, payment arrangements, use), trousseau

Article 3 (fol. 3r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride (as in previous marriage), consent of the groom

Article 4 (fol. 3r-4r): Morning gift (2,000 Reichstaler, jewel or gift, 100 Reichstaler as interest on the dower, rights of use), if the bride dies and there are no heirs: reversion, in the event of other inheritance by the bride: redemption (2,000 Reichstaler) possible

Article 5 (fol. 4r): pin money (annual referral of 300 Reichstaler, payment arrangements, rights of use)

Article 6 (fol. 4r-5v): Donatio propter nuptias (20,000 Reichstaler), consent of the groom’s brother, referral of dowry and Donatio propter nuptias to the Saalfeld office, widow’s property Saalfeld office (belongings, rights of use), widow’s pension (4,000 Reichstaler annually), regulations on possible surpluses if the specified sum cannot be achieved: compensation for shortfalls, consent of the groom’s brother

Article 7 (fol. 5v): Reservations (knightly services, taxes, homage, opening, etc.) regarding the widow’s property for the groom’s heirs and descendants

Article 8 (fol. 5v-6r): Regulations on the appointment of church and school servants; regulations on consistorial church and state order, episcopal rights, etc.

Article 9 (fol. 6r-6v): Praise, oath and obedience of the officials on the widow’s property upon taking up the widow’s estate, the subjects retain their rights, etc., any further encumbrances are excluded

Article 10 (fol. 6v): Protection of the widow and the widow’s estate, representation of the widow

Article 11 (fol. 6v-7r): Freedom from encumbrances of the widow’s estate, pensions, etc.

Article 12 (fol. 7r-7v): Receipt of widow’s estates, supplies, in case of deficiencies: replacement, regulation for possible surpluses

Article 13 (fol. 7v-8r): Structural condition and maintenance of widow’s estates, household goods, carriages, etc., inventory

Article 14 (fol. 8r): Structural condition of widow’s estates, repairs

Article 15 (fol. 8r-8v): Timber, household goods, maintenance

Article 16 (fol. 8v): Regulations on hunting and game

Article 17 (fol. 8v-9r): Attendance by the nobility

Article 18 (fol. 9r): Allocation, opening, pledging, etc. of the widow’s estate without the consent of the groom’s heirs and successors is excluded

Article 19 (fol. 9r-9v): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no joint heirs: The groom receives the lifelong right of use of the dowry, trousseau, etc. (inventory), after the death of the groom: reversion; inheritance options by will through the bride

Article 20 (fol. 9v-10r): Special regulations regarding silver tableware, inheritance regulations

Article 21 (fol. 10r-10v): If the groom dies before the bride and there are minor heirs: guardianship, maintenance, upbringing; receipt and use of the widow’s dower, receipt of household goods, trousseau, etc.

Article 22 (fol. 10v-11r): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: The bride receives 20,000 talers of the dowry and 20,000 talers of the Donatio propter nuptias, transfer of the Donatio propter nuptias; other payment options for the sum of the Donatio propter nuptias (annual and lifelong payment of 1,000 Reichstalers, insurance, payment falls to the joint descendants with the groom or his heirs after the death of the bride)

Article 23 (fol. 11r): 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.

Article 24 (fol. 11r-12r): If the groom dies before the bride, there are no descendants and the bride does not remarry: lifelong use of the widow’s dower; after the death of the bride: reversion of the widow’s dower, reversion of the dowry, inheritance options according to the bride’s will; repayment arrangements

Article 25 (fol. 12r): Settlement of debts

Article 26 (fol. 12r): If the bride/groom dies before consummation of the marriage: marriage contract invalid

Conclusion (fol. 12v-13r): Promise to comply with the contract, two copies of the contract; consent of the groom’s eldest brother and other brothers, written consensus, place, dates

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 3 (fol. 3r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride (as in previous marriage), consent of the groom

Article 4 (fol. 3r-4r): Morning gift (2,000 Reichstaler, jewel or gift, 100 Reichstaler as interest on the dower, rights of use), if the bride dies and there are no heirs: reversion, in the event of other inheritance by the bride: redemption (2,000 Reichstaler) possible

Article 19 (fol. 9r-9v): If the bride dies before the groom and there are no joint heirs: the groom receives lifelong rights of use over the dowry, trousseau, etc. (inventory), after the death of the groom: reversion; inheritance options by will through the bride

Article 20 (fol. 9v-10r): Special provisions regarding silver tableware, inheritance provisions

Article 22 (fol. 10v-11r): If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: The bride receives 20,000 talers of the dowry and 20,000 talers of the Donatio propter nuptias, transfer of the Donatio propter nuptias; other payment options for the sum of the Donatio propter nuptias (annual and lifelong payment of 1,000 Reichstalers, insurance, payment falls to the joint descendants with the groom or his heirs after the bride’s death)

Article 23 (fol. 11r): 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.

Article 24 (fol. 11r-12r): If the groom dies before the bride, there are no descendants and the bride does not remarry: lifelong use of the widow’s dower; after the death of the bride: reversion of the widow’s dower, reversion of the dowry, inheritance options according to the bride’s will; repayment arrangements

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Preamble (fol. 1r-2r): Widowhood of the bride mentioned, consent of the bride’s mother, marriage decided

Article 3 (fol. 3r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride (as in previous marriage), consent of the groom

Article 6 (fol. 4r-5v): Donatio propter nuptias (20,000 Reichstaler), consent of the groom’s brother, referral of dowry and Donatio propter nuptias to the Saalfeld office, widow’s property Saalfeld office (belongings, rights of use), widow’s pension (4,000 Reichstaler annually), regulations on possible surpluses if the specified sum cannot be achieved: compensation for shortfalls, consent of the groom’s brother

Conclusion (fol. 12v-13r): promise to comply with the contract, two copies of the contract; consent of the groom’s eldest brother and other brothers, written consensus, place, dates

Text reference to past events

Preamble (fol. 1r-2r): Mention of the bride’s widowhood, consent of the bride’s mother, marriage decided

Article 3 (fol. 3r): Renunciation of inheritance by the bride (as in previous marriage), consent of the groom

Commentary

No foliation/numbering of the contract pages in the original

Original contract divided into articles

Literature

Beck, August, ‘Albrecht’ in: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie 1 (1875), pp. 318-319 [online version]; URL: https://www.deutsche-biographie.de/pnd117760846.html#adbcontent [12.08.2025].

References

• Archive copy: Wolfenb. NLA 3 Urk 5 No. 13 (1676 VII 13)
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 389. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/389.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 389},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/389.html}
}