Marriage contract no. 396: Sachsen-Coburg - Braunschweig-Grubenhagen

Contract content

Article 1: Marriage decided, also on the advice of Duke Johann Friedrich I, Elector of Saxony (brother of the groom), consent of the bride mentioned, consummation mentioned

Article 2: Morning gift regulated: transfer of a piece of jewellery and 200 guilders annual interest regulated

Article 3: After the death of the groom, the bride receives 2,000 guilders annually, bride’s right of disposal regulated, prescription mentioned

Article 4: Heirs, descendants and brother of the groom mentioned; the widow’s dower amounts to 2,000 guilders; widow’s property and appurtenances regulated; rights such as jurisdiction, mills, fishing rights, etc. regulated, necessary firewood and fuel wood allocated, excess wood to be delivered to the princely chamber; the excess from the princely chamber shall supplement the dower after the death of the groom.

Article 5: Improvement of the bride’s princely residence regulated; Regulation of homage and oaths by the inhabitants and subjects of the widow’s estates; after the death of the groom: allocation of interest and benefits; guaranteed annual income of 2,000 guilders, if necessary: guaranteed increase; the subjects shall not be burdened with penalties or similar by the bride; the groom reserves the right for himself and his heirs to levy taxes on the widow’s estates; letter of prescription after the marriage regulated

Article 6: If the bride cannot take possession of the aforementioned widow’s estates: exchange for estates that generate the same income, regulated by the groom’s heirs

Article 7: If the widow’s residence is damaged while the bride is in possession of it: wood and assistance to be provided by the groom’s heirs

Article 8: If the groom dies before the bride and there are joint heirs or not: commencement of the life estate to be regulated; lifelong right of use without hindrance to be regulated; the bride receives the jewels, trousseau, gifts, the bride’s own possessions and household goods, as well as supplies, if available; repeated mention of the annual income of 2,000 guilders

Article 9: If the bride remarries after the death of the groom: redemption of the dower with 15,000 guilders and 20 groschen regulated; free right of use and enjoyment by the bride regulated, prescription and guarantee mentioned

Article 10: If the bride dies: inheritance of the 15,000 guilders regulated, 8,500 guilders go to the heirs?; if there are no joint heirs from the marriage: the sum reverts to the descendants?; inheritance to the next heirs regulated, the remaining 8,500 guilders are inherited by the heirs from the second marriage, if these do not exist: inheritance to the next heirs regulated

Article 11: The bride receives 8,500 guilders, the groom’s heirs retain 8,500 guilders and pay an annual sum to the bride; prescription mentioned.

Article 12: Promise to remain faithful to the marriage.

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 8: If the groom dies before the bride and there are joint heirs or not: commencement of the life estate regulated; lifelong right of use without hindrance regulated; the bride receives the jewels, trousseau, gifts, the bride’s own possessions and household goods, as well as supplies, if available; re-mention of the annual income of 2,000 guilders

Article 10: If the bride dies: inheritance of the 15,000 guilders regulated, 8,500 guilders go to the heirs?; if there are no joint heirs from the marriage: the sum reverts to the descendants?; inheritance to the next heirs regulated, the remaining 8,500 guilders are inherited by the heirs from the second marriage, if these do not exist: inheritance to the next heirs regulated

Article 11: The bride receives 8,500 guilders, the groom’s heirs retain 8,500 guilders and pay an annual sum to the bride; prescription mentioned

External authorities involved

Article 1: Marriage decided, also on the advice of Duke Johann Friedrich I, Elector of Saxony (brother of the groom), consent of the bride mentioned, consummation mentioned

Commentary

Original not divided into articles

Parts of the document illegible

No mention of dowry or Donatio propter nuptias

References

• Archive copy: NLA Ha Cal. Or. 4 No. 53
• Contract language archive copy: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 396. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/396.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 396},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/396.html}
}