Marriage contract no. 58: Schweden - Preußen

Contract content

Preamble: Out of friendly affection between the contracting parties, to strengthen neighbourly understanding between the contracting parties, their dynasties and countries: marriage agreement, appointment of negotiators, conclusion of contract announced

Article 1: Consent for bride granted, marriage vows exchanged: with the consent of the bride’s mother and the Swedish king – wedding ceremony by procurator in Berlin agreed – transfer of the bride and church wedding in Sweden arranged

Article 2: Dowry and dowry allowance determined: dowry limited by house rules, payment and use by groom arranged, trousseau arranged

Article 3: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride arranged: according to house rules, in return for dowry payment, to paternal and fraternal inheritance, with the consent of the Swedish King and groom, claims to the throne and inheritance reserved after the extinction of the bride’s family in the male line

Article 4: Morning gift determined: payment arranged

Article 5: Maintenance of the bride stipulated: in addition to the use of the morning gift and donatio propter nuptias, regulated for clothing and personal needs, payment regulated, increase reserved upon accession to the throne

Article 6: Court of the bride regulated: remuneration and appointment of servants regulated

Article 7: Child rearing regulated: Financing regulated, Lutheran denomination prescribed, Lutheran denomination of the bride declared

Article 8: Donatio propter nuptias, widow’s income stipulated: in lieu of widow’s property, payment regulated, improvement guaranteed if necessary – Widow’s residence regulated: rights of use, condition, furnishings and maintenance regulated – if the bride moves abroad as a widow: subject to the consent of the Swedish Riksdag, transfer of widow’s residence regulated, bride’s personal property regulated

Article 9: Indemnity of bride and her widow’s estate from Swedish debts guaranteed, personal liability of bride in widowhood regulated

Article 10: Upon the death of the bride without surviving children: use and reversion of dowry and dowry allowance regulated, transfer of estate and gains of the bride to the groom regulated – if applicable, inheritance of dowry, dowry allowance and estate of the bride to surviving children regulated – in the event of the bride’s second marriage: subject to the consent of the Swedish Riksdag, redemption of widow’s income and transfer of widow’s residence regulated depending on the King and the Riksdag in Sweden

Article 11: In the event of the death of the bride or groom before marriage: nullity of the marriage contract regulated

Article 12: Ratification regulated

Regulations on succession to the throne

Article 3: Renunciation of inheritance by the bride regulated: claims to the throne and inheritance reserved after the extinction of the bride’s family in the male line

Article 5: Maintenance of the bride determined: increase reserved upon accession to the throne

Confessional regulations

Article 7: Regulation of the upbringing of children: financing regulated, Lutheran denomination prescribed, Lutheran denomination of the bride declared

Regulations on inheritance law

Article 3: Regulation of the bride’s renunciation of inheritance: according to house rules, in return for dowry payment, to paternal and fraternal inheritance, with the consent of the Swedish King and groom, succession rights and inheritance rights reserved after the extinction of the bride’s family in the male line

Article 10: Where applicable, inheritance of dowry, dowry allowance and estate of the bride to surviving children regulated

Estates involved

Articles 8, 10: Subject to the consent of the Swedish Imperial Estates: in the event of the bride’s departure abroad as a widow, in the event of the bride’s second marriage, in the event of the transfer of the widow’s residence, regulated by the King and the Imperial Estates in Sweden.

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 12: Ratification regulated.

Further contracts between contracting parties

Defensive alliance 29 May 1747

Commentary

Bride converted to Lutheranism on 28 June 1744 for the marriage

Due to the difference in denomination, the Julian and Gregorian calendars are used to date the treaty; resulting in a double date: 30 June 1744 / 11 July 1744; the date given above is according to the Gregorian calendar.

Literature

Rangström 2010, pp. 224-237.

References

• Archive copy: Stockholm, Riksarkivet, Konungahusens urkunder, 46 Urkunder rörande arvfursten Adolf Fredriks och prinsessan Lovisa Ulrikas af Preussen giftermål 1744, nr. 46 a Heirathskontrakt
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digitized archive copy: https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/R0001257

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 58. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/58.html.

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title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 58},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/58.html}
}