Marriage contract no. 60: Hessen-Kassel - Schweden

Contract content

Preamble: Betrothal announced: out of love between groom and bride – consent for bride, exchange of marriage vows, conclusion of preliminary contract announced on 13/24 January 1715 – conclusion of marriage contract between negotiators announced: to the praise of God, to maintain and strengthen harmony and alliance between both dynasties

Article 1: Marriage and church wedding agreed – Lutheran religious practice of the bride assured and regulated

Article 2: Dowry and dowry allowance determined: payment regulated, of which allowance in lieu of trousseau and to be the property of the bride

Article 3: Donatio propter nuptias and widow’s income determined

Article 4: Morning gift determined: payment regulated – maintenance of the bride during the marriage determined: for clothing and personal needs, except for godparent gifts

Article 5: Court of the bride regulated: appointment of jurisdiction over servants regulated

Articles 6-7: Widow’s income, widow’s residence and widow’s property established: rights of use regulated, in addition to use of morning gift

Article 8: Widow’s income regulated: rectification guaranteed if necessary, delivery of deeds of prescription guaranteed

Article 9: Child rearing and provision for children regulated: Indemnity for widow’s provision guaranteed

Article 10: Personal property of the bride in terms of dowry allowance and gains regulated: Inheritance regulated

Article 11: Condition and furnishings of widow’s residence regulated

Article 12: Widow’s property regulated: legal status of officials and subjects regulated, instructions to bride regulated, mines, rights of lordship, taxes and duties and church visitations excluded – protection of widow’s property regulated

Article 13: Widow’s property regulated: appointment of church and school officials regulated

Article 14: Widow’s property regulated: opening and alienation to third parties and alliances with third parties prohibited – preservation of widow’s property and widow’s residence regulated – liability for debts regulated

Article 15: Replacement of widow’s residence and widow’s property in the event of damage regulated

Article 16: Improvement of widow’s property reserved

Articles 17-19: In the event of remarriage or the bride’s departure abroad while widowed: possible redemption of widow’s income regulated, inheritance of dowry, donatio propter nuptias, morning gift and bride’s estate to children from first and second marriages regulated, transfer of widow’s property regulated, reversion of dowry and donatio propter nuptias after the death of a childless bride regulated

Article 20: Liability for debts incurred during the marriage regulated

Articles 21-24: After the death of the bride without surviving children: use of the bride’s dowry and estate by the groom, reversion after the death of the groom regulated, widow’s property used as collateral, repayment regulated

Article 25: Inheritance of the bride’s dowry, donatio propter nuptias and estate by children and descendants

Article 26: In the event of the death of the bride or groom before payment of the dowry: validity of the marriage contract guaranteed – in the event of the death of the bride or groom before the marriage: nullity of the marriage contract regulated

Article 27: Ratification regulated

Confessional regulations

Article 1: Lutheran religious practice of the bride guaranteed and regulated

Article 12: Church visitation on widow’s estates regulated

Article 13: Appointment of church and school officials on widow’s estates regulated

Regulations on inheritance law

Articles 17-19: In the event of a second marriage or the bride moving abroad while widowed: inheritance of dowry, donatio propter nuptias and the bride’s estate to children from first and second marriages regulated

Article 25: Inheritance of dowry, donatio propter nuptias and the bride’s estate to children and descendants regulated

Article 26: In the event of the death of the bride or groom before the dowry is paid: validity of the marriage contract guaranteed – in the event of the death of the bride or groom before the marriage: nullity of the marriage contract regulated

Ratifications, confirmations, approvals

Article 27: Ratification regulated

Further contracts between contracting parties

Convention on auxiliary troops 20/31 January 1715

Convention on auxiliary troops 8 April 1718

Literature

Rangström 2010, pp. 210-223.

References

• Archive copy: Stockholm, Riksarkivet, Konungahusens urkunder, 44 Urkunder rörande arvprins Fredriks af Hessen och prinsessan Ulrika Eleonoras giftermål 1714 – 1715, nr. 44 d Giftermålskontrakt
• Contract language archive copy: German
• Digital copy archive copy: https://sok.riksarkivet.se/bildvisning/R0001256_00001

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 60. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/60.html.

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title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 60},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/60.html}
}