Marriage contract no. 64: Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf - Dänemark

Contract content

[Pre] – In memory of the ancient, often renewed kinship between dynasties, to the praise of God, to increase friendship and trust between both countries, to bring about a closer union between the descendants of both sides, for the benefit, welfare and security of both countries: Marriage agreement announced (241f.)

1 – Consent given for bride, marriage agreed: date set for consummation of marriage

2 – Dowry determined: payment arranged in return for bride’s renunciation of inheritance

3 – Morning gift determined: use and payment arranged

4 – Donatio propter nuptias, widow’s income, widow’s property determined: rights of use, widow’s residence, inspection of widow’s property regulated, subject to subsequent improvement

5-6 – Widow’s property regulated: instruction and homage, legal status and duties of servants and subjects regulated, rights of sovereignty reserved

7-8 – Remuneration and appointment of servants on the widow’s property regulated

9 – Appointment of church and school servants on the widow’s property regulated, appointment of court chaplain to the bride regulated

10 – Opening of widow’s property to third parties, sale of widow’s property prohibited, preservation of widow’s property regulated

11-12 – Replacement or exchange of widow’s estates regulated

13 – After the death of the groom: widow’s maintenance determined, delivery of the bride’s personal possessions regulated

14 – In the event of the bride’s second marriage: compensation for widow’s estates, payment of dowry, interest on donation propter nuptias and morning gift regulated

15-16 – After the death of the bride after remarriage: reversion of the morning gift, donation propter nuptias, inheritance of the dowry if applicable, inheritance to children from both marriages regulated

17 – Transfer of widow’s property regulated: against repayment of the dowry, with all deeds of transfer

18 – after the death of the groom: bride’s liability for groom’s debts excluded

19-22 – after the death of the bride without surviving children: continued use of dowry and trousseau by the groom, reversion after the death of the groom and repayment regulated

23 – Inheritance of dowry and trousseau by children regulated

24 – In the event of the death of a spouse before consummation of the marriage: nullity of marriage contract regulated

[Esch] – Compliance promised (251)

Regulations on succession to the throne

Widow’s estates regulated: instruction and homage, legal status and duties of servants and subjects regulated, rights of sovereignty reserved - 5-6

Confessional regulations

Appointment of church and school servants on the widow’s estates regulated, appointment of the bride’s court chaplain regulated - 9

Regulations on inheritance law

Dowry determined: payment regulated in return for the bride’s renunciation of inheritance - 2

After the death of the bride after her second marriage: inheritance of dowry, if applicable, estate to children from both marriages regulated - 15-16

23 – Inheritance of dowry and trousseau to children regulated

Further contracts between contracting parties

Agreement on the settlement of shares of dominion 05.05.1663

Settlement of disputes 12.10.1667

Joint agreement with allodial heirs of the Countess of Oldenburg 18.07.1669

Literature

Laursen in DNT VI, pp. 225-234.

Hillenbrand 1996.

References

• Print reference: DNT VI, pp. 241-251
• Contract language print: German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 64. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/64.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 64},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/64.html}
}