Marriage contract no. 95: Russland - Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel

Contract content

[Pre] – by divine providence, in honour of God, for the union of Christianity, for the establishment of alliance and friendship, for the benefit, consolidation and succession of the Russian monarchy, for the increase of the splendour and benefit of the House of Brunswick: proposal of marriage contract announced, negotiations and conclusion of contract announced (51f.)

1 – Consent to courtship expressed, promise of marriage given to bride: with the consent of the bride’s parents

2 – Arrangements for dowry and trousseau announced: following the example of the bride’s sister, the Queen of Spain

3 – Transfer of the bride and her court to Russia arranged

4 – Protection of the bride and her court assured

5 – Lutheran religious practice for the bride and her court arranged: following the example of the kings of England and Denmark

6 – Court of the bride arranged: appointment, legal status and swearing-in of servants arranged, jurisdiction over servants arranged

7 – Maintenance for the bride and her court during the marriage determined

8 – Morning gift determined

9 – Widow’s income determined: specified according to use by the bride inside or outside Russia, if necessary, purchase of a principality in Germany guaranteed – after the death of the bride without children: reversion of the dowry guaranteed

10 – After the death of the groom: the bride’s departure during her widowhood regulated, taking of personal possessions and the bride’s retinue regulated

11 – Upbringing of children and Orthodox religion of the children regulated

12 – Friendship, support and assistance promised by the groom’s father to the bride’s grandfather and parents: extension of friendship to the House of Austria announced – support and advice from the Dukes of Brunswick to the Russian Tsars promised

13 – Renunciation of inheritance by the bride regulated: paternal and maternal inheritance, following the example of the bride’s sister, Queen of Spain, except in the event of the extinction of the Guelph dukes

[Suppl] – Appendix: Personnel of the bride’s court determined (60)

Confessional regulations

Lutheran religious practice regulated for the bride and her court: following the example of the kings of England and Denmark – 5

Child rearing and orthodox religion of the children regulated – 11

Regulations on inheritance law

Renunciation of inheritance by the bride regulated: paternal and maternal inheritance, following the example of the bride’s sister, Queen of Spain, except in the event of succession after the extinction of the Guelph dukes - 13

External authorities involved

12 – Friendship, support and promotion promised by the groom’s father to the bride’s grandfather and parents: Extension of friendship to the House of Austria announced

Commentary

Due to the difference in religious denominations, both the Julian and Gregorian calendars are used to date the contract, resulting in a double date: 29 April 1711 / 20 May 1711; the date given above is according to the Gregorian calendar.

Literature

Boetticher 1998, pp. 24-42

References

• Archive copy: Wolfenbüttel, NLA Wf, 3 Urk. 5 No. 32
• Contract language archive copy: Russian, German
• Print reference: Boetticher 1998, pp. 51-60 (German), 60-66 (Russian) - CTS 27, pp. 109-113
• Contract language print: Russian, German

Recommended citation

Dynastische Eheverträge der frühen Neuzeit. Contract No. 95. Philipps University of Marburg. Available online at https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/95.html.

@misc{ Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit, 
title = {Dynastische Ehevertr{“a}ge der fr{”u}hen Neuzeit: Contract No. 95},
 url = {https://dynastische-ehevertraege.online.uni-marburg.de/en/vertraege/95.html}
}