testaments of noblewomen in the holy roman empire The means of authentication vary according to the type of document. The testatrices typically used red pendant wax seals that were attached by strips of parchment33 or, in the case of thelibelli form, by silk threads.34 A third of the charters still bear their seal(s), which are often only fragmentarily preserved. After 1450, wills begin to contain autograph subscriptions of the testatrices,35 without the seal being replaced. The importance of both the autograph subscription and the seal is underlined by the fact that in 1467 two witnesses were called to testify under oath to the authenticity of the signature and seal of the testatrix, then deceased, on her 1460 will.36 The example of Kunigunde of Austria shows that the absence of an autograph signature does not necessarily indicate an inability to write, as there is an additional autograph document containing a proper nuncupatio, a longer confirming statement written by her ownhand.37 Some late testaments demonstrate the use of multiple means of authentication such as the two wills of Margaret of Bavaria (no. 34, 36), which feature an autographnuncupatio, the testatrix’s seal, notarial subscriptions, the seals and signatures of the heir and executor, as well as of the witnesses. In 16th century wills we also find separate autograph codicils.38 As in other charters, Latin was used for the two earliest wills in the corpus: those of 1257 and 1278 (nos. 1, 2). The 1283 will of Countess Matilda of Sayn (no. 3) is one of the earliest wills written in the German vernacular.39 In the case of Elizabeth (Richza) of Poland, her first will, dated 1330 (no. 11), was written in Latin, and her second (no. 12), a few years 33 With some exceptional paper seal: no. 45. 34 Seals are preserved on the libelli nos. 31, 36, 38 (both exemplars) and 44, the last-named being the only one where they were attached by strips of parchment. 35 Nos. 25, 26, 35, 44. In no. 39 the testatrix signed under each paragraph. 36 No. 26: super recognicionem dicti sigilli ac manu dicte quondam domine Margarithe. 37 Munich, GHA, HU904 (paper); see also Graf 2000, p. 155. 38 See e.g. the accompanying documents to no. 46. 39 It dates only about four decades after the first known vernacular wills of French noblewomen. See Bohn et al.1995 p. 259, n. 291. 21 of the 76 documents issued by Matilda of Sayn 62 Structure and Internal Characteristics
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