Primogeniture: Difference between revisions
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A common law that arranged the organization of inheritance. It established the right of the eldest son that was born to a family to inherit the complete possessions of his family: this meant the family's entire estate, wealth and property. Usually only relevant for members of the [[Nobility|nobility]], aristocracy and [[Gentry|gentry]]. | |||
Accordingly, the other children of a family were usually left without inheritance. | |||
However, parents normally made arrangements to provide for their children's future so that they could fend for themselves in case of their parents' death. Therefore, parents sought to secure their children's adult life by education (in case of younger sons) and by finding a suitable husband (in case of daughters). In order to arrange suitable marriages, parents provided their daughters with a dowry to attract potential suitors. | |||
The idea behind primogeniture was to secure the estate as a whole, so that it would not be divided again and again until no one could have lived of it. Thus, primogeniture was also a key factor that enabled the expansion of estates. | |||
== Sources == | |||
Woodford, Donna. "'According to my Bond.' Family Ties in Shakespeare's Time." ''Understanding King Lear: A Casebook to Issues, Sources and Historical Documents.'' Westport/CT and London: Greenwood Press, 2004. 85-111. | |||
Legal Definition of Primogeniture. http://duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/P/Primogeniture.aspx | |||
Latest revision as of 10:09, 26 October 2017
A common law that arranged the organization of inheritance. It established the right of the eldest son that was born to a family to inherit the complete possessions of his family: this meant the family's entire estate, wealth and property. Usually only relevant for members of the nobility, aristocracy and gentry.
Accordingly, the other children of a family were usually left without inheritance. However, parents normally made arrangements to provide for their children's future so that they could fend for themselves in case of their parents' death. Therefore, parents sought to secure their children's adult life by education (in case of younger sons) and by finding a suitable husband (in case of daughters). In order to arrange suitable marriages, parents provided their daughters with a dowry to attract potential suitors.
The idea behind primogeniture was to secure the estate as a whole, so that it would not be divided again and again until no one could have lived of it. Thus, primogeniture was also a key factor that enabled the expansion of estates.
Sources
Woodford, Donna. "'According to my Bond.' Family Ties in Shakespeare's Time." Understanding King Lear: A Casebook to Issues, Sources and Historical Documents. Westport/CT and London: Greenwood Press, 2004. 85-111.
Legal Definition of Primogeniture. http://duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/P/Primogeniture.aspx