Succession - Primogeniture
Succession - Primogeniture
Simply - that succession and inheritance descends upon the first born. In it's most simplest form, this can mean either a male of female heir.
However, there are a number of forms of Primogeniture.
1. Agnatic primogeniture or patrilineal primogeniture:
Whereby succession is through the eldest male heir only.
2. Male-preference (or feudal) primogeniture:
Whereby succession is through the eldest surviving male heir, although females may inherit providing the eldest male heir has no surviving sons.
3. Absolute, equal or lineal primogeniture:
Whereby succession is through the eldest heir, regardless of sex.
4. Matrilineal primogeniture:
Whereby successions is through the female line only.
Further Reading:
From Heaven to Earth: The Reordering of Castilian Society 1150 - 1350 by Teofilo F Ruiz (Princeton University Press, 2004)
Law, Land and Family: Aristocratic Inheritance in Englandy 1300 - 1800 by Eileen Spring (University of North Carolina Press, 1997)
Primogeniture - on Wikipedia (detailed article but no sources or references listed)
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Article added: 2006-06-14 @ 5:05 am | Last Modified: 2006-06-14 @ 5:06 am
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