Primogeniture Laws
Definition
Primogeniture laws are legal rules that governed inheritance. Under these laws, the eldest son inherited all of his father's property upon his death.
Analogy
Think of primogeniture like a game of musical chairs where only one chair is available, and it always goes to the oldest sibling when the music stops (when their father dies).
Related terms
Inheritance Law: The body of law that dictates how a person's estate is distributed after they die.
Feudalism: A social system in medieval Europe where people worked and fought for nobles who gave them protection and land in return.
Entailment: A legal situation regarding inherited property that limits its sale or transfer to another party.
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