Primogeniture

Primogeniture is inheritance by the first-born of the entirety of a parent's wealth, estate or office, or in the absence of children, by collateral relatives in order of seniority of the collateral line.

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It is often used in monarchies. As a mechanism of succession in hereditary monarchies, some sort of primogeniture has for long been the most used, but it is not the only nor even the probably oldest method. For other mechanisms of inheritance in hereditary monarchies, see Order of succession, and see also elective monarchy.

Related Topics:
Monarchies - Hereditary monarchies - Order of succession - Elective monarchy

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Primogeniture became the most common method of succession in hereditary monarchies as a slow development correlating with the development of the average lifespan in wealthier classes (particularly with the wealth of a monarch's family) increasing to a level where the eldest children of a parent were, in average, more or less adult at the time of the death of the parent. This correlated with the wealthier and healthier conditions and food, and with less personal participation in violent activities such as warring, marauding, robber expeditions and duels.

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