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.

Definitions

Agnatic primogeniture or patrilineal primogeniture ( a form of male primogeniture) is inheritance by the eldest surviving male child, with females excluded. This is sometimes referred to as a form of Salic law.

Related Topics:
Male - Salic law

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Male primogeniture happens at least in two known systems: Agnatic Primogeniture and Quasi-Salic Succession . Only males may succeed to the throne. The mentioned two forms are distinct depending on whether a female is accepted as transfer of succession rights, or not.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Male-preference primogeniture is inheritance by the eldest surviving male child, but females may inherit provided the subject has no sons. The term agnatic-cognatic primogeniture is used in the same meaning. This is the usual feudal primogeniture in the Western European culture. An earlier definition of "cognatic primogeniture" referred to any form of primogeniture which allows females, but today it almost always refers to equal primogeniture (below).

Related Topics:
Male - Feudal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Absolute, equal or lineal primogeniture is inheritance by the oldest surviving child without regard to gender. It is also known as cognatic primogeniture today. This system was virtually unknown in monarchies until the late 20th century - for centuries until its invention, females, if entitled to succeed at all, were at least surpassed by a consistent preference of males. The first country to adopt fully equal primogeniture was Sweden in 1980. The beneficiary of this was Victoria of Sweden. Several other monarchies have since followed, such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway (with Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway as second in line to the throne after her father, Crown Prince Haakon). In Japan, there are currently debates over whether to adopt lineal or some form of mixed primogeniture, as Princess Aiko is the only child of Crown Prince Naruhito.

Related Topics:
Sweden - 1980 - Victoria of Sweden - Belgium - The Netherlands - Norway - Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway - Crown Prince Haakon - Japan - Princess Aiko - Crown Prince - Naruhito

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

No known monarchy applies matrilineal primogeniture (uterine primogeniture) or any other form of hereditary succession to total exclusion of males. There have been some theoretical ideas of ancient Egypt having applied matrilineal succession, but it was at least not constant nor consistent. We may expect that some cult of high priestesses will be someday revealed to have applied fully matrilineal succession, even up to total exclusion of males even as transfers of succession rights.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~