In 1328, the regent of England, Isabella, also known as the She-Wolf of France, attempted to secure the French throne for her young son, English King Edward III. One of the reasons for her failure was male primogeniture. Male primogeniture, or male-line primogeniture, was the practice of giving an entire inheritance to the eldest son in the family. Primogeniture was prevalent in agricultural societies such as Medieval Europe. Keep reading to learn more about the Origin and Type of Primogeniture, see some examples, and more.
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Jetzt kostenlos anmeldenIn 1328, the regent of England, Isabella, also known as the She-Wolf of France, attempted to secure the French throne for her young son, English King Edward III. One of the reasons for her failure was male primogeniture. Male primogeniture, or male-line primogeniture, was the practice of giving an entire inheritance to the eldest son in the family. Primogeniture was prevalent in agricultural societies such as Medieval Europe. Keep reading to learn more about the Origin and Type of Primogeniture, see some examples, and more.
The term “primogeniture” has roots in the Latin “primogenitus,” which means “firstborn.” This legal custom effectively made the firstborn male the sole heir. At times, the sole heir could act as a trustee of the estate. However, when male primogeniture was strictly practiced, the other sons were left without an inheritance. As a result, these sons engaged in military conquest and territorial expansion. Therefore, the system of primogeniture had significant political implications in countries where it was practiced.
It is also important to note that there other types of inheritance existed throughout history. For instance, absolute primogeniture preferred the firstborn child regardless of gender, whereas ultimogeniture preferred the youngest child.
As was the case with Isabella, male primogeniture was also important for monarchies as a right of succession, for instance, for the English and French crowns. In the recent past, most monarchies in Europe no longer have the preference for males over females when passing on the symbolic rule in their respective countries.
Because primogeniture was linked to land ownership, it primarily existed in agricultural societies, such as Medieval Europe. The goal of primogeniture in such societies was to prevent the division of land until it could no longer be farmed. Indeed, Medieval Europe even had laws that prohibited the landowning class from partitioning their land. Land ownership was an important part of feudalism. However, primogeniture was not limited to Europe. For example, this system also existed in Proto-Oceanic society.
The Old Testament of the Bible contains one of the earliest mentions of primogeniture. In it, Isaac is said to have had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Because Esau was Isaac’s firstborn, he had the birthright to his father’s inheritance. In the story, however, Esau sold this right to Jacob.
In contrast, the Roman era did not subscribe to differences between genders or the order of birth when it came to inheritance. The main guiding principle for the aristocracy at this time was competition, which meant that heredity was not sufficient for maintaining this social status. The imperial leadership typically selected its own successor. These successors were usually family members but they were not limited by the order of birth or degree of separation. Considering the size of the Roman Empire, Roman law applied to much of Europe.
With the decline of the Roman Empire, Medieval Europe gradually saw the establishment of feudalism. Male-line primogeniture was a key aspect of feudalism because this system allowed the European landed aristocracy to maintain power and guarantee social stability.
Feudalism was the Medieval system of politics and economics in Europe approximately between the 800s and the 1400s. However, some of its institutions lasted longer than the 15th century. Feudalism was possible because Medieval European society was largely agricultural. In this system, the landed aristocracy controlled the land and allowed for its temporary use in exchange for service, for instance, military service. A feudal estate was known as a fief. The tenants, or vassals, of a feudal lord, owed fealty—loyalty or specific obligations—to him.
By the 900s, knighthood was prevalent in Europe and constituted a separate military class. All noblemen of an appropriate age became knights. However, some knights were landless as a direct consequence of male primogeniture. Knights who held fiefs provided military service to their landowners. If a knight held more than one fief, then he owed service in exchange for each fief. Whereas the Crusades had many causes, they served as one practical way of managing such a large number of landless military men. Knights joined several crusading orders, including the Templars, Hospitalers, the Livonian Order, and Teutonic Knights.
A knight was an equestrian warrior in the Middle Ages. Knights often belonged to military or religious organizations, for instance, the Knights Templars order.
Crusades were military campaigns to conquer the Holy Land by the Latin Church. They were most active between the years 1095 and 1291.
There are many examples of primogeniture in Medieval European society. The best-documented examples often relate to the right of monarchic succession.
Salic Law, or Lex Salica in Latin, was an important set of laws for Franks in Gaul. This set of laws was introduced around 507-511 during the rule of King Clovis I and was later modified. This king established the Merovingian dynasty. One of the key aspects of the Salic code was that daughters were forbidden from inheriting land. Later on, this part of the code was interpreted to mean that monarchic succession could only occur through male lineage. During the rule of the Valois dynasty (1328 -1589) in France, Salic law was used to prevent female rule.
The Merovingian dynasty was a dynasty founded by Clovis I of the Franks. The Franks were a Germanic group that ruled a part of the former Roman Empire. The Merovingians controlled Germany and Gaul (present-day France and surrounding areas, including parts of Belgium and the Netherlands) between 500 and 750.
One example is the establishment of the Valois dynasty itself. French King Charles IV, the son of Philip IV the Fair, died in 1328 without any male descendants. As a result, there were a number of contenders for the throne, including blood relatives Philip, Count of Valois, and Philip, the Count of Évreux, as well as Edward III, the King of England, the son of Isabella of France. Young Edward III was the grandson of Phillip IV the Fair by his mother. Isabella’s ability to give the right of succession to her son became the subject of debate in the context of male-line primogeniture. Ultimately, the French nobles decided that Edward III could not be king because women could not participate in succession to the throne and because of the animosity toward the English. The nobles granted the Kingdom of Navarre to Philip of Évreux and the French throne was given to Philip of Valois (Philip VI).
In England, male-line primogeniture is usually dated to the 11th-century Norman conquest. Whereas English kings were supposed to pass on their rule to their firstborn male heir, royal succession was not always simple. Political challenges or the inability to produce a male child complicated the matter.
As was the case with France, there are some examples of primogeniture playing an important role in monarchic succession. For instance, after the death of King Malcolm III of Scotland in 1093, primogeniture became an issue although it was not limited by gender. As a result, Malcolm’s son from his first wife Ingibjorg as well as his brother both ruled briefly. Ultimately, however, it was his sons from his wife Margaret, Edgar, Alexander I, and David I who each ruled between 1097 and 1153.
In societies that strictly adhered to male primogeniture, women had limited options. Depending on their social status, they were excluded from getting an inheritance in the form of land and money—or from inheriting an aristocratic title. This practice depended on practical questions, such as avoiding the division of land between multiple heirs. However, male primogeniture was also based on traditionally delineated social roles for men and women. Men were expected to participate in warfare as leaders, whereas women were expected to produce multiple children to ensure their survival at a time before modern medicine and low life expectancy.
Some countries in Europe still use male-line primogeniture for their royal succession, for instance, Monaco. However, most European monarchies abolished male primogeniture.
In 1991 Belgium changed its succession law from preferring men to being gender-neutral.
Another noteworthy case is Great Britain. The UK only abolished male primogeniture for its Crown through the Succession to the Crown Act (2013). This piece of legislation changed both the Act of Settlement and the Bill of Rights which in the past allowed for a younger son to take precedence over an elder daughter. The Succession to the Crown Act became operational in 2015. However, male primogeniture still exists in Britain. It is men who inherit noble titles.
Primogeniture is a system that passes on an inheritance to the first-born child, usually a son, effectively making him the sole heir.
Medieval European society subscribed to male primogeniture as a way to avoid dividing the family land between multiple heirs.
Britain abolished male primogeniture for its royal succession in 2015.
Some societies still subscribe to primogeniture in limited ways. For example, the monarchy of Monaco maintains male primogeniture.
The law of primogeniture allowed the family to pass on an inheritance to the first-born child, usually a son, effectively making him the sole heir.
What is male primogeniture?
Male primogeniture is a system that passes on an inheritance to the first-born son effectively making him the sole heir.
In what type of society was male primogeniture prevalent?
Agricultural society
Why was male primogeniture practiced in Medieval Europe?
To preserve the power of the aristocracy and to prevent the land from being partitioned.
When did Britain abolish male primogeniture for its royal succession?
2015
Which European monarchy still subscribes to male primogeniture today?
Monaco
What major event was one of the key consequences of male primogeniture in the 11th-13th centuries in Europe?
Crusades
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