primogeniture
Eldest child's birthright
Primogeniture is the system by which the firstborn child—traditionally the firstborn son—inherits the entire estate or title, excluding younger siblings.
The practice kept family lands and wealth consolidated rather than divided: Under primogeniture, the eldest son inherited the dukedom while his brothers entered the church or military.
The word also refers simply to the state of being firstborn.
First child born
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- heirOne who receives legacy
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- bequestGift left by will
legacy · patrimony · entailment · estate · endowment · beneficiary · testament · probate
Titled ruling class
- peerageSystem of noble ranks
- gentryHighborn but not noble
- dukeHighest-ranking nobleman
- baronLow-ranking peer
earl · viscount · marquess · baronet · countess · manor · estate · landed
Male head of family
- paternalismControlling others for their good
- patronymicName from father's name
- patriarchyMale-dominated social order
- male heirSon due inheritance
paterfamilias · sons · brothers · gender bias · exclusion · daughters · distaff
Ceremonial chair for sovereigns
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- regentInterim throne holder
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
ascension · pretender · claimant · dynastic · interregnum · abdication · usurper · royal
Ancestry through generations
- genealogyStudy of family descent
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
pedigree · forebears · kinship · parentage · lineal · progeny · offspring · descendants
Rule by crowned sovereign
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- vassalageSubordination to a lord
- serfdomFeudal bound labor
- manorialismMedieval estate labor system
kingdom · duchy · barony · earldom · realm · tenure · fealty · liege
Preferential treatment of some
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
privilege · entitlement · exclusion · dispossession · cadets · apanage · portion · disfavored
firstborn
First child born
- birthrightEntitlement from origin
- heirOne who receives legacy
- heirloomInherited family treasure
bequest · legacy · patrimony · entailment · estate · endowment · beneficiary · testament · probate · intestate
nobility
Titled ruling class
baron · earl · viscount · marquess · baronet · countess · manor · estate · landed · heraldry
patriarch
Male head of family
- paternalismControlling others for their good
- patronymicName from father's name
- patriarchyMale-dominated social order
male heir · paterfamilias · sons · brothers · gender bias · exclusion · daughters · distaff
throne
Ceremonial chair for sovereigns
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- regentInterim throne holder
sovereignty · ascension · pretender · claimant · dynastic · interregnum · abdication · usurper · royal · prince
bloodline
Ancestry through generations
dynasty · pedigree · forebears · kinship · parentage · lineal · progeny · offspring · descendants · family tree
monarchy
Rule by crowned sovereign
manorialism · kingdom · duchy · barony · earldom · realm · tenure · fealty · liege · demesne
favoritism
Preferential treatment of some
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
partiality · privilege · entitlement · exclusion · dispossession · cadets · apanage · portion · disfavored · second son
- legal archaismsattainder, escheat, outlawry, livery of seisin, trial by ordeal
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, parent
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- medieval lifechivalry, royal courts, jousting, knighthood, falconry
- medieval societyserfs, noble lineage, peasants, serf, heir
- monarchyking, queen, prince, princess, crown