Primogeniture
Posted by Caroline on February 13, 1998 at 18:07:24:
In response to Just wondering !, written by Hala Qubein on February 13, 1998 at 16:39:31
Hi, and Welcome to the Life and Times Board!
Yes, it is unfair, but it is one way of making sure that land doesn't get split up into parcels too small to be useful, which did, and does happen under other systems, such that delineated in the Napoleonic Code. A much older system, practised mainly in the Celtic lands, was to give the whole land to the youngest son, on the grounds that he was probably the least self-established at the time of the father's death.(I think this was called "gavelkind") This however, made the existence of the youngest son rather precarious in some instances, if you are to believe the folk-tales, which are full of wicked elder brothers, step-mothers etc.! ;-)
It seems no one system is best!
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