Majorat
Encyclopedia
Majorat is the right of succession to property
according to age (primogeniture
). A majorat (fideicommis) would be inherited
by the oldest son, or if there was no son, the nearest relative. This law existed in some of the European countries and was designed to prevent the distribution of wealthy estates between many members of the family, thus weakening their position. Majorats were one of the factors easing the evolution of aristocracy
.
Majorat was specifically regulated by French law. In France, it was a title of property, landed or funded, attached to a title of honor
(in England, colloquially, peerage
), instituted by Napoleon I
and abolished 1848.
In Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, majorat was known as ordynacja and was introduced in late 16th century by king Stefan Batory
. A couple of Polish magnate
s' fortunes were based on ordynacja, namely those of the Radziwiłłs, Zamoyski
s, Wielopolskis. Ordynacja was abolished by the agricultural reform in the People's Republic of Poland
.
In Portugal
it was called Morgado or Morgadio and one of the requirements to inherit a Morgado was to pass down the family name related to the Morgado. Women with no brothers could inherit a Morgado: in that case their children would inherit the mother's name. If the husband was also a Morgado, the children would inherit both names. This led to a tradition of very long family names in the Portuguese nobility.
In Spain
was known as mayorazgo, and become a part of the Castilian
law since 1505 (Leyes de Toro) till 1820.
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
according to age (primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
). A majorat (fideicommis) would be inherited
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
by the oldest son, or if there was no son, the nearest relative. This law existed in some of the European countries and was designed to prevent the distribution of wealthy estates between many members of the family, thus weakening their position. Majorats were one of the factors easing the evolution of aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
.
Majorat was specifically regulated by French law. In France, it was a title of property, landed or funded, attached to a title of honor
Title of honor
An honorary title or title of honor is a title bestowed upon individuals or organizations as an award in recognition of their merits.Sometimes the title bears the same or nearly the same name as a title of authority, but the person bestowed does not have to carry any duties, possibly except for...
(in England, colloquially, peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
), instituted by Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
and abolished 1848.
In Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, majorat was known as ordynacja and was introduced in late 16th century by king Stefan Batory
Stefan Batory
Stephen Báthory was a Hungarian noble Prince of Transylvania , then King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania . He was a member of the Somlyó branch of the noble Hungarian Báthory family...
. A couple of Polish magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s' fortunes were based on ordynacja, namely those of the Radziwiłłs, Zamoyski
Zamoyski
Zamojski, plural: Zamojscy is the surname of an important Polish nobility family of Jelita coat of arms. The name is sometimes spelled Zamoyski. It is the Polish for "de Zamość" - the name they originally wore as lords of the place...
s, Wielopolskis. Ordynacja was abolished by the agricultural reform in the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
.
In Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
it was called Morgado or Morgadio and one of the requirements to inherit a Morgado was to pass down the family name related to the Morgado. Women with no brothers could inherit a Morgado: in that case their children would inherit the mother's name. If the husband was also a Morgado, the children would inherit both names. This led to a tradition of very long family names in the Portuguese nobility.
In Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
was known as mayorazgo, and become a part of the Castilian
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
law since 1505 (Leyes de Toro) till 1820.