Someone remind me what it is, something to do a bequest to the oldest son?
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Gravelkind
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I googled
and found
"The main differece from feudal monarchies is the system of gravelkind, whereby everyone had an honour price (literally - face price) according to rank in society, and any fines in the totally civil law for various transgressions were meted out according to honour price."
source: Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog - books: In search of the Great British Novel~ with love from Little Nell~Chowns, Dunt, Emms, Mealing, Purvey & Smoothy
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Found it, for those with in interest,
'Gavelkind' was the method of inheritance where all (male) descendants
had equal shares - as opposed to 'primogeniture', where the first-born
son got the lot (a form of 'first past the post'). In mediaeval Welsh
Law, gavelkind included illegitimate male offspring, too.
It was particular to Kent and seems very fair to me!
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Ah! I was fooled by the r in your title! Glad you solved it, anyway.
As for the system, although it seems fair to you, it means that land would be divided into smaller and smaller parcels, whereas primogeniture would keep it intact as a decent estate worth more. And of course, the women don't get a look in either!~ with love from Little Nell~Chowns, Dunt, Emms, Mealing, Purvey & Smoothy
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Some pundits say that the difference between primogeniture and gavelkind is what has made some nations rich and others poor.
Countries which still operate gavelkind invariably have a high proportion of poor people because the more you share out a cake, the smaller the slice until the point where each individual does not have enough land to support themselves and their family.
Incidentally, Gavelkind is a SET of laws - bloodprice is one of these laws. In fact, Gavelkind was quite lenient towards women - they could divorce their husbands for no more reason than they were fed up with them AND they could Will and inherit in their own right, even if they were married. They could also cry rape and the matter would be taken seriously. Gavelkind also operated a jury system.
A downer - every widow belonged to the King (whoever he was) and if a widow refused to marry a man that the King picked for her, she had to pay a huge fine. Nice little earner for the King.
OC
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Originally posted by Olde Crone Holden View PostCountries which still operate gavelkind invariably have a high proportion of poor people because the more you share out a cake, the smaller the slice until the point where each individual does not have enough land to support themselves and their family.Uncle John - Passed away March 2020
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Some pundits say that the difference between primogeniture and gavelkind is what has made some nations rich and others poor.
Countries which still operate gavelkind invariably have a high proportion of poor people because the more you share out a cake, the smaller the slice until the point where each individual does not have enough land to support themselves and their family.
Incidentally, Gavelkind is a SET of laws - bloodprice is one of these laws. In fact, Gavelkind was quite lenient towards women - they could divorce their husbands for no more reason than they were fed up with them AND they could Will and inherit in their own right, even if they were married. They could also cry rape and the matter would be taken seriously. Gavelkind also operated a jury system.
A downer - every widow belonged to the King (whoever he was) and if a widow refused to marry a man that the King picked for her, she had to pay a huge fine. Nice little earner for the King.
OC
That explanation deserves to go in the Wiki (with final comment intact).
Tim"If we're lucky, one day our names and dates will appear in our descendants' family trees."
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It is also interesting that the old "strip" system of farming dates back to Danelaw and/or Gavelkind.
Fields were divided into narrow strips and each strip belonged to SOMEONE. A man might have inherited 5 strips in one field, three in another, ten in another and so on.
It was a messy and incompetent way of working and was virtually wiped out by the Enclosures Acts, which over ruled some very ancient rights indeed for poor (free) people, who had always been an annoyance to those who grudged them their ancient rights. (And their freedom, of course - people who are free cannot be bent to another's will, even that of the church)
OC
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Originally posted by Olde Crone Holden View PostIt is also interesting that the old "strip" system of farming dates back to Danelaw and/or Gavelkind.
Fields were divided into narrow strips and each strip belonged to SOMEONE. A man might have inherited 5 strips in one field, three in another, ten in another and so on.
It was a messy and incompetent way of working and was virtually wiped out by the Enclosures Acts, which over ruled some very ancient rights indeed for poor (free) people, who had always been an annoyance to those who grudged them their ancient rights. (And their freedom, of course - people who are free cannot be bent to another's will, even that of the church)Uncle John - Passed away March 2020
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