Legal Definitions - fratriage

Fratriage refers to a historical legal concept describing a specific portion of an inheritance. It primarily denotes a share of a father's estate granted to a younger brother. More broadly, it can also refer to a portion of an inheritance distributed among co-heirs.

Historically, particularly under feudal systems, a younger brother receiving fratriage—often a parcel of land—would typically still owe allegiance, service, or homage to his elder brother, who inherited the primary estate and held the superior position within the family and social structure.

• Example 1 (Feudal System): Imagine a powerful medieval baron who dies, leaving his vast ancestral castle and the majority of his lands to his eldest son. His second son, however, is granted a smaller, self-contained manor and its surrounding fields as his inheritance.

  This smaller manor represents the younger son's fratriage. Despite owning his own property, he would still be considered a vassal to his elder brother, owing him military service and loyalty as the new head of the family and the primary lord of the larger estate.

• Example 2 (17th-Century Aristocracy): Consider an English noble family in the 1600s. The patriarch's will stipulates that his eldest son inherits the family's main country estate, title, and most of its income-generating properties. His two younger sons are each bequeathed a specific, smaller farm property and a fixed annual allowance from the estate's revenues.

  The farm properties and annual allowances allocated to the younger sons constitute their fratriage. While providing them with independent means, this arrangement reinforces the eldest son's preeminent position as the primary heir and holder of the family's principal assets.

• Example 3 (Broader Historical Inheritance): In a historical European merchant family, the father's will dictates that the eldest son will take over the family business and the main residence. However, his younger sons are each given a significant share of the family's investment properties and a portion of their accumulated liquid wealth.

  These distinct shares of investment properties and wealth granted to the younger sons are examples of fratriage. Even without a formal feudal homage requirement, it illustrates the historical practice of dividing an inheritance where younger male heirs receive specific portions separate from the primary estate passed to the eldest.