As to the law of primogeniture: I've only found one cite so far which is
>a definition from Blacks Law Dictionary which states, "The state of
>being the first-born among several children of the same parents;
>seniority by birth in the same family.  The superior or exclusive right
>possessed by the eldest son, and particularly, his right to succeed to
>the estate of his ancestor, in right of his seniority by birth, to the
>exclusion of younger sons."  I have several books on the Middle Ages but
>unfortunately they are not indexed well as to this subject.  I have a
>friend who is pulling what info. she might have on the subject. I'll let
>you know. I do know that this law is the reason you had all these
>younger sons wandering around Europe and England seeking their fortune
>and causing all sorts of problems.  Since they had no right to their
>father's lands or fortune they had to go out and find their way in the
>world by taking someone else's lands! Some scholars believe that this
>was one of the reasons for the crusades; to give all these younger sons
>something to do besides fight each other.  Let them go off and fight the
>infidel and obtain property in another land!  It worked rather well!  I
>don't remember how long the law was used in England but believe it was
>up until the last century and in some cases into this century. I'll let
>you know what I find out and how formal the law was.  Some followed the
>law only because it was tradition and not because it was on the books.
>David

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