Male V Female Inheritance In History

[NiceCupOfTea]

It's common knowledge that ... Yes, we've been watching Pride and Prejudice in this house, sorry.

-What is an entail and how did Lady de Burgh avoid losing her estate, or, maybe, how did she avoid her daughter losing the estate?

-How come Queen Elizabeth ended up being Queen rather than some male heir who was further away from the line of inheritance becoming King?

[jno]

daughters can inherit the throne if they have no brothers, which Elizabeth didn't (same for the first Queen Elizabeth, her brother having died). If they do have brothers, the brothers would come ahead of them, as Andrew and Edward are ahead of Anne in the pecking order. I think this has been changed, though, so it's now oldest first, whatever sex. However, as the next two generations both have oldest sons, it'll make no difference in my lifetime.

[jno]

to answer your other question:

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/cliffsnotes/literature/when-reading-jane-austens-pride-and-prejudice-what-does-entailment-mean

[SirOracle]

En entail is the transmission or rule of descent of an estate.

Don't know about your second question but Blackadder is your man,when he returns from the hostelry. :-)

[atalanta]

Only in Salic Law is a daughter ignored for a more distant male relative. Salic Law states that no inheritance of power can go to or through a woman. This Law prevailed in much of Europe in mediaeval times, though not in Provence, where our own great Queen Eleanor inherited Aquitaine.

[BlackadderV]

The Salic law has never applied in England. If it had, then on the death of George VI he would have been succeeded by his brother Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, who would have reigned as Henry IX. He in turn would have been succeeded in 1974 by his eldest surviving son, the current duke, who would be styled Richard IV.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks all, and jno for the link.