Kit Rivers

Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings (compare to ultimogeniture). Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females. According to the Norman tradition, the first-born son inherited the entirety of a parent’s wealth, estate, title or office and then would be responsible for any further passing of the inheritance to his siblings.

I AM GLAD YOU ASKED

Dear Rapacious Offspring:

Over the holidays as is our custom I made various and sundry threats to disinherit, disown, disallow or disqualify all of you. It was viewed by some of you as whimsical. It was not. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. You don’t reign as long as I have without having Machiavelli down pat.
In any case as we roasted chestnuts and each other on Christmas eve the topic of male primogeniture came up. Daughters were particularly ugly. Let me be clear. On this there can be no negotiation. Stamp collection yes. Coin collection yes. I can bequeath certain items to some of you outside the restraints of male primogeniture (though it is quite tiresome to keep finding masking tape stuck in out of sight places with my forged signature of your names). But in order to keep my wealth (property including peasants) from being diluted by bad marriages and my kingdom whittled down to nothing, everything must go to the crown prince or as I like to mockingly refer to him, the dauphin.
It doesn’t matter how much of a disappointment he is—his virtues are not the issue; his being my issue is the issue. As to his sisters. He is of course free to dispense as he sees fit but generally they are best left to fend for themselves in advantageous marriages. The last born, Kit, must of course get herself to a nunnery. Pax

PS: Once I shuffle off this mortal coil your mother says she would prefer to be called the Dowager Queen once the line has been established.