Understanding Gavelkind: A Medieval System of Inheritance

Gavelkind is a system of inheritance that was used in some parts of medieval Europe, particularly in Germany and England. It was a form of partible inheritance, meaning that the estate of the deceased was divided among the heirs rather than being passed down to a single heir.

Under gavelkind, the estate was divided into equal shares, which were then distributed among the heirs. The number of shares and the size of each share were determined by the number of heirs and the size of the estate. Each heir received an equal share of the estate, regardless of their relationship to the deceased or their social status.

Gavelkind was used in some cases where there were multiple heirs, such as when a person had multiple children or other relatives who were entitled to inherit. It was also used in cases where the estate was large and there were many heirs, as it allowed for a more equitable distribution of the assets.

The term "gavelkind" comes from the German word "Gabel," which means "fork," and refers to the way the estate was divided into equal shares, like the tines of a fork. Gavelkind was used in some parts of Europe during the Middle Ages and was eventually replaced by other systems of inheritance, such as primogeniture.