Legal Definitions - fratriage

Definition: Fratriage (fra-tree-ij or fray-) is a historical term that refers to:

1. The portion of a father's estate that is inherited by a younger brother.
2. A portion of an inheritance given to coheirs.

Under feudal law, the younger brother who received the fratriage was required to pay homage to his older brother, even though the land was from their father's estate.

Example: If a father had two sons and left behind a piece of land, the younger son would receive the fratriage, which was his portion of the inheritance. However, he would still have to pay homage to his older brother, who inherited the rest of the estate.

Explanation: This example illustrates the first definition of fratriage, which is the portion of a father's estate that is inherited by a younger brother. It also shows how feudal law required the younger brother to pay homage to his older brother, even though the land was from their father's estate.