APPANAGE, Appanagium, Appanace, or Appennagium, the Fortune of a King’s younger Son: or a settled Portion of Lands, etc., assigned for the Subsistence of the Cadets, or younger Sons of a Sovereign Prince. See KING, etc. The younger Sons of England have no certain appanages, as in France; but only what the good-pleasure of the King bestows upon them. See PRINCE, etc.
Even in France, during the first and second Races of Kings, the Right of Primogeniture and Appanages were unknown; but the Domains were divided pretty equally among all the Children. See PRIMOGENITURE.
Great Inconveniences arising hence; it was at length found proper to put off the younger born with Counties, Duchies, or other Districts; on condition of their paying Homage and Fealty for the same, and of their reverting in defect of Heirs Male, to the Crown.
This has happened accordingly to the first and second Branch of the Dukes of Burgundy. The Duchy of Orleans is the appanage of the second Son of France.
Nicod and Menage derive the Word from the Latin Panis, Bread, which frequently includes all other sorts of Provision necessary for Subsistence. Du Cange takes it to have been formed of the base Latin, Apanare, Apanamentum, and Apanagium, which amounts to the same thing; those Words, being apparently formed of panis.
APPANAGE
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- Written by: Ephraïm Chambers
- Category: Unclassified