Ordynat

Ordynat was the title of the principal heir of "ordynacja" estates (landed property in fideicommis) in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. According to the rules of ordynacja, which became a statute approved by the Sejm , the estate was not to be divided between the heirs but inherited in full by the eldest son (primogeniture). Women descendants were excluded from inheritance (Salic Law), which meant that in case of a lack of male descendants in a particular line, the estate was to be given to the closest male cousin from a sub-branch of the family. The estate which formed a particular ordynacja was to be excluded from sales or mortgage. Ordynacja was similar to the French law of majorat or the English fee tail (or 'entail') or German and Scandinavian fideicommisses, and succession to such resembles that of British peerages.

Ordynacja was introduced in late 16th century by king Stefan Batory. Many Polish magnates fortunes were based on "ordynacja", among them those of Radziwiłłs, Zamoyski's, Czartoryski's, Potocki's and Lubomirski's. Most important ordynacja were veritable little principalities. "Ordynacja" was abolished by the agricultural reform in the People's Republic of Poland.

ee also

* Majorat
* Primogeniture