Someone's first child is called a firstborn.
The first step we are going to take is to determine the etymological origin of the term firstborn . Thus, we can make it clear that it emanates from Latin, since it is the result of the sum of three components of this language: the word "primus", which can be translated as "the first"; the noun "genus", which is equivalent to "lineage"; and finally the suffix "-ito", which is the one that receives the relevant action.
Firstborn is the child who is born first . The right or prerogative of the firstborn is known as primogeniture . For example: "The first-born male will inherit the throne" , "I was the first-born and then my parents had four more children" , "As the first-born, I think it is up to me to decide what to do with the house" .
The importance of the firstborn in ancient times
It should be noted that the issue of primogeniture was very important in ancient times, when inheritances , privileges and obligations were usually decided according to the age of the descendants, with the eldest (that is, the first born) being the one who enjoyed the greatest rights.
Thus, for example, we find the fact that during the Middle Ages it was perfectly established that the first-born of any family was the one who significantly benefited from being the first child. Because? Because he was the one who inherited all the lands.
This circumstance had an explanation. Specifically, what was intended was that these properties were not divided and, therefore, the power maintained by the family in question in the society of the time was not weakened.
At a historical level, the firstborn always had prerogatives and rights due to his condition.
Social changes
Since the social changes of the 19th century , first-born children lost their special status. Western law usually recognizes equal conditions between all of a person's children.
In some matters, however, the firstborn continues to have privileges. The noble title , which distinguishes the members of the nobility , is hereditary and its succession falls to the first-born son of the previous holder. Currently these titles are protocol, although in the Middle Ages they were the basis of the feudal system. Spain , the United Kingdom , Monaco , Sweden and the Netherlands are some of the countries that maintain noble titles.
The firstborn and the succession to the throne
In terms of succession to the throne , throughout history we have been able to see how primogeniture exists but in what refers to the male line. That is, when a king abdicated or had to be succeeded, for different reasons, only his first male child could take possession of the throne.
A clear example of this has happened in Spain. The monarch Juan Carlos I abdicated and was succeeded not by his first-born, Infanta Elena, but by his first and only son: Felipe, who has gone on to reign as Felipe VI. However, it is true that it is planned to change the law that establishes this, since he only has two daughters, Leonor and Sofía, the first of whom is the heir.
Primogeniture is usually established with a difference of years, when the first child is born on a certain date and the next, four or five years later, for example. In those cases there is no doubt about who is the firstborn. The situation with twins is more complicated: the firstborn is considered to be the child who comes out of the mother's womb first.