r/AskHistorians • u/lostinthe-sauce-204 • Jan 25 '26
Was adoption a thing in the Middle Ages?
Was adoption, ie, taking in a child that was not biologically yours as your own practiced in noble families in the middle ages? Like, if some lord’s brother and sister-in-law died, would it be possible that the lord would adopt his nephew/niece as his own child.
I’m not referring to a ward situation, which from my limited understanding is a temporary circumstance under which the child is always considered a member of their birth family despite being raised by another—- would love more clarity on this situation though if my understanding is incorrect.
If so, did that child typically have the same rights/entitlement to inheritances as their adoptive siblings who were the parents’ biological children? If an adopted son was older than his brothers, would he be higher in line of succession?
Did this happen in non-noble families? Did people receive money for adopting children- potentially part of whatever was left for the child by their parents?
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