Eldest sons gained marriage options because they stood to inherit family wealth

Evidence

Marriages, too, were all about the consolidation of wealth and power. Marriage outside of the aristocratic class was unthinkable. Within class, marriages were strictly arranged by heads of households. Eldest sons often had to wait years, until their fathers were old enough to cede power, before they could marry and start families of their own. But at least they had options. They stood to inherit the family wealth, and were therefore attractive suitors for the daughters of other noble families. — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 171

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Revolutionary committees inverted generational authority by making sons tax their own fathers; A widow’s loyalties shift to whatever man will secure her sons’ wealth — Homer; Robert Fagles; Bernard Knox, The Odyssey, 2943; Younger noble sons could only marry rare heiresses, intensifying mate competition — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 173 (+1 more)

Related

• Younger noble sons could only marry rare heiresses, intensifying mate competition (similarity 0.88)
• A widow’s loyalties shift to whatever man will secure her sons’ wealth (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Younger noble sons could only marry rare heiresses, intensifying mate competition #expands (0.80) — Emlen, Douglas J, Animal Weapons_ The Evolution of Battle, 173