A
secundogeniture (from "following, second," and "born") was a dependent territory given to a younger son of a princely house and his descendants, creating a
cadet branch. This was a special form of
inheritance in which the second and younger son received more possessions and prestige than the
apanage which was usual in principalities practising
primogeniture. It avoided the generational division of the estate to the extent that occurred under
gavelkind, and at the same time give younger branches a stake in the stability of the house.