How were younger sons provided for when the eldest son inherited a fief?

In the context of feudalism, the practice of primogeniture ensured that a fief remained undivided, preserving the family's land, power, and military obligations. Because the eldest son inherited the estate, younger sons were often forced to seek their own livelihoods, which frequently led to territorial expansion as they struck out on their own.12

To support these younger sons, the nobility utilized their political influence to secure them lucrative positions in the church, the army, and, particularly on the European continent, the expanding bureaucracy. This system functioned as a necessary counterpart to primogeniture, allowing the aristocracy to maintain its social standing and wealth while providing for family members who did not inherit the primary landholdings.2