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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Kabluey" data-source="post: 6068511" data-attributes="member: 6695703">This is correct, but several things to bear in mind.  First, while the crown could technically refuse to allow a noble child to take his inheritance, there would almost certainly be ramifications to this.  Nobles were very jealous of their power and their ability to pass on their titles and land to their children, so a king arbitrarily rejecting an inheritor could face problems with the rest of his nobles, up to and including outright rebellion.  So, especially with a position as powerful as a duke's, a king would have to seriously weigh his options.  With an open position, he'd want to appoint someone who is likely to be loyal or at least not a threat, but the other nobles - depending on their power in the kingdom - might want otherwise.Another factor to bear in mind is that whoever takes the title, whether its a member of the former duke's family, or someone else entirely, will be expected to pay a substantial fee to the crown.  It was a significant source of income for the crown.  And if its an open title, then bribes and such may be involved as well.  All in all, such a situation is rife with politics, backroom deals, and double-dealing.</blockquote>