What is a bastard?

A bastard, in historical and legal terms, refers to a person born to parents who are not married. The term carries significant social and legal implications.

• Historically, bastardy laws determined the rights and limitations of illegitimate children, often impacting inheritance and social status.
• Inheritance Rights for bastards have varied across cultures and time periods, often being restricted or denied altogether compared to legitimate offspring.
• The Social Stigma associated with being a bastard historically led to discrimination and social exclusion.
• Modern legal systems have largely moved away from discriminatory laws, granting bastards similar rights to legitimate children in many jurisdictions, particularly regarding Child Support and inheritance.
• The term itself is often considered pejorative today, with more neutral terms like "non-marital child" or "child born out of wedlock" being preferred in legal and social contexts.