In early modern Europe, a person's order or estate was determined by their birth or social status. This was known as the hierarchical social structure or the "Great Chain of Being." One's status was inherited from their parents and could not be easily changed. Land ownership or salary were often associated with certain social classes, but they were not the determining factor in one's estate. Marriage or relationship to the king could have an impact on one's status, but they were not the deciding factor.