Vassal
Person aligned with a lord or monarch / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For subsidiary states, see Vassal state. For other uses, see Vassal (disambiguation).
A vassal[1] or liege subject[2] is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch, in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. While the subordinate party is called a vassal, the dominant party is called a suzerain. The rights and obligations of a vassal are called vassalage, while the rights and obligations of a suzerain are called suzerainty. The obligations of a vassal often included military support by knights in exchange for certain privileges, usually including land held as a tenant or fief.[3] The term is also applied to similar arrangements in other feudal societies.
The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (September 2017) |
In contrast, fealty (fidelitas) was sworn, unconditional loyalty to a monarch.[4]