feudal lord
Manor's ruling noble
A feudal lord was a landowner in medieval Europe who held territory granted by a monarch or higher noble in exchange for military service and loyalty.
Lords exercised authority over the peasants and serfs who worked their land, collecting rents and labor while providing protection.
The term now appears mostly in historical contexts or as a metaphor for anyone wielding excessive control over dependents: He runs the company like a feudal lord.
Low-ranking peer
- dukeHighest-ranking nobleman
- countReckon a total
- earlBritish hereditary noble rank
- viscountMid-ranking British noble
marquis · thane · nobleman · aristocrat · patrician · blueblood · peerage · gentry
Pledged devotion to authority
- homageExpression of deep respect
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- oathFormal binding promise
- tributeOffering of respect
tithe · levy · duty · service · loyalty · protection · patronage · investiture
Landed aristocratic residence
- estateProperty and grounds
- demesneLord's private estate
- fiefGranted feudal estate
- castleFortified medieval residence
hall · keep · stronghold · lands · territory · realm · barony · duchy
Feudal superior or subject
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- serfBonded agricultural laborer
- peasantLow-status agricultural laborer
- overlordSupreme feudal superior
suzerain · bannerman · retainer · liegeman · squire · steward · bailiff · reeve
Honored mounted soldier
- castleFortified medieval residence
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- moatDefensive water ditch
rampart · battlement · drawbridge · garrison · levy · armor · sword · lance
Supreme independent authority
- dominionAuthority to rule
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
governance · power · supremacy · lordship · overlordship · suzerainty · hegemony · sway
baron
Low-ranking peer
viscount · marquis · thane · nobleman · aristocrat · patrician · blueblood · peerage · gentry · daimyo
fealty
Pledged devotion to authority
- homageExpression of deep respect
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- oathFormal binding promise
tribute · tithe · levy · duty · service · loyalty · protection · patronage · investiture · knight-service
manor
Landed aristocratic residence
castle · hall · keep · stronghold · lands · territory · realm · barony · duchy · earldom
liege
Feudal superior or subject
- vassalLand-holding sworn subordinate
- serfBonded agricultural laborer
- peasantLow-status agricultural laborer
overlord · suzerain · bannerman · retainer · liegeman · squire · steward · bailiff · reeve · seneschal
knight
Honored mounted soldier
- castleFortified medieval residence
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
moat · rampart · battlement · drawbridge · garrison · levy · armor · sword · lance · banner
sovereignty
Supreme independent authority
- dominionAuthority to rule
- jurisdictionLegal authority's scope
- commandAuthoritative instruction given
rule · governance · power · supremacy · lordship · overlordship · suzerainty · hegemony · sway · control
feudal lordelected representative
Officeholder chosen by ballot
elected official · president · prime minister · citizen · egalitarian
lord, feudal, feudalism, fiefdom, feudalistic, seigneur, feudal lords, liege lord