vassal
Lord's sworn servant
A vassal is someone who holds land from a feudal lord in exchange for loyalty and service.
The term extends to any subordinate or dependent person or group: a vassal state under Soviet control.
The word often implies subservience or lack of independence: He treated his employees like vassals.
Feudal superior or subject
- fealtyPledged devotion to authority
- homageExpression of deep respect
- suzerainLord over vassals
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
fief · knight · serfdom · lord · noble · baron · duke · count
Granted feudal estate
- demesneLord's private estate
- manorLanded aristocratic residence
- estateProperty and grounds
- domainArea of control
landholding · holdings · territory · fiefdom · tenement · benefice · keep · stronghold
Pledged devotion to authority
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- oathFormal binding promise
- homageExpression of deep respect
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
fidelity · faithfulness · duty · obedience · bond · pledge · commitment · steadfastness
liege
Feudal superior or subject
manor · fief · knight · serfdom · lord · noble · baron · duke · count · oath
fief
Granted feudal estate
domain · landholding · holdings · territory · fiefdom · tenement · benefice · keep · stronghold · barony
fealty
Pledged devotion to authority
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- oathFormal binding promise
- homageExpression of deep respect
devotion · fidelity · faithfulness · duty · obedience · bond · pledge · commitment · steadfastness · service
liege
Feudal superior or subject
subject · retainer · henchman · minion · follower · dependent · inferior · thrall · bondsman · liegeman
- tributary relationstributary state, suzerainty, client state, client states, protectorate
- historyancient civilizations, past events, historian, epochs, era
- chivalryknighthood, knights, chivalry, medieval knights, honor
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- Medieval Europekings, queens, knights, castles, castle
- medieval societyserfs, noble lineage, peasants, serf, heir
vassalsovereign
Supreme in power
master · ruler · overlord · commander · independent
vassalsovereign
Supreme in power
sovereign nation · hegemon · imperial power · free state · self-governing
- lords and vassalsMedieval social tiers
- vassal statesTerritories subordinate to overlords