vassalage
Lord's subject status
Vassalage is the condition of being a vassal—a person who holds land from a feudal lord in exchange for loyalty and service.
The term describes this relationship of subordination and obligation: The peasants lived under vassalage to the local baron.
More broadly, vassalage suggests any state of subservience or dependency: economic vassalage to foreign powers.
Pledged devotion to authority
- homageExpression of deep respect
- oathFormal binding promise
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
- loyaltyFaithful commitment to another
fidelity · devotion · troth · pledge · bond · faithfulness · steadfastness · commitment
Pledged devotion to authority
- homageExpression of deep respect
- fiefGranted feudal estate
- fiefdomFeudal territory under lord
- serfdomFeudal bound labor
suzerainty · overlord · manor · demesne · manorialism · tenure · benefice · seigneurial
Lower position in hierarchy
- subservienceExcessive willingness to obey
- dependenceState of needing another
- subjugationForcing into submission
- bondageInvoluntary subjugation to another
servitude · obedience · submission · deference · compliance · yoke · thrall · beholden
Orbiting celestial body
- client stateDependent nation under patronage
- puppetControlled performing figure
- protectorateGuarded semi-autonomous territory
- tributaryStream entering larger river
sphere of influence · hegemony · dependency · colonialism · imperialism · suzerainty · dominion · annexation
fealty
Pledged devotion to authority
- homageExpression of deep respect
- oathFormal binding promise
- allegianceLoyalty owed to authority
loyalty · fidelity · devotion · troth · pledge · bond · faithfulness · steadfastness · commitment · adherence
fealty
Pledged devotion to authority
serfdom · suzerainty · overlord · manor · demesne · manorialism · tenure · benefice · seigneurial · tithe
subordination
Lower position in hierarchy
- subservienceExcessive willingness to obey
- dependenceState of needing another
- subjugationForcing into submission
bondage · servitude · obedience · submission · deference · compliance · yoke · thrall · beholden · dominion
satellite
Orbiting celestial body
- client stateDependent nation under patronage
- puppetControlled performing figure
- protectorateGuarded semi-autonomous territory
tributary · sphere of influence · hegemony · dependency · colonialism · imperialism · suzerainty · dominion · annexation · sovereignty
- chivalryknighthood, knights, chivalry, medieval knights, honor
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- Medieval Eraknights, Middle Ages, castles, feudal lords, medieval period
- Medieval Europekings, queens, knights, castles, castle
- medieval lifechivalry, royal courts, jousting, knighthood, falconry
- medieval societyserfs, noble lineage, peasants, serf, heir
vassalagesovereignty
Supreme independent authority
independence · autonomy · self-rule · suzerainty · self-governance
vassalagefreedom
Absence of constraint
liberty · emancipation · independence · enfranchisement · manumission