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{{English feudalism}}
[[File:Lehenbuch pfalzgraf friedrichs-r2.jpg|thumb|A vassal swears the oath of fealty before [[Frederick I, Elector Palatine|Count Palatine Frederick I of the Palatinate]].]]

A '''vassal'''<ref>Hughes, Michael (1992). ''Early Modern Germany, 1477–1806'', MacMillan Press and University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, p. 18. {{ISBN|0-8122-1427-7}}.</ref> or '''liege subject'''<ref name="LiegeSubjectDefinit">{{cite web |title=liege subject |url=https://www.thefreedictionary.com/liege+subject |website=[[The Free Dictionary]] |access-date=11 November 2020}}</ref> is a person regarded as having a mutual obligation to a [[lord]] or [[monarch]], in the context of the [[feudal]] system in [[medieval Europe]] and elsewhere. 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]].<ref>F. L. Ganshof, "Benefice and Vassalage in the Age of Charlemagne" ''Cambridge Historical Journal'' '''6'''.2 (1939:147-75).</ref>

In contrast, [[fealty]] (''fidelitas'') is sworn, unconditional loyalty to a monarch.<ref>Ganshof 151 note 23 and ''passim''; the essential point was made again, and the documents on which the historian's view of vassalage are based were reviewed, with translation and commentary, by Elizabeth Magnou-Nortier, ''Foi et Fidélité. Recherches sur l'évolution des liens personnels chez les Francs du VIIe au IXe siècle'' (University of Toulouse Press) 1975.</ref>

== European vassalage ==
In fully developed vassalage, the lord and the vassal would take part in a [[commendation ceremony]] composed of two parts, the [[Homage (feudal)|homage]] and the [[fealty]], including the use of Christian sacraments to show its sacred importance. According to [[Eginhard]]'s brief description, the ''commendatio'' made to [[Pippin the Younger]] in 757 by [[Tassilo III, Duke of Bavaria]], involved the relics of [[Saint Denis of Paris|Saints Denis, Rusticus, Éleuthère]],  [[Martin of Tours|Martin]], and  [[Germain of Paris|Germain]] – apparently assembled at [[Compiegne]] for the event.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.noctes-gallicanae.org/Charlemagne/Annales/Pepin_le_Bref.htm |title=at |publisher=Noctes-gallicanae.org |access-date=2012-02-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091205213132/http://www.noctes-gallicanae.org/Charlemagne/Annales/Pepin_le_Bref.htm |archive-date=2009-12-05 }}</ref> Such refinements were not included from the outset when it was time of crisis, war, hunger, etc. Under feudalism, those who were weakest needed the protection of the knights who owned the weapons and knew how to fight.

Feudal society was increasingly based on the concept of "lordship" (French ''[[Fiefdom|seigneur]]''), which was one of the distinguishing features of the [[Early Middle Ages]] and had evolved from times of [[Late Antiquity]].{{NoteTag|The Tours formulary, which a mutual contract of rural patronage, offered parallels; it was probably derived from Late Antique [[Gallo-Roman]] precedents, according to Magnou-Nortier 1975.}}

In the time of [[Charlemagne]] (ruled 768–814), the connection slowly developed between vassalage and the grant of land, the main form of wealth at that time. Contemporaneous social developments included agricultural "[[manorialism]]" and the social and legal structures labelled — but only since the 18th century — "[[feudalism]]". These developments proceeded at different rates in various regions. In [[Merovingian]] times (5th century to 752), monarchs would reward only the greatest and most trusted vassals with lands. Even at the most extreme devolution of any remnants of central power, in 10th-century France, the majority of vassals still had no fixed estates.<ref>
Ganshof, François Louis, ''Feudalism'' translated 1964</ref>

The stratification of a fighting band of vassals into distinct groups might roughly correlate with the new term "[[fief]]" that had started to supersede "benefice" in the 9th century. An "upper" group comprised great territorial magnates, who were strong enough to ensure the inheritance of their benefice to the heirs of their family. A "lower" group consisted of landless [[knight]]s attached to a [[count]] or [[duke]]. This social settling process also received impetus in fundamental changes in the conduct of warfare. As co-ordinated [[cavalry]] superseded disorganized [[infantry]], armies became more expensive to maintain. A vassal needed economic resources to equip the cavalry he was bound to contribute to his lord to fight his frequent wars. Such resources, in the absence of a money economy, came only from land and its associated assets, which included [[peasant]]s as well as wood and water.

==Difference between "vassal" and "vassal state"==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2011}}
{{see also|Vassal state}}
Many empires have set up [[vassal state]]s, based on tribes, kingdoms, or city-states, the subjects of which they wish to control without having to conquer or directly govern them. In these cases a subordinate state (such as a [[Dependent territory|dependency]], [[residency (country subdivision)|residency]], [[client state]] or [[protectorate]]) has retained internal autonomy, but has lost independence in foreign policy, while also, in many instances, paying formal [[tribute]], or providing troops when requested.
This is a similar relationship to vassals, but vassals hold [[fief]]doms which are present in the actual territory of the monarch.

In this framework, a "formal colony" or "junior ally" might also be regarded as a vassal state in terms of international relations, analogous to a domestic "fief-holder" or "trustee".

The concept of a vassal state uses the concept of personal vassalry to theorize formally [[Hegemony|hegemonic]] relationships between states – even those using non-personal forms of rule. Imperial states to which this terminology has been applied include, for instance: [[Ancient Rome]], the [[Mongol Empire]], [[Imperial China]] and the [[British Empire]].

==See also==
* [[Feudalism in the Holy Roman Empire]]
* [[Freeborn]]
* ''[[Lehnsmann]]''
* [[Mandala (political model)]]
* [[Suzerainty]]
* [[Thegn]]
* [[Vavasour]], a type of vassal
* [[Zamindar]]
* {{ill|Multiple vassalage|de|Mehrfachvasallität}}

===Similar terms===
* ''[[Gokenin]]'', vassals of the [[shogunate]] in [[Japan]]
* [[Manrent]], [[Scottish Clan]] treaties of offensive and defensive alliance
* ''Nöken'' (plural: ''nöker'') was the [[Mongol]] term for a tribal leader acknowledging another as his liege
* [[Villein]], a [[Serfdom|serf]], or low-born worker under feudalism

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
;Citations
{{Reflist}}

;Sources
{{refbegin}}
* [[Norman Cantor|Cantor, Norman]], ''The Civilization of the Middle Ages'' 1993.
* Rouche, Michel, "Private life conquers state and society," in ''A History of Private Life'' vol I, Paul Veyne, editor, Harvard University Press 1987 {{ISBN|0-674-39974-9}}.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{cite EB1911 |wstitle = Vassal |short = x }}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Feudalism]]
[[Category:Medieval titles]]
[[Category:History of work]]