Vassalage
Topic: Medieval Europe: Feudalism and the Three Orders · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 3 "Changing Traditions"; Class 11, Ch 4 "The Three Orders"
Meaning
Vassalage was a personal bond between a lord and a vassal, a person who owed the lord loyalty. The vassal promised loyalty and service, and the lord promised protection. Nobles were vassals of the king, and peasants were vassals of the nobles. The practice was similar to an old Germanic custom.
Example
A noble accepted the king as his seigneur, meaning 'senior' or lord. Both took promises on the Bible in a church. The vassal then received a written charter, a staff or a clod of earth as a sign of the land the lord gave him. The word 'lord' itself comes from a word meaning 'one who provided bread'.
Don't confuse with
- Serfdom: serfs farmed land that belonged to the lord, received no wages and could not leave the estate without permission. Vassalage was a sworn bond of promises made on both sides.