Iochtarnach

Iochtarnach is a Gaelic term that translates to "underling" or "vassal." Historically, it referred to a person of lower social standing who owed allegiance and service to a lord or chieftain. This relationship was a fundamental aspect of the feudal system prevalent in Gaelic societies, particularly in Ireland and Scotland.

The status of an ioctarnach was distinct from that of a free tenant or a freeman. While they were not slaves, their lives were largely dictated by the obligations they owed to their superior. These obligations could include military service, agricultural labor, or the payment of rents and dues. In return, the lord provided protection and a degree of security.

The term itself suggests a position of inferiority, being "below" the lord in the social hierarchy. The ioctarnach class encompassed a range of individuals, from small landholders to those who held no land at all but were bound by service. Their position was hereditary, passing down through families.

The decline of the clan system and the imposition of feudal structures by external powers gradually eroded the traditional role of the ioctarnach. While the specific term may have faded, the concept of hierarchical relationships and obligations persisted in various forms throughout later social and economic developments in the Gaelic world.