Vasalls
Vasalls were tenants-in-chief within the feudal system, holders of land granted by a liege lord in exchange for loyalty and military service. The land they controlled, a fief, served as the basis of their wealth and authority, while their primary obligation was to provide service, often military, to the lord who granted the estate.
The term vasall derives from Old French vasal, with roots in Latin vasallus; in modern English, the
Obligations of a vasall typically included military service for a specified period, attendance at the lord’s
The structure of vasallage varied by region and era. Relationships could be lifelong or hereditary and were
The rise of centralized monarchies, professional armies, and modern bureaucratic states diminished the practical role of