vasal

Vasal is a term used to describe a vassal, a person who held land from a lord in a feudal system in exchange for service. In medieval Europe and other feudal societies, vassals were bound by formal obligations of homage and fealty. They owed military service, counsel, and various dues to their overlords, and they could themselves grant portions of land to subordinate vassals, forming a layered hierarchy of dependency known as subinfeudation. The relationship was reinforced by ceremonies, oaths, and legal charters, and it shaped political and military organization for centuries.

Beyond land tenure, the term has extended into modern political science and diplomacy. A vassal state denotes a country that remains formally independent but lacks full autonomy because of the influence or control exerted by a more powerful state, often through military, economic, or political arrangements. The concept has appeared in historical narratives about empires and in analyses of regional hegemony.

Spelling wise, vasal is an alternative form of vassal and is encountered in some languages and historical texts; vassal remains the standard English form. The term also survives in surname and place-name usages in various cultures.