Vassalage

Vassalage is a feudal system where a person, known as a vassal, pledges loyalty and service to a more powerful landowner, called a lord, in exchange for protection and land. In this arrangement, the lord grants the vassal a fief, or estate, which the vassal can manage and profit from. In return, the vassal agrees to support the lord, often through military service and other obligations. This system was common in medieval Europe, creating a hierarchical structure that defined social and economic relationships. It was based on mutual benefit and loyalty between different levels of society.