Vassal is the title given to subordinate of a sovereign. It is a concept that existed during the Middle Ages and is directly related to Feudalism.
As a rule, the vassal was the individual who asked for some benefit from a noble superior and, in return, took an oath of absolute fidelity to him. Whoever became a vassal must submit to orders imposed in agreement with his sovereign.
Vassals were usually rewarded with a fief that could be land, office, place in a production system, or other benefits.
You vassals could also become overlords provided that the rules of allegiance were followed. The most powerful overlord in the hierarchy of the feudal system was the king, further down the nobles, then the feudal lords, etc.
The concept of vassal continued to be used figuratively to designate the individual submissive or subordinate to something or someone. A taxpayer (taxpayer) is also called a vassal.
Who were the vassals?
There were different levels of vassals in the hierarchical scale of the feudal system, according to their status and noble title, for example.
Usually, the vassals were noble people who signed pacts with the royalty, where the latter guaranteed the resources for the vassal to fulfill his obligation to help defend his lord's lands.
Vassals could also become overlords, without losing the title of vassals. This means that a vassal whose direct overlord is the king, for example, could have other (lower class) nobles as his subordinates.
What was the relationship between the lord and the vassal like?
Overlord is the assigned name to the one who gives the good or offers protection. This type of relationship was known as vassalage. The vassalage relationship was one of the most common hierarchical relationships in the feudal world. It consisted of the opportunity that some people had to have access to land (the most valuable asset of the time).
On the other hand, the overlords (original owners of the properties) granted portions of land in exchange for loyalty. Thus, if threatened (it is worth remembering that wars and invasions were common at the time), the sovereign would have a kind of "team" to help him.
vassalage ceremony
There was a ceremony that was performed to sign the commitment between the vassal and the lord. In this ceremony, the vassal knelt before the overlord to declare his loyalty and help in whenever necessary, for example, in cases of war, to fight in the overlord's army, etc.
These ceremonies were called "Homages" and, as a rule, they took place in churches. The vassal should kneel down and place his hands in those of the suzerain, as a symbol of commitment and loyalty.
In exchange, the suzerain offered some sacred object to the vassal (a bible, for example), as a sign of the surrender of the lands.
Difference between vassal and servant
the servants were the manor workers, that is, the peasants who exchanged their labor and products they produced for the protection that the fiefs provided.
Unlike the vassals, who were predominantly noble, the serfs were poor and the vast majority of the population.
Just as vassals were supposed to pay some tributes to their overlords, serfs were required to pay various taxes that were determined by feudal lords.
Also discover the meaning of Feudalism, at Characteristics of the Feud and the Characteristics of Feudalism.
