The relationships of suzerainty and allegiance , represented by the commitment of fidelity between nobles and which implied reciprocal rights and obligations, are those that occurred during the period from the Middle Ages (5th to 15th century) marked by feudal relations, that is, they were inserted in the context of feudalism.
Note that feudalism emerged in the 5th century after the barbarian invasions and the decline of the Roman Empire, being an economic, political and social system of rural character, based on land ownership, since the nobles who owned land were the individuals with the greatest power.
In medieval society, the nobility was the ruling class, although the clergy (popes, bishops, cardinals, monks, abbots and priests), representatives of the Church, were the wealthiest group. Nobles could be kings, dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts and barons.
Thus, while the overlords were the nobles who donated the lands (even castles), the vassals, protected by them, represented the nobles who received the lands and in return, looked after and protected them while serving the overlords in different ways. , above all, for military services, in order to defend it in times of war.
Note that a vassal could become suzerain the moment they donated part of their lands to another noble and so on, forming a large network of relationships between suzerains and vassals.
In summary, the suzerainty and vassalage relations had a cooperative content, which represented a small and important socio-economic system of the time, that is, they were of a direct and personal order and aimed at the alliance in the economic and social relations between the nobles.
The relationship of suzerainty and vassalage, to a large extent, were hereditary (they occurred between family members) and demonstrated the political decentralization of the time, being established before a solemn ceremony (oath) called "Homage" that sealed the ties of loyalty. and fidelity between its elements, and the "Investiture", which marked the transmission of the fief to the vassal.
The ceremony usually took place in a Church, where the vassals, holding their swords, knelt before their overlords, promising them total allegiance (sealed with a kiss) and protection in wars. If the vassal betrayed his overlord, he would lose all his rights, possessions and titles. During the ceremony, the vassal's submission to his overlord was sealed with a slap on the vassal's face.
Note that the feudal economy (called a mode of production) was based on agriculture and grazing, with manors being the places where almost everything needed to live was produced. Therefore, there were no coins (although some fiefs produced local currencies), relationships were based on exchanges and trade was practically nil.
Feudalism
The fiefs (from the Germanic language means “property or possession”) were large land holdings that had their own economic, political, social and cultural organization.
Thus, the fief was the land granted by a suzerain to a vassal in exchange for allegiance and military aid. The feudal lords represented absolute power, so they monopolized the local political power, administered and passed the laws in the manors.
Feudal society, basically formed by the clergy (those who prayed), nobility (warriors called lords) and serfs (worked on the land), was called estate society, divided into estates (watertight or fixed social layers).>
In this system, people did not have social mobility, that is, they were born a servant, they will die in their condition of servant and during their lifetime, they will not be able to ascend to another level. Thus, social position depends on your birthplace.
Learn about the topic by reading the articles :
- Feudal Society
- Feudal Economy
- Crisis of Feudalism
- Transition from Feudalism to Capitalism