Vassal

A minion (from Celtic GWAS, from Latin vassus " servant " ) was the early Middle Ages (6th - 7th century) a gentleman who voluntarily presented himself as a follower in the service of other men and this for certain military or diplomatic services undertook. The vassal had to make available, so to assist the employer in the war a certain number of soldiers. The allegiance was but also from taxes, for example, the grand military service, or other similar services. The vassal in return enjoyed the protection of his lords.

A prince was his vassal and submit to the sovereignty of another prince. A good example of this is the relationship of the English to the French king in the 12th century. The English king had numerous possessions in France, but they were all Lehnschaften of the French king. The King of England was thus subject to the King of France as his vassal. As Duke of Normandy and Guyenne, and of Count of Anjou, Maine, Berry, Brittany, Touraine and Poitou, he was indeed the most powerful vassal in France, but still a vassal, so Philip II committed to services, even though they were treated as hierarchically.

A vassal was bound to his master consilium et auxilium, he had to help loyal to the feudal lord with help and advice. Incorrect or inappropriate advice or failure to support could result in punishment or the termination of vassalage. There was a relationship between vassal and suzerain. The vassal enjoyed the protection of the feudal lord, who defended him in doubt by any means. To this end, the feudal lord was dependent on the support of his vassals, the soldiers asked him a quota or had committed to other support.

The vassal in feudalism of the 8th century was the predecessor of the vassal in the later Middle Ages. But the feudal system soon differed quite strongly from the vassalage. The vassal was his employer personally committed while the vassal himself went just over his fief in the dependence on the feudal lords. In some cases, the feud was even hereditary, which was not foreseen in the original vassalage. Only by awarding own lands as a fief of the rulers of the late Middle Ages were their armies entertained. As they had in the way always rob more of their own power base, but their vassals made ​​more powerful in exchange, the oath of allegiance soon became a farce because the lords eventually even had to pay their vassals in addition to obtain their services.