Vassalage (Noun)
Meaning
The state of a serf.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The peasant's life was marked by vassalage to the lord of the manor, who controlled every aspect of his existence.
- Throughout the Middle Ages, the system of vassalage bound many peasants to the land they worked, making it impossible for them to leave.
- Vassalage meant that the serf was tied to the land and had to provide a portion of his crops to the lord as a form of taxation.
- In feudal society, vassalage was a fundamental institution that defined the relationships between lords and their subjects.
- The harsh realities of vassalage led many peasants to seek a better life in the growing cities, where they could find freedom and work as artisans or traders.