Fealty

Fealty
Oath of Fealty
An oath of allegiance paid by a knight to his lord or by a lower person to his knight. Sometimes this fealty was in the form of money or possessions. Often it was in the form of an oath to serve, protect and defend.
Obligation of fidelity in a military, political and social sense on the part of a feudal tenant or vassal to his lord. The contract is not to be confused with homage, though both ceremonies were conducted at the same time. In the first part of the ceremony, where the liegeman swore personal homage to the lord, they swore to ‘become his man’. The lord swore an oath of his own where he pledged protection and defense for the tenant. During the second part of the ceremony, only the liegeman swore the oath, swearing to perform faithful service for the land so tendered. Called foi in French, Treue or Triuwe in German.

Medieval glossary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , (to a feudal lord) / , , , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • fealty — fe al*ty (f[=e] al*t[y^]), n. [OE. feaute, OF. feaut[ e], fealt[ e], feelt[ e], feelteit, fr. L. fidelitas, fr. fidelis faithful. See {Feal}, and cf. Fidelity.] 1. Fidelity to one s lord; the feudal obligation by which the tenant or vassal was… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • fealty — I noun allegiance, compliance, constancy, deference, devotion, duteousness, duty, faith, faithfulness, fidelity, homage, humble service, loyalty, obedience, respect, reverence, servility, steadfastness, support, veneration II index adherence… …   Law dictionary

  • fealty — c.1300, from O.Fr. feauté loyalty, fidelity; homage sworn by a vassal to his overlord; faithfulness, from L. fidelitatem (nom. fidelitas) fidelity, from fidelis loyal, faithful (see FIDELITY (Cf. fidelity)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • fealty — *fidelity, loyalty, devotion, allegiance, piety Analogous words: faithfulness or faith, trueness or truth, constancy, staunchness, steadfastness (see corresponding adjectives at FAITHFUL): Obligation, duty Antonyms: perfidy Contrasted words:… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • fealty — ► NOUN historical ▪ a feudal tenant s or vassal s sworn loyalty to a lord. ORIGIN Old French feaulte from Latin fidelitas fidelity …   English terms dictionary

  • fealty — [fē′əl tē] n. pl. fealties [ME feute, fealtye < OFr feauté, fealté < L fidelitas, FIDELITY] 1. a) the duty and loyalty owed by a vassal or tenant to his feudal lord b) an oath of such loyalty 2. Archaic loyalty; fidelity SYN …   English World dictionary

  • Fealty — This article is about a pledge of allegiance. For the journalist, see Mick Fealty. For the novel by Niven and Pournelle, see Oath of Fealty (novel). English Feudalism …   Wikipedia

  • fealty — /fiy(a)ltiy/ In feudal law, fidelity; allegiance to the feudal lord of the manor; the feudal obligation resting upon the tenant or vassal by which he was bound to be faithful and true to his lord, and render him obedience and service. This fealty …   Black's law dictionary

  • fealty — /fiy(a)ltiy/ In feudal law, fidelity; allegiance to the feudal lord of the manor; the feudal obligation resting upon the tenant or vassal by which he was bound to be faithful and true to his lord, and render him obedience and service. This fealty …   Black's law dictionary

  • fealty — [[t]fi͟ːəlti[/t]] N UNCOUNT In former times, if someone swore fealty to their ruler, they promised to be loyal to him or her. Syn: allegiance …   English dictionary

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