0 in medieval Europe, a man who agreed to fight for a king or lord (= rich and powerful land owner) when needed, in exchange for land to live on
1 a person in the Middle Ages who promises to be loyal to a lord (= a man of high social rank) who will protect him or her
He had to hold court, dispense justice, reward faithful vassals, punish or take the field against enemies, and settle claims between contesting parties.
Technically, this term refers to the process of reducing individuals to the status of vassals.
The stability of feudal society had always depended upon a relationship of trust between lords and vassals.
He dispensed justice in the name of the chapter, was responsible for the surveillance of the precinct, represented the chapter and received homage from vassals.
The feudal king was primus inter pares among his vassals, yet he was always much more.
The need for money made the lord increasingly concerned to turn the fiefs of his vassals to his own financial advantage when he could.
The capability of the vassals to fight and rebel provides an incentive for rulers to respect their rights.
Obviously, as we have seen in other monasteries, the abbot could thus create his own separate endowment with the surplus and even grant property in benefice to ministerials or vassals.
