In return for protection, the cities often furnished a contingent to the army or navy of their suzerain, and sometimes paid tribute either in money or in kind.
Its prince ceased to owe obligations to any suzerain.
This was based on a separate clause of the treaty which did recognize that he had previously been the suzerain of the concerned lands.
The dominant entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the more powerful entity itself, is called a suzerain.
A suzerain can also refer to a feudal lord, to whom vassals must pay tribute.
This social role was crucial: a suzerain, or feudal overlord, was dependent upon his vassals to mobilize on his behalf in case of war.
These requirements had to be repeated as often as there was a change in the person of the suzerain or vassal.
The suzerain, e.g. bishop, abbot, or other possessor, granted an estate in perpetuity to a person, who thereby became his vassal.
