vassalage
/ˈva-sə-lij/ (ame, mw)
vassalage — 名詞
1. the condition of being ruled by a stronger power and no longer acting with full
附庸地位
受較強政權支配的從屬狀態
the condition of being ruled by a stronger power and no longer acting with full political independence.
After the war, the small kingdom fell into vassalage to its northern neighbor.
戰爭後，這個小王國落入對北方鄰國的附庸地位。
fall into vassalage to + ruler
For two generations, the island lived in vassalage under a distant emperor.
兩代人的時間裡，這座島一直處於遠方皇帝的附庸地位之下。
Mauricio saw the treaty as peace on paper but vassalage in practice.
Mauricio 認為這份條約表面上是和平，實際上卻是附庸地位。
Heavy trade debts pushed the duchy into vassalage to the richer port city.
沉重的貿易債務把那個公國推入對較富港口城市的附庸地位。
- subjection
more general and more formal; not limited to feudal politics
- dependence
broader and weaker; often lacks the idea of sworn loyalty or formal hierarchy
- servitude
stronger and harsher, often suggesting forced labour or loss of personal freedom
- independence
the condition of ruling yourself rather than serving a stronger power
- sovereignty
formal term for supreme political authority over a state
文法句型
fall into vassalage
live in vassalage to + ruler
用法筆記
Usually applied to a smaller state or ruler under a stronger power. Distinguish from sense 2, which names one person's feudal standing rather than a whole polity's dependent condition.
常見錯誤
2. the legal rank of a person who held land from a lord and owed that lord service
封臣身分
向領主效忠並換地受封的身分
the legal rank of a person who held land from a lord and owed that lord service and loyalty in return.
At seventeen, Arjun entered vassalage and received three fields from the count.
十七歲時，Arjun 進入封臣身分，並從伯爵那裡得到三塊田地。
enter vassalage and receive land
The ceremony marked Mira's vassalage to Lady Beatrix for the rest of her life.
那場儀式標誌著 Mira 對 Lady Beatrix 的封臣身分將持續終生。
vassalage to + lord
In return for the farm, Eitan accepted vassalage under the mountain lord.
為了換取那座農場，Eitan 接受了山地主人之下的封臣身分。
Jabari's vassalage began when he knelt and placed both hands inside the lord's hands.
當 Jabari 跪下並把雙手放進領主的雙手中時，他的封臣身分就開始了。
- tenure
can refer to land held from a lord, but focuses more on the holding than on the personal bond
- feudal rank
describes position in the feudal order, but is less specific than vassalage
- lordship
the superior position that receives service rather than giving it
文法句型
enter vassalage
vassalage to + lord
用法筆記
Used for the dependent person's legal standing in a feudal bond, often after land is granted. Distinguish from sense 3, which focuses on the duties owed after that status begins.
常見錯誤
3. the loyalty, labour, military help, rent, or other duties that a vassal had to p
封臣義務
封臣對領主應盡的服役與效忠
the loyalty, labour, military help, rent, or other duties that a vassal had to provide to a lord.
Each spring, Lan's vassalage required ten days of work on the lord's roads.
每年春天，Lan 都得依照封臣義務為領主的道路工作十天。
vassalage requiring labour service
The letter lists grain, horses, and soldiers as part of the family's vassalage.
那封信把穀物、馬匹和士兵都列為這個家族封臣義務的一部分。
When the bell rang, Henry fulfilled his vassalage by guarding the bridge all night.
鐘聲響起時，Henry 以整夜守橋來履行他的封臣義務。
Amani's father could not pay the wool demanded under his yearly vassalage.
Amani 的父親無法繳出他每年封臣義務下被要求的羊毛。
文法句型
owe vassalage
fulfil vassalage by + action
用法筆記
This sense points to what a vassal must do or provide, such as labour, troops, rent, or public loyalty. Distinguish from sense 2, which names the status itself rather than the owed service.