suzeraine Definition
a feudal lord who exercises political control over a dependent state that has internal autonomy but owes allegiance to the sovereign or paramount ruler.
Using suzeraine: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "suzeraine" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The suzerain was responsible for collecting taxes from the vassal state.
Example
The vassal state owed allegiance to the suzerain but had internal autonomy.
Example
The suzerain granted the vassal state certain privileges in exchange for their loyalty.
suzeraine Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with suzeraine
the rights of a suzerain over a vassal state, including the right to collect taxes and demand military service
Example
The suzerainty rights of the overlord were clearly defined in the treaty.
suzerain-vassal relationship
the relationship between a suzerain and a vassal state, where the latter owes allegiance to the former but has internal autonomy
Example
The suzerain-vassal relationship was a common political arrangement in medieval Europe.
Example
The suzerain power was limited by the autonomy granted to the vassal state.
Origins of suzeraine
from Old French 'sus', meaning 'above', and 'zerain', meaning 'lord'
Summary: suzeraine in Brief
The term 'suzeraine' [soo-zuh-reyn, soo-zer-eyn] refers to a feudal lord who exercises political control over a dependent state that has internal autonomy but owes allegiance to the sovereign or paramount ruler. It is a political arrangement where the suzerain has certain rights over the vassal state, such as collecting taxes and demanding military service, but the latter has internal autonomy. The phrase 'suzerain-vassal relationship' describes this arrangement.
