formerly, somebody a man, or sometimes a woman, in a feudal society who vowed homage and loyalty to somebody else another as their feudal lord in return for protection and often a source of income, esp land
How much more safe the vassal than the lord — Dr Johnson
a person, nation, etc in a subservient or subordinate position
vassalage /-lij/ noun
[Middle English via French from medieval Latin vassallus, from vassus servant, vassal, of Celtic origin]