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An oath of 'fealty', from the Latin ''fidelitas'' or faithfulness, is a pledge of allegiance of one person to another. Typically the oath is made upon a religious object such as a Bible or saint's relic thus binding the oath taker before God.
In medieval Europe, fealty was sworn between two people, the obliged person (''vassal'') and a person of rank (''lord''). This was done as part of a formal commendation ceremony to create a feudal relationship.
Fealty and homage are a key element of feudalism. Under the feudal system, the smallest unit of land a fief could own was called a fea or fee, giving rise to the modern day terms of freehold
The term is also used by English speakers to refer to similar oaths of allegiance in other feudal cultures, as with Japan prior to about 1500.

Contents

See also:

See also:

★ homage

★ feudalism

★ vassal

★ commendation ceremony