Oath of Fealty

An Oath of Fealty is an agreement between a Liege Lord and a vassal. It is a contract between two individuals in which one may represent themselves or a state entity like the Republic or a County or other organization.

Fealty is not a one way arrangement and consists of a mutually beneficial relationship. The Liege Lord may provide shelter, clothing, safety, payment, or other guarantees in exchange for a vassals loyalty, labor, skills, and/or military service. It is not a blank check to rule over others, but a contract between two parties.

The contents of an Oath of Fealty include the conditions, expectations, material and inmaterial requirements, as well as any effective dates or timelines for the arrangement. Oaths of Fealty are custom per arrangement and may be modified as each party requires.

Sample Oath of Fealty

• (Vassal) - On this day do I swear homage and fealty to my sovereign (lord and/or lady),

to be true in all things, to serve in military service when called upon, to gather the harvest when it is time, to commit every tenth coin earned by my estate, and to take no other oaths with others.

• (Liege Lord) - On this day do I swear as your Liege Lord to rule justly and fairly,

to provide for your common defense, to repair and replace implements of the harvest, to provide arms when calling the military levvy, to share in largess, and to provide justice when needed.