Editing Fealty (section)

==History==
In [[Middle Ages|medieval Europe]], an oath of fealty (German: '''''Lehnseid''''') was a fundamental element of the [[feudal system in the Holy Roman Empire]]. It was sworn between two people, the feudal subject or liegeman (''vassal'') and his feudal superior (''liege lord''). The oath of allegiance was usually carried out as part of a traditional ceremony in which the liegeman or vassal gave his lord a pledge of loyalty and acceptance of the consequences of a breach of trust. In return, the liege lord promised to protect and remain loyal to his vassal. This relationship formed the basis of landholding, known as feudal tenure, whereby the [[Seisin|seizin]] vested in the tenant (the vassal) was so similar to actual possession that it was considered a separate [[Estate in land|estate]] described as utile domain (''[[dominium utile]]''), literally "beneficial ownership", whereas the landlord's estate was referred to as eminent domain or superiority (''[[dominium directum]]'', lit. "direct ownership").

In the [[Late Middle Ages]], the investiture and oath of fealty were invariably recorded by a deed; in modern times, this replaced the traditional ceremony. Where the geographical distance between the two parties was significant, the lord could name a representative before whom the oath was to be sworn.

The whole contract including the oath of fealty was part of a formal [[commendation ceremony]] that created the feudal relationship.<ref name=Saul102/>

The term is also used by English-speakers to refer to similar oaths of allegiance in other feudal cultures, as with [[History of Japan#Feudal Japan (1185–1868)|medieval Japan]], as well as in modern organized crime.