The history of the human community is full of various phenomena of relationships. One of them was once the relationship between the feudal lord and subordinates. Suzerainty is a form of subordination in which the feudal lord, who owned land and other types of property, subjugated other people. These people were called his vassals. Consider this form of relationship in more detail.
A bit of history
The beginning of the formation of this type of relationship was laid in Medieval Europe, although its origins can be traced back to the period of antiquity. This type of relationship was based on the right to own land, which allowed the owner of the land to demand from the peasants who lived on his land, not only the payment of cash rent, but also the service of his master.
Thus, answering the question: who is the overlord, it is worth noting that this was the name of a large feudal lord who allowed other people to use their land, while demanding vassalage from them.
Ladder of Subordination
From here was bornthe system of so-called vassalage, when a large feudal lord could have his own vassals, the same also had the right to have their own vassals. At the same time, the first chief feudal lord could not subjugate a vassal who was at a lower level of subordination.
The prevalence of such relations in Medieval Europe reached its climax to such an extent that even vassal states were created that were subordinate to larger states.
In the last century, such states began to be called "puppet states", hinting at the subordination of the leaders of such states to the interests of other, stronger nations. At the same time, the leading states themselves received the title of "big brothers".
Examples of this type of relationship on a global scale
History knows many examples of such relations, which were based on the domination of some states and the subordination of others.
Thus, the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918 acted as a "big brother" for the Principality of Liechtenstein.
The same relations of domination connected the Ottoman Turks and the indigenous population of Crimea before the conquest of the peninsula by the Russian Empire.
At one time, China adopted this type of relationship in its relations with Tibet.
Thus, we can conclude that suzerainty is far from an obsolete form of state relations. This type of interaction is still found in the world as something ordinary. Moreover, there are states in the modern world that are pursuing a conscious policy of such a “seniorbrother, not shy about expressing his imperial ambitions to the whole world.
