Vassal State

By Deane Barker • •

This is exact opposite of a Suzerainty.

A vassal state is the subservient/smaller state in a mutually obligatory political relationship. When a smaller, weaker nation cozies up to a larger, more powerful nation, it’s termed a vassal state, much like vassals were subjects of a kingdom’s power and protection in medieval times.

“Vassal” is literally Old French for “subject, subordinate, servant.”

Why I Looked It Up

In a news article about the invasion of Ukraine –

Ukraine is about the size of Texas, bordered by Russia to the east and a Pro-Putin, Russian vassal state of Belarus to the north.

This is item #917 in a sequence of 961 items.

You can use your left/right arrow keys to navigate