Commendation ceremony

__NOTOC__

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A commendation ceremony (commendatio) is a formal ceremony that evolved during the Early Medieval period to create a bond between a lord and his fighting man, called his vassal (Latin vassus). The first recorded ceremony of commendatio was in 7th century France, but the relationship of vassalage was older, and predated even the medieval formulations of a noble class. The lord's "man" ("vassal" comes from a Celtic word for "boy") might be born unfree, but the commendatio freed him. (See Vassal).

Related Topics:
Ceremony - Lord - Vassal - 7th century - Noble

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When two men entered into a feudal relationship, they underwent a ceremony known as commendation ceremony. The purpose of the commendation was to make a chosen person a vassal of a lord. The commendation ceremony is composed of two elements, one to perform the act of homage and the other an oath of fealty.

Related Topics:
Feudal - Homage - Fealty

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~