vassal
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vassal
In the Middle Ages, a person, usually a nobleman, who received land or an office from a feudal lord and in return was obligated to loyalty and military support.
Der Herzog war ein mächtiger Vasall des Königs.
The duke was a powerful vassal of the king.
vassal
Figuratively and often derogatorily, a person or state that is completely politically or economically dependent on another, more powerful person or power.
Kritiker bezeichnen das Land als einen Vasallen der benachbarten Großmacht.
Critics describe the country as a vassal of the neighboring great power.
The dependence of a vassal is usually expressed with the preposition 'von' and the dative. In more formal or historical texts, the genitive is also used.
Der Graf war ein treuer Vasall von seinem König.
The count was a loyal vassal of his king.
The context makes the meaning clear: if texts talk about the Middle Ages, kings, or fiefs, the historical meaning is meant. If the topic is modern politics, economics, or power relationships, it is the figurative, derogatory meaning.
Im Geschichtsunterricht lernten wir über die Pflichten der Vasallen.
In history class, we learned about the duties of vassals.
The word is deeply rooted in the European feudal system of the Middle Ages. A vassal received protection and land from a feudal lord and in return swore loyalty and military allegiance to him.
Ein Vasall musste seinem Herrn im Kriegsfall mit Soldaten zur Seite stehen.
A vassal had to support his lord with soldiers in the event of war.
In its figurative meaning, 'Vasall' (vassal) or 'Vasallenstaat' (vassal state) is always negative and critical. It expresses that a person or state has no sovereignty of its own and is completely dependent on another power.
In seiner Rede bezeichnete er das Nachbarland abfällig als Vasallenstaat.
In his speech, he disparagingly called the neighboring country a vassal state.
satellite
Satellit and Vasall can both refer to a politically dependent state. Satellit is the modern, usually factual term for dependence on a center of power. Vasall sounds more historical or polemical and emphasizes personal subordination. Satellit is usually the better choice for neutral political texts.
Der Präsident kritisierte den Nachbarstaat als Vasallen der Großmacht.
The president criticized the neighboring state as a vassal of the superpower.
Der kleine Staat galt lange als Satellit der Großmacht.
The small state was long regarded as the superpower’s satellite.
