vavasour

A vavasour was a feudal tenant who ranked directly below a baron. The term originated from the Medieval Latin "vassus vassorum," meaning "vassal of vassals".1

In the feudal system, lords granted land (fiefs) to vassals in return for services, typically military duties. These services could include fighting in wars, providing escort, or guarding castles. The number of knights a vassal owed was usually proportional to the size of their fief. Over time, some vassals paid a tax called scutage instead of providing military service. The concept of feudalism, as understood today, was largely developed by historians centuries after the Middle Ages to describe the social, economic, and political conditions of that era.23