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Suzerainty

Suzerainty (/ˈsuːzərənti, -rɛnti/) includes the rights and obligations of a person, state or other polity which controls the foreign policy and relations of a tributary state, but allows the tributary state internal autonomy.[1][2] Where the subordinate party is called a vassal, vassal state or tributary state, the dominant party is called a suzerain. The rights and obligations of a vassal are called vassalage, and the rights and obligations of a suzerain are called suzerainty.

"Suzerain" redirects here. For the video game, see Suzerain (video game).

Suzerainty differs from sovereignty in that the dominant power allows tributary states to be technically independent, but enjoy only limited self-rule. Although the situation has existed in a number of historical empires, it is considered difficult to reconcile with 20th- or 21st-century concepts of international law, in which sovereignty is a binary concept, which either exists or does not. While a sovereign state can agree by treaty to become a protectorate of a stronger power, modern international law does not recognise any way of making this relationship compulsory on the weaker power. Suzerainty is a practical, de facto situation, rather than a legal, de jure one.


Current examples include Bhutan and India. India is responsible for military training, arms supplies and the air defense of Bhutan.[3][4][5][6]

: Identifies the parties involved in the treaty, the author, the title of the sovereign party, and usually his genealogy. It usually emphasises the greatness of the king or dominant party.[19]

Preamble

: Lists the deeds already performed by the Suzerain on behalf of the vassal. This section would outline the previous relationship the two groups had up until that point with historical detail and facts that are very beneficial to scholars today, such as scholar George Mendenhall who focuses on this type of covenant as it pertained to the Israelite traditions.[19] The suzerain would document previous events in which they did a favor that benefitted the vassal. The purpose of this would show that the more powerful group was merciful and giving, therefore, the vassal should obey the stipulations that are presented in the treaty. It discusses the relationship between them as a personal relationship instead of a solely political one. Most importantly in this section, the vassal is agreeing to future obedience for the benefits that he received in the past without deserving them.

Prologue

Stipulations: Terms to be upheld by the vassal for the life of the treaty; defines how the vassal is obligated and gives more of the legalities associated with the covenant.

Provision for annual public reading: A copy of the treaty was to be read aloud annually in the vassal state for the purpose of renewal and to inform the public of the expectations involved and increase respect for the sovereign party, usually the king.

[19]

Divine witness to the treaty: These usually include the deities of both the Suzerain and the vassal, but put special emphasis on the deities of the vassal.

Blessings if the stipulations of the treaty were upheld and curses if the stipulations were not upheld. These blessings and curses were generally seen to come from the gods instead of punishment by the dominant party for example.

Sacrificial meal: Both parties would share a meal to show their participation in the treaty.

South African Republic[edit]

After the First Boer War (1880–81), the South African Republic was granted its independence, albeit under British suzerainty. During the Second Boer War (1899–1902), the South African Republic was annexed as the Transvaal Colony, which existed until 1910, when it became the Province of Transvaal in the Union of South Africa.

German Empire[edit]

Following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (1918), the German Empire received a very short-lived suzerainty over the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. New monarchies were created in Lithuania and the United Baltic Duchy (which comprised the modern countries of Latvia and Estonia). The German aristocrats Wilhelm Karl, Duke of Urach (in Lithuania), and Adolf Friedrich, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (in the United Baltic Duchy), were appointed as rulers. This plan was detailed by German Colonel General Erich Ludendorff, who wrote, "German prestige demands that we should hold a strong protecting hand, not only over German citizens, but over all Germans."[27]

Second World War[edit]

Despite being occupied by the Axis powers, several Western and Asian countries were allowed to exercise self-rule. Several states were created in order to facilitate their occupation, including Vichy France, Manchukuo, the Empire of Vietnam, the Independent State of Croatia in Croatia and the Lokot Autonomy in Central Russia.

Principality of Serbia

Principality of Samos

Cretan State

Crimean Khanate

Septinsular Republic

Principality of Bulgaria

Principality of Moldavia

Republic of Ragusa

Principality of Romania

Serbian Despotate

Principality of Transylvania

Principality of Upper Hungary

Principality of Wallachia

Khedivate of Egypt

Vilayet of Tripolitania

Eyalet of Tunis

Regency of Algiers

Emirate of Mount Lebanon

Suzerainties in fiction[edit]

In J.R.R. Tolkien's The Return of the King, the Mouth of Sauron proposes terms of surrender that would effectively give Mordor suzerainty over Gondor and Rohan: "The rabble of Gondor and its deluded allies shall withdraw at once beyond the Anduin, first taking oaths never again to assail Sauron the Great in arms, open or secret. ... West of the Anduin as far as the Misty Mountains and the Gap of Rohan shall be tributary to Mordor, and men there shall bear no weapons, but shall have leave to govern their own affairs."[29]


In the Walking Dead comic book series and its television spinoff, Negan and the Saviors are a militant group who establish suzerainty over the various survivor communities in Northern Virginia. Under the pretense of protecting them against zombies and hostile humans, the Saviors threaten subservient communities with extreme violence unless those communities provide regular shipments of food, skilled personnel, and other supplies. The Saviors also disarm these communities but otherwise allow them to remain internally self-governing.


In Season 7 of Supernatural, Castiel briefly attains god-like powers and takes direct control of Heaven.[30] He then meets with the King of Hell, Crowley, to propose an arrangement in which Crowley maintains control over Hell's internal affairs but pledges allegiance to Castiel. He also requires Crowley to give him control over the distribution of souls between Heaven and Hell, as souls are a source of supernatural power that Castiel needs to maintain his dominance. Reasoning that he has no choice, Crowley promptly agrees to this arrangement.


In the grand strategy video game Stellaris, one of the preset playable empires is named the Xanid Suzerainty. In the lore, the "suzerainty" is the Xani race having power over the Vheln race, a distinct, slightly less intelligent species that evolved on the same planet as the Xani.


Suzerainty is a fictional, semi-playable board game within the video game Disco Elysium. Playable only via text interactions, Suzerainty satirizes the sanitized amorality present in many grand strategy games.