suzerain

plural suzerains

1. international politicsA dominant nation or state that has control over the international affairs of a subservient state which otherwise has domestic autonomy.

   The origin of these conflicts is to be sought in the position which Rome acquired about 275 b.c. as suzerain and protector of all Italy.

   1911, “Punic Wars”, in Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition, volume 22, New York, N.Y.: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., page 649

   1 more example

   Suzerainty is a term which was originally used for the relation between the feudal lord and his vassal; the lord was said to be the suzerain of the vassal, and at that time suzerainty was a term of Constitutional Law only. With the disappearance of the feudal system, suzerainty of this kind likewise disappeared. Modern suzerainty involves only a few rights of the suzerain State over the vassal State which can be called constitutional rights. The rights of the suzerain State over the vassal are principally international rights, of whatever they may consist.

   1920–1921, L[assa Francis Lawrence] Oppenheim, edited by Ronald F. Roxburgh, International Law: A Treatise, 3rd edition, volume I (Peace), London; New York, N.Y.: Longman, Green and Co., page 162

2. historicalA feudal landowner to whom vassals were forced to pledge allegiance.

   Slavery flourished, and absolute centralisation of power did not permit European-style feudalism until very late and only in some cases. “The Eurasian dichotomy of suzerain versus subject left little room in between.”

   2026 August 29, Charles Clover, “Russia vs the west”, in FT Weekend (Life & Arts section), London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 9