Loyalty or commitment to a person, group, or cause. Often refers to a citizen's duty to their country or a subject's obligation to their ruler.
From Old French 'alegiance,' derived from 'lige' (liege), ultimately from Germanic roots meaning 'free' or 'noble.' The concept evolved from feudal relationships where vassals owed loyalty to their lords.
Allegiance originally described the reciprocal relationship between medieval lords and vassals - protection in exchange for loyalty. Today's Pledge of Allegiance echoes this ancient bond, transforming a feudal concept into modern democratic citizenship.
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