Suzerainty facts for kids
A suzerainty (pronounced soo-zer-en-tee) is when one country has its own government but cannot act completely on its own because a more powerful country has some control over it. The more powerful country is called the suzerain. It usually controls how the weaker country deals with other nations, which is called its foreign policy.
This is different from a country having full sovereignty, which means it is completely independent and can do whatever it wants without outside control. In a suzerainty, the weaker country (sometimes called a tributary state) still manages its own daily life and rules inside its borders, but the suzerain has the final say on important matters, especially with other countries.
The term suzerain can also describe a powerful feudal lord in older times. In this system, smaller rulers or nobles, called Vassals, had to give money, goods, or military help to their suzerain lord.
Examples of Suzerainty
The idea of suzerainty was first used to describe the relationship between the Ottoman Empire and some of the areas around it. These areas had their own rulers but were still under the control of the Ottoman Empire.
Some examples include:
Historically, the country of China also had a suzerainty relationship with several nearby regions and countries. This meant these areas had their own governments but were influenced by or paid tribute to China.
These included:
Related topics
See also
In Spanish: Suzeranía para niños
