LIEGE (Ligius), in Law, properly signifies a vassal, who holds a kind of fee, that binds him in a closer obligation to his lord than other people.
The term seems to be derived from the French lier, "to bind;" on account of a ceremony used in rendering faith or homage: which was by locking the vassal's thumb or his hand in that of the lord, to show that he was fast bound by his oath of fidelity. Cujas, Vigenere, and Bignon, choose rather to derive the word from the same source with leudis or leodi, "loyal, faithful." But Du Cange falls in with the opinion of those who derive it from liti, a kind of vassals, so firmly attached to their lord, on account of lands or fees held of him, that
they were obliged to do him all manner of service, as if they were his domestics. He adds, this was formerly called litigium servitium, and the person lige. In this sense, the word is used, Leg. Edw. cap. 29. Judici sub tutela regis ligea debent esse; that is, wholly under his protection.
By liege homage, the vassal was obliged to serve his lord towards all, and against all, excepting his father. In which sense, the word was used in opposition to simple homage; which last only obliged the vassal to pay the rights and accustomed dues to his lord; and not to bear arms against the emperor, prince, or other superior lord: so that a liege man was a person wholly devoted to his lord, and entirely under his command. Omnibus, &c. Reginaldus, rex Insularum, salutem. Sciatis quod deveni homo ligeus domini regis Angliæ Johannis, contra omnes mortales, quamdiu vivero; et inde ei fidelitatem et sacramentum prestiti, &c. MS. penes W. Dugdale.
But it must be observed, there were formerly two kinds of liege homage: the one, by which the vassal was obliged to serve his lord, against all, without exception even of his sovereign; the other, by which he was to serve him against all, except such other lords as he had formerly owed liege homage to.
In our old statutes lieges, and liege people, are terms peculiarly appropriated to the king's subjects; as being liges, ligi, or ligati, obliged to pay allegiance to him; 8 Henry VI. 14 Hen. VIII. &c. though private persons had their lieges too. Reinaldus, Dei gratia, abbas Ramesiæ, præposito et hominibus de Brancestre, et omnibus vicinis Francis et Anglis salutem. Sciatis me dedisse terram Ulfe, in depedene (hodie depedale) huic Roselino, et uxori ejus Alfine—ea conditione quod effecti sint homines legis. Lib. Rames.