vassalage, n.All

Vassalage (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠never only political; a small state bowing to an empire soon finds itself bowing to the empire's gods.