Homage, << HOM ihj >>, during the Middle Ages (A.D. 400’s through the 1400’s), was a ceremony by which a man became a follower of a lord. The ceremony set up a personal and honorable tie between the man and the lord, who promised faithfulness to each other. The man knelt before the lord, placed his hands between those of the lord, and acknowledged himself to be the lord’s faithful man. The word homage comes from homo, the Latin word for man. The lord then recognized the man as a faithful servant, raised him to his feet, and kissed him. After performing homage, the man usually took an oath of fidelity, swearing on the Bible or holy relics to remain faithful.
