Legal Definitions - liege subject

A liege subject refers to an individual who owes a fundamental and inherent duty of loyalty and allegiance to a sovereign (such as a monarch) or a state. This status is typically acquired at birth, either by being born within the sovereign's territory (known as jus soli, or "right of soil") or by being born to parents who are themselves subjects or citizens of that sovereign or state (known as jus sanguinis, or "right of blood"). Historically, this relationship implied a reciprocal duty of protection from the sovereign to their subjects. In modern legal contexts, especially in republics, the concept largely aligns with that of a natural-born citizen, signifying a person whose citizenship, with its associated duties and rights, is acquired automatically at birth rather than through a process of naturalization.

• Example 1: Imagine a person born in the Kingdom of England in the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. By the mere fact of their birth within the English realm, they were automatically considered a liege subject of the Queen.

  Explanation: This illustrates the historical application of the term, where birth within a monarch's territory immediately established a lifelong duty of allegiance to that monarch, making the individual a liege subject.

• Example 2: A child born in Italy today to parents who are both Italian citizens. This child is considered a natural-born citizen of Italy, owing allegiance to the Italian state from birth, even if the birth occurred outside Italian territory (under jus sanguinis).

  Explanation: While "liege subject" is less common in modern republics, this example demonstrates the equivalent concept: a person whose fundamental loyalty and citizenship are established at birth due to their lineage, without needing to go through a naturalization process.

• Example 3: Someone born in Canada, even if their parents are not Canadian citizens. Under Canadian law (which largely follows jus soli), this individual is a natural-born citizen and thus, in essence, a "liege subject" in the sense of owing primary allegiance to Canada from birth.

  Explanation: This highlights how birthright citizenship, based on the place of birth, establishes an individual's status as a natural-born subject, creating an immediate and inherent duty of loyalty to the nation where they were born.