Allegiance

An allegiance is the duty of fidelity said to be owed, or freely committed, by a people, subjects or citizens to their state or sovereign.

Etymology

From Middle English ligeaunce see medieval Latin ligeantia, "a liegance". The al- prefix was probably added through confusion with another legal term, allegeance, an "allegation" the French allegeance comes from the English. Allegiance is formed from "liege," from Old French liege, "liege, free", of Germanic origin. The joining with Latin ligare, "to bind," is erroneous.