Allegiance

Ligeance. [L. Lat. alligeantia, from alligare, to bind to; ligeantia, from ligius, qq. v.] The tie or bond (ligamen,) of fidelity and obedience, by which native bom subjects or citizens are bound to their sovereign, government or country, in return for the protection afforded them.* 1 Bl. Com. 366.

4 Id. 74. 2 Steph. Com. 420. 2 Kent's Com. 39, et seq.

See Na* tural allegiance. Local allegiance, Expatriation. In England allegiance is of feudal origin, being formerly sworn to the sovereign as lord paramount or liege lord of the realm. It was an exalted species of fealty, and the oaths of fealty and allegian^ were once couched in almost the same teims.

1 Bl. Com. 867.

The oath of fealty is called hj Blackstone the parent of the oath of allegiance.

2 Id. 53.

In the United States, allegiance is not used in the feudal sense, arising out of the doctrine of tenure.

2 Hil Va S, Car. B,l. 2 E^ent*8 Com. 44, note.