Final answer:
A fief was a piece of land given by a monarch or lord to a vassal during the medieval period. The vassal would maintain control over this land as long as they fulfilled the requirements of their feudal contract, usually involving the provision of certain services to the monarch.
Step-by-step explanation:
A Fief was a piece of land given by a monarch or lord during the medieval period in Europe. It was provided to a vassal who, in turn, would provide the monarch with services, often involving military support. The concept you are referring to is likely the idea that, even though the monarch had overall control, the vassal would also have significant control within their given fief, as long as they didn't violate any terms of the agreement, like failing to provide the agreed-upon services, or showing disloyalty to the monarch. In other words, as long as the vassal followed the feudal contract, they would maintain control over their fief.
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