  an allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed by a subject or a citizen to his/her 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 connection with latin ligare, "to bind," is erroneous. ==usage== the term allegiance was traditionally often used by english legal commentators in a larger sense, divided by them into natural and local, the latter applying to the deference which even a foreigner must pay to the institutions of the country in which he happens to live. however it is in its proper sense, in which it indicates national character and the subjection due to that character, that the word is more important. in that sense it represents the feudal liege homage, which could be due only to one lord, while simple homage might be due to every lord under whom the person in question held land. ==united kingdom== the english doctrine, which was at one time adopted in the united states, asserted that allegiance was indelible: "nemo potest exuere patriam". accordingly, as the law stood before 1870, every person who by birth or naturalisation satisfied the conditions set forth, though he should be removed in infancy to another country where his family resided, owed an allegiance to the british crown which he could never resign or lose, except by act of parliament or by the recognition of the independence or the cession of the portion of british territory in which he resided. this refusal to accept any renunciation of allegiance to the crown led to conflict with the united states over impressment, and then led to further conflicts even during the war of 1812, when thirteen irish american prisoners of war were executed as traitors after the battle of queenston heights; winfield scott urged american reprisal, but none was carried out.john eisenhower (1997), agent of destiny: the life and times of winfield scott, new york: free press. allegiance is the tie which binds the subject to the sovereign in return for that protection which the sovereign affords the subject. it was the mutual bond and obligation between monarch and subjects, whereby subjects are called his liege subjects, because they are bound to obey and serve him; and he is called their liege lord, because he should maintain and defend them (ex parte anderson (1861) 3 el & el 487; 121 er 525; china navigation co v attorney-general (1932
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