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Allegiance

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For other uses, see Allegiance (disambiguation).

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An allegiance is a duty of fidelity said to be owed, or freely committed, by the people, subjects or citizens to their state or sovereign.[1][2][3]

Etymology

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The word allegiance comes from Middle English ligeaunce (see Medieval Latin ligeantia, "a liegance"). The al- prefix was probably added through confusion with another legal term, allegation. The connection with Latin ligare, "to bind," is erroneous.[4][2]

Usage

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Traditionally, English legal commentators used the term allegiance in two ways. One referred to "local allegiance"—the deference expected even from foreigners within a country.[5] Another sense was "natural allegiance," owed by native-born citizens.[6]

United Kingdom

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The English doctrine once held that allegiance was indelible: Nemo potest exuere patriam. Before 1870, anyone born or naturalized in Britain owed lifelong allegiance unless parliament permitted otherwise.[4] This doctrine was a factor in the War of 1812.

Allegiance bound subject to monarch, and monarch to subject: duplex et reciprocum ligamen ("double and reciprocal bond").[7]

Four types of allegiance were recognized:

  • Natural allegiance: by birth within the sovereign's dominions.
  • Acquired allegiance: by naturalization or denization.
  • Local allegiance: owed by aliens while in the country's protection.
  • Legal allegiance: due when an alien takes an oath required for an office.

The Naturalization Act 1870 allowed British subjects to renounce nationality under specified conditions.[4]

United States

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The U.S. rejected indelible allegiance early. John Rutledge declared in Talbot v. Janson that dual citizenship was possible.[8] The Expatriation Act of 1868 declared expatriation a natural right. Dual allegiance can lead to conflicting duties, possibly treason, so renunciation may be necessary.[4]

In Islam

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Main article: Bay'ah

In Arabic, allegiance is bay'ah (بيعة), meaning "taking hand." The Quran references it in Surah 48:10.[9]

Oath of allegiance

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Main article: Oath of allegiance

An oath of allegiance pledges fidelity to the sovereign (or nation in republics). In the U.S., this is embodied in the Pledge of Allegiance, which is voluntary due to the First Amendment.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Allegiance". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "allegiance". The Oxford English Dictionary: Being a Corrected Re-Issue of with An Introduction, Supplement and Bibliography of a New English Dictionary on Historical Principles. 1 A-B. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1913. p. 231. Retrieved September 23, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ↑ "liege". The Oxford English Dictionary: Being a Corrected Re-Issue of with An Introduction, Supplement and Bibliography of a New English Dictionary on Historical Principles. 6 L-M. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1913. p. 257. Retrieved September 23, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Allegiance". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  5. ↑ "Local allegiance". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.
  6. ↑ "Natural allegiance". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary.
  7. ↑ Calvin's Case (1608) 7 Co Rep 1a; 77 ER 377
  8. ↑ 3 U.S. 133, [1]
  9. ↑ Whitehouse, Bill. Reality Without A Name. Bilquees Press. p. 266. ISBN 0-9680995-6-4.
  10. ↑ "West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette". LII / Legal Information Institute.

Further reading

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