vavasour n [vav′ə sôr′]
-a feudal tenant ranking directly below a baron
-in the Middle Ages, a feudal vassal next in rank below a baron, holding lands from a superior lord and having vassals under himself
Also vavasor
In other words, I suppose you could call him a middle-man.
Etymology:
Middle English vavasour, from Anglo-French vavassur, probably from Medieval Latin vassus vassorum vassal of vassals
First Known