David Zapatka
While on an excursion in Tangier, Morocco, recently, I toured the old U.S. Legation building. The history was phenomenal.
Legation: noun lih-GAY-shun A legation is a diplomatic mission maintained by one government in another country, traditionally headed by a minister rather than an ambassador. The word can refer both to the diplomatic representatives themselves and to the building or offices in which they work. In older usage, it could also mean the office, rank, or mission of a legate, an appointed representative or envoy.
Today, legation sounds somewhat historical because most diplomatic missions are called embassies. Historically, however, a legation ranked below an embassy. Oxford defines it as a group of diplomats representing their government in a foreign country in an office below the rank of an embassy, as well as the building where they worked.
Etymology—Legation entered English from Late Middle English, ultimately deriving from the Latin lēgātiō (“embassy,” “mission”), from lēgāre, meaning “to send as a deputy,” “depute,” or “delegate.” It is closely related to legate, a person sent on an official mission.
First Known Use—The word is first recorded in English at approximately 1400, when it meant a “mission of a deputy or envoy.” Its meaning developed over the centuries: by about 1600 it could refer to a body of representatives, while the sense referring specifically to a diplomat’s official residence appeared around 1832.
Legation used in a sentence:
The ambassador met with officials at the foreign legation.
The young diplomat was appointed secretary to the British legation.
The legation served as the center of negotiations between the two governments.
After several years as a legation, the mission was elevated to embassy status.
Legation used on the web:
“Corps diplomatique: The body, British diplomacy, and independent Afghanistan, 1922–47—Modern Asian Studies, Cambridge University Press, by Maximilian Drephal.
The article examines British diplomacy in Afghanistan and specifically discusses the British Legation in Kabul during the period 1922–1947.
“Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1887” U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian.
This official historical publication contains numerous diplomatic documents using legation, including correspondence headed: “Legation of the French Republic in the United States, Washington”
The same publication refers to correspondence with “the legation of France at Washington” and other foreign legations.
Have you ever been in a legation or an embassy? They are rich with history and current affairs. Please submit any word you may like to share along with your insights and comments to dzapatka@wbhsi.net.