Also 5–6 legacion, -yon. [ad. L. lēgātiōn-em, n. of action f. lēgāre: see LEGATE sb.1 Cf. F. legation, Sp. legacion, Pg. legação, It. legazione.]
1. The action of sending a deputy or representative, esp. a (papal) legate; the fact of his being so sent. Also, † to send in legation.
1460. Capgrave, Chron. (Rolls), 260. To whech Parlement cam the duke of Gloucetir fro Yrlond expressing the Kyngis costis in Yrlond; and his legacion was so acceptabil, that the clergy graunted him a dyme, and the lay fe a fiftene.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. x. 1. To the Priests and Levites sent in legation from the Sanhedrim, he professed that himself was not the Christ.
1738. Warburton (title), The Divine Legation of Moses.
1794. Sullivan, View Nat., II. 214. The object of Moses was to support his divine legation.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 108. The legation of a cardinal was … bound up in the popular mind with heavy fees.
2. The object for which an ambassador or legate is sent, his mission or commission.
1470–85. Malory, Arthur, V. viii. [They] wente toward Rome and shewed theyr legacyon & message to the potestate and Senate.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xxii. 77. Anne her [Dido’s] suster went incontynent towarde eneas, to make unto him her feble legacion.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clix. 148. The sayde Lewys … gaue answers concernynge theyr legacions and messagys.
1530. Palsgr., 238/1. Legation, a message, legation.
1660. R. Coke, Power & Subj., 144. Alfred … could not give any assent to their legation.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., IX. ii. (1864), V. 208. Innocent had chosen a German by birth, perhaps from his knowledge of the language, for this important Legation.
3. concr. The body of deputies sent on a mission; a diplomatic minister and his suite. Now chiefly (exc. in secretary of legation) used when the minister has not the titular rank of ‘ambassador.’
1603. North’s Plutarch (1612), 1161 (Cæsar Augustus). Cornelius the Centiner chief of this legation or ambassade.
1619. Visct. Doncaster, Let., in Eng. & Germ. (Camden), 148. To give him thankes for honoring this legation thus.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), IV. 420. A secretary of legation … supplying their place.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxiii. V. 74. The report which the English legations made of what they had seen and suffered in Russia.
b. The official residence of a diplomatic minister.
1863. Fortune, Yedo & Peking, iv. 72. His Excellency … gave me quarters in the Legation.
1886. Miss Gordon Cumming, Wand. China, II. 257. Really good robes … are … offered for sale at all the Legations and other European dwellings.
1901. Allen, Siege Peking Legations, v. 113. Next morning we heard that the Belgian Legation had been burnt.
c. attrib.
1886. Miss Gordon Cumming, Wand. China, II. 337. The recently restored Legation buildings.
1900. Martin, Siege in Peking, v. 84. The marines … were occupying commanding points on the legation walls, or making sorties from the legation gates.
1901. Allen, Siege Peking Legations, vi. 211. Answer was returned that the Legation guard were simply acting on the defensive.
4. The dignity and office of a legate (see LEGATE sb.1 1, 3); a legateship.
1603. Knolles, Hist. Turks (1638), 93. By vertue of his Legation it belonged vnto him to dispose of all things taken in that sacred war.
a. 1639. Spottiswood, Hist. Ch. Scot., II. (1677), 58. He had accepted a Legation from the Pope.
1701. W. Wotton, Hist. Rome, 270. He was appointed to go as Legate to the Proconsul of Afric. That Legation being performed, Marcus [etc.].
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr., VII. iv. (1864), IV. 149. The Archbishop had … received from him the legation to France.
1864. W. Forsyth, Cicero (1867), 438. He wrote … to Antony to request that he might have a legation given him.
5. Formerly, one of the provinces of the Papal States, governed by a legate.
1841. W. Spalding, Italy & It. Isl., III. 30. Deputies … assembled in the end of 1796, and erected the two papal legations with the Modenese duchy into a commonwealth.
1848. W. H. Kelly, trans. L. Blanc’s Hist. Ten Y., I. 583. Cardinal Bernetti notified … his holiness’s determination to send his troops into the legations.
† 6. A gift by will, a legacy. Obs. rare–1.
1586. Ferne, Blaz. Gentrie, 301. He … is bounde to beare the name,… by cause this is a condicionall legation or gift.
Hence Legation v. intr., to go on a legation. Legationary a., of or pertaining to a legation, qualified or ready to go on a legation.
1864. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., IV. 460. Now Legationing in foreign parts. Ibid., 506. Plenty of legationary Sieurs. Ibid. (1865), V. 623. The Marischal’s legationary function.
