Faculty of Humanities (FGw) - Amsterdam Institute for Humanities Research (AIHR) - Amsterdam School of Historical Studies (ASH)
Abstract
Deditio (surrender), more specifically deditio in fidem or in potestatem ,
was the formal and unconditional surrender of a foreign people to Rome,
either as the conclusion to a war or in peacetime, as a means of
securing Roman protection against a third party. Deditio by an enemy was an appeal for mild treatment, strengthened by its association with fides (good faith), and often realized in practice. Although deditio gave Rome absolute discretion over those who surrendered, in practice Rome often restored their rights and property.