Relating to the fetiales, official heralds in ancient Rome who conducted diplomatic ceremonies and declared war.
From Latin 'feciales' (plural of 'fecialis'), referring to Rome's official diplomatic priests. This English adjective preserves the ancient Roman governmental and religious role.
The Roman fetiales were like ancient lawyers and diplomats combined—they had to recite specific words and perform exact rituals when declaring war, and if they messed up the ceremony, the war might not be 'legitimate' in Roman eyes.
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