In Roman history, allied foreign troops or states that had made a formal alliance (foedus) with Rome.
Latin plural of 'foederatus' (allied by treaty), from 'foedus' (covenant), referring to the formal political-military status of Rome's treaty-bound allies.
The foederati were Rome's secret weapon—German and other 'barbarian' tribes served Rome as allies before some eventually became the military backbone of late-Roman armies, foreshadowing the medieval feudal system.
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