Legate

By Deane Barker • • tags: definition •

Definition: an emissiary or envoy

This is a term most closely aligned with the Catholic church of the Italian renaissance. A legate was a representative of the church with decision-making powers, since geography and transportation at the time prevented easy communication with a central authority.

Several definitions compared it to plenipotentiary.

Why I Looked It Up

The Medici referred to someone as “the Cardinal legate.” At first I thought it was simply an Italian title, but the book didn’t italicize “legate,” as it did with Italian words.

Links from this – Plenipotentiary October 28, 2021
This commonly refers to a diplomat that has the full signing power and authority of their government. They can agree to treaties with other nations. This position/title was more important before instant communication. Before long-distance, real-time communication was possible, the foreign...
Links from this – The Medici October 1, 2024
This purports to be a history of a single family, but it’s really a history of the entire Italian renaissance. The Medici just happened to dominate that time period. It’s interesting to see how the Medici crossed paths with so many other legendary people of that period. Da Vinci and Michelangelo...