Legal Definitions - capitulation

Definition: Capitulation refers to the act of surrendering or giving in. It can also refer to an agreement to surrender a fortified place or a military or naval force.

Examples:

• After a long battle, the enemy army finally agreed to capitulate and surrender.
• The commander of the fort made a capitulation agreement with the opposing army, allowing them to take control of the fort.
• In history, there were also capitulation agreements between Christian states and non-Christian ones, which gave certain privileges to the former's subjects in the latter's territory.

The examples illustrate how capitulation involves surrendering or giving in, either in a military context or in a diplomatic one. It can be a formal agreement or an informal understanding between parties. Capitulation can occur in various situations, such as wars, negotiations, or treaties.