Right of conquest
idea · 2 works · 3 mentions · 4 anchored passages
right of conquest · captured by me in war · conqueror's absolute right · right of the conqueror · right of war · right to hold it · spoils of war
in the texts
The Rights of War and Peace
The central doctrine that victors acquire property, territory, and rights over what and whom they conquer in solemn war.
By conquest, a prince succeeds to all the rights of the conquered sovereign or state;
The incorporeal rights too, belonging to one state, may pass to another by the rights of conquest.
Lands are not understood to become a lawful possession and absolute conquest from the moment they are invaded.
Philip’s Letter
Claim that conquest in war creates a legitimate title to a city.
Yet we all of us occupy our cities either by inheritance from our ancestors or by right of conquest in war.
Or if anyone disputes this and claims it for its later owners, here again the right is mine, because I besieged and captured the city, after its inhabitants had expelled you and accepted the Lacedaemonians as their founders.
Yet what stronger title to possession could there be than that the city was originally inherited by me from my ancestors, was again captured by me in war, and thirdly was conceded to me by you, who are in the habit of claiming even that to which you have no shadow of a right?