This means that by as late as 4,000 years ago, the concept of diplomatic immunity was already established. However, Hammurabi, a Babylonian ruler and first lawgiver in 2nd-millennium BC, was recorded as having violated the spirit of diplomatic immunity by refusing to provide safe passage of foreign envoys who brought him a message he didn’t like. As empires in China, India, and the Mediterranean grew more powerful, diplomatic protections decreased. However, the inviolability of envoys was not typically respected by third parties. Greek heralds, who were recognized as inviolable by the city-states, procured safepassage for envoys (diplomatic agent of 2nd rank, next in status after an ambassador- adiplomat, a representative, or a messenger.) prior to negotiations. Protections afforded to foreign envoys varied greatly in the ancient world, though concept of diplomatic immunity is a very ancient one, and probably dates back around the first time a situation required it, when there was more than one civilization.įor example, the concept can be found in ancient Indian epics like Mahabharata (around 4th century BC) where messengers and diplomats were given immunity from capital punishment (execution).
Just as religion buttressed this inviolability, custom sanctified it and reciprocity fortified it, and over time these sanctions became codified in national laws and international treaties. Traditional mechanisms of protecting diplomats included religious-based codes of hospitality and the frequent use of priests as emissaries. Inviolability of diplomatic envoys has been recognized by most civilizations and states throughout history – To ensure exchanges of information and maintain contact, most societies-even preliterate ones-granted messengers safe-conduct. This applies to more than just diplomats: see chart at bottom.
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