城下じょうかの盟ちかい

expression, noun

capitulation; surrender; treaty signed under coercion

Idiomatic expression referring to a humiliating surrender or treaty forced upon a defeated party, originally from the image of signing a treaty beneath the walls of a besieged castle.

• 敵てき軍ぐんに包ほう囲いされ、ついに城じょう下かの盟ちかいを結むすぶことになった。

  Surrounded by the enemy army, they were finally forced to sign a humiliating surrender treaty.

• この不ふ平びょう等どう条じょう約やくはまさに城じょう下かの盟ちかいだ。

  This unequal treaty is nothing less than a capitulation under duress.