Roman Law
10/2/2007
Outline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEXTS ILLUSTRATIVE OF BASIC LEGAL CATEGORIES

 

1.

Key concepts in J.I.1.1.4 derived from D.1.1.2 (Ulp. Inst. 1):

                   positiones studii iuris

                         ____|______

                         |         |

               ius publicum vs. ius privatum

                   _________________|____________

                   |                |           |

            praecepta naturalia  praecepta gentium  praecepta civilia

2.

The main divisions in GI.  G.1.8:  “The whole of the law observed by us relates to either to persons, or to things, or to actions.”

 

 

a.

G.1.8: “Let us first consider persons.”

 

b.

G.2.1: “In the preceding book we treated of the law of persons.  Let us now consider things.”

 

 

i.

The law of acquisition of single things has no separate introduction, but the following passage suggests that that is the category.

 

 

ii.

G.2.97: “For the present it suffices to have carried our exposition of the methods of acquiring singel things thus far.  For the law of legacies, under which likewise single things are acquired, will be treated of more conveninently in another place.  Let us therefore now consider how things are acquired in mass (per universitatem).”  (For the most part the law of succession.)

 

 

iii.

G.3.88: “Let us proceed now to obligations. These are divided into two main species: for every obligation arises either from contract or from delict”

 

 

The same order is preserved in J.I., and the same topics covered.

 

c.

G.4.1: “It remains to speak of actions.”

a.

“I say this man is mine by Quiritary right according to his situation. As I have spoken behold I have placed my rod on him.” Hunc ego hominem ex iure Quiritium meum esse aio secundam suam causam. Sicut dixi, ecce tibi vindictam imposui. = G.4.16 –> legis actio sacramento in rem.

 

b.

cession in court” in iure cessio G.1.168—transfer of tutela and later on we learn of urban servitudes.

 

c.

manumissio vindicta G.1.17, .18, 1.20—probably originally a vindicatio in libertatem.

 

d.

“Let him be bought to me by this bronze and these bronze scales.” Isque michi emptus esto hoc aere aeneaque libra = G.1.119.

 

 

i.

conveyance of slaves and other res mancipi

 

 

ii.

conveyance of children in potestate, but the result is not potestas but in mancipio

 

 

iii.

conveyance of children in potestate –> emancipation, also a three-fold system — G.1.132–33

 

 

iv.

conveyance of children in potestate –> adoptio, the tree-fold system again plus litigation G.1.134.

 

e.

coemptio — G.1.113, 1.123, we haven’t got the words

 

f.

testamentum per aes et libram G.2.104 (p. 137).

4.

Legislation and imperial constituions concerning the law of persons mentioned in G.1:

 

a

l. Fufia Caninia 2 B.C. limits the number of testamentary maunumissions.

 

b.

l. Aelia Sentia 4 A.D. requires that manumissions of slaves under 30 be made vindicta and before a consilium.

 

c.

l. Junia Norbana ?A.D. 19 creates the status of Junian Latins.

 

d.

l. Visellia (c.25 A.D.) — anyone who being a libertus serves as a policeman for 6 years becomes a citizen. Notice the use of policy here.

 

e.

SC. Pegasianum (72 A.D.) extends the privilege of anniculi causae probatio to Junian Latins freed over the age of 30. (The a.c.p. was previously available to those freed under the age of 30. If the Junian Latin had married and produced a child who was one year old or older, he, the wife and the child all became citizens.)

 

f.

Edict (edicto) of Claudius (41 X 54) — a Junian Latin who builds a ship that carries corn to Rome –> citizenship

 

g.

Constitution (a Nerone constitutum est) (54 X 68) — a Junian Latin who spends 100 K sesterces on a Roman house –> citizenship.

 

h.

Constitution (Traianus constituit) (98 X 117) — a Junian Latin who operates for three years a mill that grinds 100 measures of corn daily –> citizenship.

 

 

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