Curiosities of ancient Rome (Law)
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What was legislative process in Roman Republic?
Roman Senate was an important office during the time of the Roman Republic, which decided on Roman laws. As the plebeians gradually won more democratic governments (moving away from the oligarchy), a typical legislative process in the Roman state emerged. ... Read more
Rapist did not have easy life
In ancient Rome, a rapist had his testicles crushed with two stones. In ancient Rome, rape – unless it was committed by the rulers – was punished severely. The victim was given a hammer and a stick, and with the ... Read more
Lex Annalis – regulation of cursus honorum
Lex Annalis was the law which decisively regulated the order of office (cursus honourum) in the Roman Republic. Moreover, it set the minimum age that a Roman citizen must have had to apply for a questorship. The requirement was 26 ... Read more
No fight as gladiator
Tabula Larinas was a senatorial decree of 19 CE that forbade sons, daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren from senators or equites to participate in gladiatorial fights if they are under 20 life. The decision to issue such a decree was dictated ... Read more
Dowry in Roman world
In ancient Rome, it was an unwritten rule that in the event of marriage the bride should bring a dowry (dos). The additional capital contributed to the husband was to facilitate the maintenance of the family (onera matrimonii) and the ... Read more
Loan for use and pledge in the Roman law
Apart from loan for consumption (mutuum) and deposit (depositum) there were other real contracts in the Roman law – loan for use (commodatum) and pledge (pignus). Loan for use emerged towards the end of the Republican era as a result ... Read more
Adoption in Roman world
In ancient Rome, adoption (adoptio) meant taking a son or daughter from another family under paternal authority. Adoption was carried out in the presence of a praetor or governor. The adoptive consent was not required. The most common reason for ... Read more
Law of XII Tables was in force until end of Empire
After the expulsion of the last king of Rome in 509 BCE the Romans created the Law of the XII Tables (450 BCE) – a collection of Roman laws that lasted 800 years until the end of the Western Roman ... Read more
How could Roman citizen lose his citizenship?
Roman citizen may have lost citizenship as a result of capitis deminutio media. The loss of citizenship also entailed the loss of freedom – capitis deminutio maxima (the greatest diminution of personality). A man could lose his citizenship if he ... Read more
Deposit in the Roman law
Apart from loan for consumption (mutuum) there were other real contracts – deposit (depositum), loan for use (commodatum) and pledge (pignus). Originally there was only the loan but with time the group of real contracts expanded and several different types ... Read more
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