1.
Paulus, On Various Passages.
The
services above mentioned signify daily labor.
2.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXVIII.
The
Praetor promulgated this Edict in order to restrict the demands for
services imposed in consideration of the grant of freedom; for he
perceived that the demands for services imposed in return for freedom
increased excessively, for the purpose of oppressing and annoying
freedmen.
(1)
Therefore, in the first place, the Praetor promises that he will grant
actions with a view to requiring services to be rendered by freedmen
and freedwomen.
3.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book IV.
Where
a patron has stipulated for services to be performed by his freedmen,
he cannot demand them until after the time has passed when they are
due.
(1)
Nor can a part of the services be performed by the freedmen working
a certain number of hours, because the obligation requires the labor
of an entire day. Hence a freedman who has only worked six hours in
the forenoon will not be released from labor for the entire day.
4.
The Same, On Sabinus, Book IV.
A slave
who was manumitted by two masters promised his services to both. One
of them having died, there is no reason why a demand for the services
of the slave should not be made by his son, even though the other
master may be living. This has nothing in common with the succession
to, or praetorian possession of an estate; as services are demanded
from freedmen just as if money had been lent to them. This was the
opinion of Aristo, and I think it to be correct; for it is held that
an action should be granted to a foreign heir for services which were
due but not performed, without the fear of his being barred by an
exception; and therefore, it should be granted to the son, even if
the other patron is living.
5.
Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XV.
If
anyone should stipulate for services to be rendered for the benefit
of himself and his children, the stipulation will also apply to his
posthumous heirs.
6.
The Same, On Sabinus, Book XXVI.
Services
appertaining to a trade, and others which are the same as the payment
of money, pass to the heir; but those relating to the duties of the
freedmen do not pass to him.
7.
The Same, On Sabinus, Booh XXVIII.
In
order that, in a case of this kind, the obligation of an oath may
be contracted in accordance with law, it is necessary that the person
who is sworn be a freedman, and that he does so in consideration of
the freedom which he has received.
(1)
The question arises, if anyone should bequeath a legacy to his freedman,
provided he will swear to pay ten aurei to his son, instead
of giving his services, whether he will be bound by the oath. Celsus
Juventius says that he will be bound, and that it makes very little
difference for what reason the freedman takes an oath with reference
to his services. I assent to the opinion of Celsus.
(2)
In order that the oath may be binding, the freedman must take it after
his manumission, and he will be equally bound whether he takes it
immediately, or after a certain time.
(3)
Moreover, he should swear that he will give his services, a gift,
or a present; and he can promise any services whatsoever, provided
that they can be lawfully and properly proposed.
(4)
It was stated in a Rescript by the Divine Hadrian, and also subsequently
by other Emperors, that a demand for services cannot be made against
one who has obtained his freedom in consideration of the execution
of a trust.
(5)
The action to compel the performance of services will be granted against
a minor when he reaches the age of puberty, and sometimes even while
he is under that age; for services can be performed by him if he is
a copyist, or one familiar with the names of citizens, or an accountant,
or an actor, or the minister of any other kind of pleasure.
(6)
If the children of a patron have been appointed to unequal shares
of the estate, should they be entitled to an action to compel the
performance of the services of freedmen, in accordance with their
hereditary right to the estate, or to their shares? I think that the
better opinion is that they will be entitled to an action in proportion
to their hereditary right to the estate.
(7)
It, however, makes little difference whether the children were under
the control of the patron, or had been emancipated.
(8)
If a patron should appoint his son, whom he had given in adoption,
his heir, the better opinion is that he is entitled to the services
of the freedmen.
(9)
The children of a patroness are not excluded from demanding services
from the freedmen of their mother.
8.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book VIII.
Where
a freedman has sworn to render his services to two patrons, it is
held by Labeo that he owes a portion of them to each, and that this
can be demanded of him; for services which have not been and could
not be performed at the time are constantly required. This occurs
whether the freedman has sworn to, or promised the patrons themselves,
or a slave owned by both of them, to render his services, or where
there are several heirs of one patron.
(1)
It is established that anyone can act as surety for a freedman who
takes an oath to render his services.
9.
Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XXXIV.
Services
are not property which, in the nature of things, exists.
(1)
Services, however, to be performed from a sense of obligation, and
which are to be rendered hereafter, are not due to anyone but the
patron; as their ownership attaches to the person of the one who performs
them, and to that of him to whom they are rendered. Services relating
to a trade, and others of the same description, can be rendered by
anyone and to anyone whomsoever; for where they have reference to
some trade, they can be rendered to another by order of the patron.
10.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book XV.
The
slave of a patron cannot make the following stipulation with reference
to a freedman: "Do you promise to render me your services?"
Hence the stipulation should be made for the services to be rendered
to his patron.
(1)
Where a freedman takes the following oath with reference to his services,
"I swear to render my services to my patron, or to Lucius Titius,"
he cannot be released from those which he owes to his patron by rendering
his services to Lucius Titius.
11.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXII.
It
makes no difference whether Lucius Titius is a stranger, or the son
of the patron:
12.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book XV.
Because
the services rendered to Lucius Titius are different from those to
which the patron is entitled. Where, however, the freedman promises
a certain sum of money to his patron, who is poor, in consideration
of receiving his freedom, or promises it to Titius, the addition of
the name of Titius will certainly be valid.
13.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXVIII.
When
a slave is purchased under this law, subject to the condition that
he shall be manumitted, and he obtains his freedom in accordance with
the Constitution of the Divine Marcus, any services which have been
imposed upon him will be of no force or effect.
(1)
Nor can services be demanded from a freedman to whom property has
been assigned under the Constitution of the Divine Marcus promulgated
for the purpose of preserving the freedom of slaves, whether they
have obtained their freedom directly, or in accordance with the terms
of a trust, even if those who have obtained it as the beneficiaries
of a trust become the freedmen of the person himself; for they do
not become freedmen under the same circumstances as slaves whom we
manumit without being compelled to do so.
(2)
The action to compel the performance of services will lie when the
time for performing them has passed; the time, however, cannot elapse
before the services begin to be due, and they begin to be due after
the time for their performance has been indicated.
(3)
Even if the freedman should have a wife, his patron is not prevented
from demanding his services.
(4)
If the patron is a minor under the age of puberty, his freedman is
not considered to be married with his consent unless the authority
of his guardian confirms it.
(5)
Where the marriage of a freed woman is ratified by her patron, it
will bar him from objecting to it subsequently.
14.
Terentius Clemens, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book VIII.
It
is evident, when the freedwoman ceases to be married, that her services
can be demanded, as almost all authorities hold.
15.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXVIII.
A freedman,
after his services have been indicated, becomes so ill that he cannot
perform them. Will he be liable, because it is clear that it is not
his fault that he does not perform the services ?
(1)
Services cannot be promised, rendered, due, or demanded in part. Therefore
Papinianus gave the following opinion, namely: where there are several
distinct services and not merely one, and the patron who stipulated
for them left several heirs, it is true that the obligation should
be divided in proportion to the number of the heirs. Finally, Celsus,
in the Twelfth Book, says that if a freedman, who has two patrons,
should swear that he will render a thousand services to a slave held
by them in common, five hundred, rather than a thousand halves of
the services will be due to each one.
16.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XL.
A freedman
must render those services to his patron which belong to a trade that
he learned after his manumission, provided they are such as can be
performed honorably and without danger to life; but those which he
learned at the time of his manumission should not always be rendered.
If, however, he adopted some dishonorable occupation after his manumission,
he must perform those services which he could have rendered at the
time when he obtained his freedom.
(1)
Such services should be rendered to a patron as are suitable to the
age, rank, health, requirements, and mode of life of both parties.
17.
The Same, On the Right of Patronage.
A patron
should not be heard if he demands services which the age of the freedman
does not permit, or the weakness of his body cannot endure, or by
the performance of which his condition, or mode of life will be injuriously
affected.
18.
The Same, On the Edict, Book XL.
Sabinus,
in the Fifth Book of the Edict of the Urban Praetor, says that a freedman
must render his services, and provide his own food and clothing. If,
however, he cannot support himself, his food must be furnished him
by his patron.
19.
Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book XIV.
It
is clear that services should not be required of a freedman without
giving him certain days upon which to perform them, and allowing him
sufficient time for earning enough to support himself.
20.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XL.
Unless
this is done, the Praetor will not permit the services of a freedman
to be rendered to his patron. This is entirely proper, because each
one of them should furnish what he promised at his own expense, so
long as what he owes is in existence.
(1)
Proculus says that a freedman should go to Rome from his province
in order to render his services; but, where he does so, the patron
will lose the time consumed by him while coming to Rome. This is the
case, provided the patron, as a good citizen and the careful head
of a household, resides at Rome, or travels into the province, but
if he wishes to wander about the world, the necessity of following
him everywhere should not be imposed upon the freedman.
21.
Javolenus, On Cassius, Book VI.
For
the services should be rendered in the place where the patron resides,
and of course at his expense for food and transportation.
22.
Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book XIV.
Where
a patron stipulates for services, the stipulation becomes operative
when the patron makes the demand, and the freedman does not render
them. Nor does it make any difference whether the words "when
I demand them" are added or not; as one rule applies to the services
of the freedman, and another to other matters. For as the performance
of services is nothing more than the discharge of a duty, it is absurd
to suppose that a duty should be performed on some other day than
the one on which the person who is entitled to it wishes it to be
done.
(1)
When a freedman promises his patron to render him services, and does
not include his children, it is settled that the services will only
be due to his children if they become the heirs of their father. Julianus
holds that, even if they become the heirs of their father, they will
only have a right to demand the benefit of the services of the freedman
where they did not become heirs through the intervention of another
person. Therefore, if anyone, after having disinherited his emancipated
son, should appoint his slave his heir, and the former should become
his heir through the said slave, he ought to be barred from demanding
the services of the freedman; just as a patron would be barred who
did not impose any services upon his freedmen, or had sold those which
he did impose.
(2)
It should, by all means, be noted that in every kind of services such
periods of time as are necessary for the proper care of his body should
be granted to the freedman.
23.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXII.
Services
such as are promised by a freedman differ materially from those attaching
to a trade or a profession; hence, if the freedman is an artisan,
or a painter, as long as he is employed in this way he will be compelled
to render his patron services of this kind. Therefore, just as anyone
can stipulate for the performance of services relating to a trade
for his own benefit, or for that of Titius, so, also, a patron can
lawfully stipulate with his freedman for his services to be rendered
either to himself, or to Sempronius; and the freedman will be released
from his obligation by rendering his services to a stranger, just
as he would be if he had performed them for his patron.
(1)
Where there are several patrons who have designedly gone into different
provinces, and have, at the same time, demanded the performance of
services by a freedman, it may be said that the services are due,
but that the freedman will not be bound, because it is not his fault,
but that of his patrons, that the services are not performed; just
as is the case where services are demanded from a freedman who is
ill. Where the patrons are residents of two different towns, and each
one has his domicile there, they should agree with reference to the
rendition of services by the freedman; otherwise, it would be a hardship
that one who can be released by working for ten days, should, because
his patrons do not agree with reference to the rendition of his services,
and both demand them at once, be compelled to work for five days for
one of them, and to pay the other the value of the five days of labor
to which he is entitled.
24.
The Same, Digest, Book LII.
Whenever
a certain kind of service is specified in the stipulation, as, for
instance, those of a painter, or of some artisan, they cannot be demanded
unless the time for their performance has elapsed, as in the contract
itself, time for performance is understood to be given, although it
may not be expressed in words; for example, when we make a stipulation
for services to be rendered at Ephesus, sufficient time to do so is
implied. Hence the following stipulation is void, "Do you promise
to give me to-day a hundred pictures which you have painted?"
Services, however, begin to be due from the date of the stipulation.
Those which a patron requires from his freedman are not due immediately,
because it is understood to be agreed among the parties that they
shall not be due before the time for their performance has been indicated;
that is to say, that the freedman shall perform his services according
to the convenience of his patron; which cannot be said with reference
to those of an artisan, or a painter.
25.
The Same, Digest, Book LXV.
A
patron who hires the services of his freedman is not always understood
to receive payment for said services; but this should be ascertained
from the nature of the services, and The position of the patron and
the freedman.
(1)
For, if anyone has a freedman who is a comedian, or the chief actor
in a pantomime, and his means are moderate, so that he cannot avail
himself of his services unless he leases them, it should be considered
that it is the services of the freedman that he requires, rather than
the compensation therefor.
(2)
Likewise physicians very frequently manumit their slaves who belong
to the same profession, as they cannot make use of their services
without hiring them. The same rule can be said to apply to other occupations.
(3)
But where anyone can make use of the services of a freedman, and prefers
by hiring them to obtain their value, he should be considered to receive
compensation for the services of his freedman.
(4)
Sometimes, however, patrons hire the services of their freedmen at
the request of the latter, and when this is done, they should be considered
rather as receiving the price of their services than compensation
for them.
26.
Alfenus Varus, Digest, Book VII.
Where
a physician, who thought that if his freedmen did not practice medicine
he would have many more patients, demanded that they should follow
him and not practice their profession, the question arose whether
he had the right to do this or not. The answer was that he did have
that right, provided he required only honorable services of them;
that is to say, that he would permit them to rest at noon, and enable
them to preserve their honor and their health.
(1)
I also ask, if the freedmen should refuse to render such services,
how much the latter should be considered to be worth. The answer was
that the amount ought to be determined by the value of their services
when employed, and not by the advantage which the patron would secure
by causing the freedmen inconvenience through forbidding them to practice
medicine.
27.
Julianus, On Minicius, Book I.
If
a freedman exercises the calling of a comic actor, it is evident that
he should employ his services not only for the benefit of the patron
himself, but also gratuitously at the entertainments of his friends;
just as a freedman who practices medicine should, at the desire of
his patron, treat the friends of the latter without compensation;
for, in order that he may employ the services of his freedman it is
not necessary for a patron always to give entertainments, or constantly
to be ill.
28.
Paulus, On the Right of Patronage.
Where
a freedwoman, who has two or more patrons, marries with the consent
of one of them, the other will continue to have the right to her services.
29.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book LXIV.
Where
suit is brought against a freedman to compel the performance of services,
and his patron dies, it is established that the right of action does
not pass to a foreign heir. If, however, there is a son, and he should
not be the heir, even though issue may not have been joined in the
case, he will, nevertheless, be entitled to the services of the freedman,
unless he has been disinherited.
30.
Celsus, Digest, Book XII.
If
a freedman should swear to render all the services that his patron
may desire, the wishes of the patron will not be considered, except
so far as is consistent with justice. The intention of freedmen who
leave their services to the discretion of their patrons is based upon
the fact that the latter will act with justice, and not because they
wish to bind themselves heedlessly.
(1)
An action is granted to a patron against his freedwoman, who marries
without his consent, for services due from her before marriage.
31.
Modestinus, Rules, Book I.
A freedman
cannot be compelled to render services which he did not promise, where
none were imposed, even if he may for some time voluntarily perform
them.
32.
The Same, Pandects, Book VI.
A freedman
who promised money to his patron, which the latter demanded of him
for the purpose of rendering his freedom oppressive, will not be liable;
and if the patron should exact the money, he cannot obtain possession
of his estate contrary to the provisions of the will of the freedman.
33.
Javolenus, On Cassius, Book VI.
Services
cannot be imposed upon a freedman in such a way that he shall be required
to support himself.
34.
Pomponius, On Quintus Mucius, Book XXII.
It
should be noted that obligations for the performance of services are
sometimes subject to diminution, increase, and modification; for when
a freedman is enfeebled, the patron loses his services which had already
begun to be due. If, however, a freedwoman who had promised her services
is raised to such a rank that it will be improper for her to render
them to her patron, the obligation will be annulled by operation of
law.
35.
Paulus, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book II.
A
freedwoman, who is more than fifty years of age, is not compelled
to render services to her patron.
36.
Ulpianus, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book XI.
Labeo
says that it is clear that a partnership formed between a freedman
and a patron, in consideration of freedom being granted to the former,
is void in law.
37.
Paulus, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book II.
"A
freedman who has two or more male or female children under his
control (exclusive of any who may have adopted the profession of buffoon,
or have hired themselves to fight with wild beasts), will not be required
to render their patron or patroness, or the children of the latter
any services, or to make them any donation or present, or to do anything
else which they have agreed to furnish, bestow, or perform, in consideration
of freedom, with reference to which they have sworn, promised, or
bound themselves; and if the said freedman should not, at the same
time, have two children under his control, but only one of the age
of five years, he shall be released from the obligation of performing
services."
(1)
Julianus says that the death of children is an advantage to a freedman,
as releasing him from services subsequently imposed.
(2)
If, after having lost a child, the freedman binds himself to render
services to his patron and another child is afterwards born, Pomponius
says that there is all the more reason for the child who is. dead
to be joined with the living one, in order to release the freedman
from liability.
(3)
It makes no difference whether the freedman promises his services
to the patron himself, or to those who are under his control.
(4)
If the patron should assign the services of his freedman to a creditor,
the same rule cannot be said to apply; for this assignment is made
instead of a payment. It may, however, be said that the freedman can
be released by the above-mentioned law, if the patron has assigned
the services to another, after the freedman has promised them; for
it is true that he promised them to his patron, although he no longer
owes them to him. But if in the beginning, the freedman should promise
his services on account of the assignment of his patron, he will not
be released.
(5)
The release from the rendition of services not only has reference
to those to be performed in the future, but also to such as are already
due.
(6)
Julianus says that even if suit has already been brought to compel
the performance of services, a release will take place if children
should be born. Where, however, a decision has been rendered for services
to be performed, the freedman cannot be released, as he has begun
to owe a sum of money.
(7)
A posthumous child does not discharge the heirs of his father from
liability, because the release should be derived from the freedman,
and no one can be considered to be discharged after death. But children
born before the death of the freedman will cause a release under the
above-mentioned law.
(8)
According to the spirit of the said law, even if the release has special
reference to the person of the freedman, his sureties will also be
discharged. If, however, the freedman should furnish a debtor as his
substitute, this will be of no advantage to him.
38.
Callistratus, On the Monitory Edict, Book III.
Services
are only understood to be properly imposed where they can be performed
without disgrace, and without danger to life. For if a slave, who
is a prostitute, should be manumitted, she ought not to render the
same services to her patron, although she may still profit by the
sale of her body; and if a gladiator should be manumitted, he does
not owe his patron the same services, because these cannot be performed
without danger to life.
(1)
Where, however, a freedman is employed in some trade, he should give
his services relating thereto, even if he has learned the trade after
his manumission. If he ceases to exercise that trade, he should contribute
such services as are not inconsistent with his rank; as, for example,
he can live with his patron, travel with him, or transact his business.
39.
Paulus, On Plautius, Book VII.
A stipulation
was entered into by a patron as follows, namely, "If you do not
give me your services for ten days, do you promise to pay me twenty
sesterces?" It must be considered whether an action for
the twenty sesterces should not be granted, as having been
promised for the purpose of rendering freedom burdensome; or whether
services which have not been promised can be given; or whether this
ought only to be assumed to have been promised, in order that the
patron may not be entirely excluded? The Praetor decides that services
have only been promised.
(1)
Hence the following point arises, namely, whether the freedman can
prevent a judgment for a larger sum than twenty sesterces from
being rendered against him, because the patron seems to have valued
his services at that amount, and therefore he himself should not desire
to increase it. It would, however, be unjust to do this, nor is it
necessary to show such indulgence to the freedman, for he should not,
on the one hand, agree to the stipulation, and on the other complain
of it as being unjust.
40.
Papinianus, Questions, Book XX.
If
the property of a patron is sold, an action will still be granted
him to obtain any services of his freedman which have begun to be
due after the sale. If he is able to support himself, an action will
not be granted him to compel performance of the services which should
have been rendered before the sale, since this relates to what took
place before the property was disposed of.
41.
The Same, Opinions, Book V.
A
freedman who has been released from the obligation to render services,
and hence has acquired full testamentary capacity, shall, nevertheless,
be compelled to treat his patron with respect. The case is different
with reference to furnishing support, where the necessities of the
patron are assumed for the purpose of annoying the freedman.
42.
The Same, Opinions, Book IX.
"I
wish my slave, So-and-So, who is a mechanic of a low order, to be
manumitted, in order that he may perform services for my heir."
The manumitted slave v/as not compelled to promise, but, if he should
do so, an action will not be granted against him, for he who gave
him his freedom under a trust cannot alter a public law.
43.
The Same, Opinions, Book XIX.
A slave
who is obliged to render services to his patron cannot, without injury
to the latter, enlist in the army.
44.
Scaevola, Questions, Book IV.
If
a freedman is in default in rendering his services, his surety will
be liable, but the surety himself cannot be in default. A surety,
however, who has agreed to furnish a substitute for the debtor will
be liable for delay.
45.
The Same, Opinions, Book II.
Can
the freedman of a merchant who deals in clothing conduct the same
business in the same town, and in the same place, if his patron is
unwilling for him to do so ? The answer was that there is no reason,
in the case stated, why he cannot do so, if his patron sustains no
injury thereby.
46.
Valens, Trusts, Book V.
Where
a freedwoman is the concubine of her patron, it is settled that he
cannot bring an action against her to compel the performance of services,
any more than if she was married to him.
47.
The Same, Trusts, Book VI.
Campanus
says that the Praetor should not allow the promise of any gift, present,
or service to be imposed upon a slave who is manumitted under the
terms of a trust. If, however, he permitted himself to be bound by
an obligation, when he was aware that he could refuse, a suit to compel
the performance of services should not be denied, because the slave
is held to have donated them.
48.
Hermogenianus, Epitomes of Laiv, Book II.
As
in the case of a patron, so, also, his son, his grandson, and his
great-grandson who consents to the marriage of a freedwoman, loses
the right to require her services; for she to whose marriage he consented
ought to be entirely at the disposal of her husband.
(1)
If, however, the marriage-to which the patron consented is void, he
will not be prevented from exacting her services.
(2)
The exaction of the services of the freed woman is not refused to
her patroness, or to the daughter, granddaughter, or great-granddaughter
of her patron, where any of them consented to her marriage; because
it is not improper that the services of a freedwoman who was married
should be rendered to them.
49.
Gaius, On Cases.
A freedman
who has two patrons can, in some instances, perform different services
for both of them, at the same time; as, for example, if he is a copyist,
and works for one of his patrons by writing books, and takes charge
of the house of the other while the latter is on a journey with his
family; for nothing will prevent him from writing books while he is
in charge of the house. Neratius stated the same opinion in his Works
of Parchments.
50.
Neratius, Opinions, Book I.
The
nature of the services to be rendered depends upon the status of the
person who renders them, for they must conform to his rank, his means,
his mode of life, and his occupation.
(1)
Moreover, a freedman, and everyone else who is required to perform
services, must be supported, or he must be given sufficient time to
provide for his maintenance; and, in every instance, time must be
granted him for the proper and necessary care of his person.
51.
Paulus, Manuals, Book II.
The
right to demand services sometimes remains even after the right of
patronage has ceased to exist, which occurs in the case of the brothers
of him to whom the freedman has been assigned; or with reference to
the grandson of one patron, where there is a son of another patron.
Tit. 2.
Concerning the property of freedmen.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLII.
This
Edict was promulgated by the Praetor with the intention of modifying
the deference which freedmen should show to their patron. if or
(as Servius says) in former times they were accustomed to require
the most onerous services from their freedmen, by way of remuneration
for the extraordinary benerit conferred upon the latter, when, after
having been liberated from slavery, they were made Roman citizens.
(1)
The Praetor Rutilius was the first who published an Edict providing
that an action should not be granted to a patron against his freedman,
except with reference to services, or property held in partnership;
for instance, where it was agreed that unless the freedman would perform
services for his patron, the latter should be permitted to have joint
ownership of his property.
(2)
Succeeding praetors were accustomed to promise possession of a certain
portion of the estate of a freedman; for as the partnership existing
between the parties implied the performance of services by the freedman,
what he was required to furnish as his share of the partnership during
his lifetime, he was also obliged to furnish after his death.
2.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book IV.
If
a patron, who was passed over in the will of his freedman, could demand
praetorian possession of his estate contrary to the provisions of
the will, and before doing so, died, or the time prescribed for demanding
said possession has elapsed, his children, or those of another patron,
can demand possession under that Section of the Edict by which when
the first parties do not claim possession, or are unwilling to claim
it, it is granted to those next in succession, just as if the former
were not in existence.
(1)
If a patron, who was appointed heir by his freedman, should die during
the lifetime of the latter, leaving children, the question arose whether
they could demand praetorian possession of the estate of the freedman,
contrary to the provisions of the will. It was decided with reference
to this point that the time of death, to which praetorian possession
is referred, should be considered in order to ascertain whether there
is any patron or not; so that, if there is one, his children cannot
demand praetorian possession under the First Section of the Edict.
(2)
If an emancipated son should leave a grandson under the control of
his grandfather, praetorian possession of half of the property of
the intestate freedman ought to be given to the son, although the
estate may, by operation of law, belong to the grandson; for the reason
that possession of the part which was due should be granted to the
son contrary to the provisions of the will of the freedman.
3.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLI.
Even
if the right to wear a gold ring may have been obtained from the Emperor
by a freedman, his patron will be admitted to praetorian possession
contrary to the provisions of the will, as is stated in several rescripts;
for this privilege only confers upon him the rights of a freeborn
citizen, but he dies as a freedman.
(1)
It is clear that, if he should be restored to his birthright by a
judicial decision, praetorian possession of his estate contrary to
the provisions of the will cannot be obtained.
(2)
The same rule will apply where he has obtained from the Emperor unrestricted
power to make a will.
(3)
If anyone purchases a slave under the condition that he will manumit
him, this will come under the above-mentioned Section of the Edict.
(4)
When anyone receives a sum of money on condition that he will manumit
his slave, he will not be entitled to praetorian possession of his
estate in opposition to the terms of the will.
(5)
In order that the patron may be able to obtain praetorian possession
contrary to the provisions of the will, the estate must be entered
upon, or praetorian possession of it demanded. It is, however, sufficient
for one of the heirs to enter upon the estate, or to claim praetorian
possession of the same.
(6)
A patron has not the same right to the property of his freedman which
the latter acquired while in the army, which he has to that otherwise
acquired.
(7)
Where a patron, after having been banished, is restored to his civil
rights, he can obtain praetorian possession of the estate of his freedman
contrary to the provisions of the will. The same rule must be held
to apply to a freedman who has been banished and afterwards restored
to his rights.
(8)
If a son under paternal control manumits a slave who forms part of
his castrense peculium, he becomes his patron by a Constitution
of the Divine Hadrian, and, in the capacity of patron, he can obtain
praetorian possession of the estate of the freedman in opposition
to the terms of the will.
(9)
If he to whom a freedman has been assigned should accuse the latter
of a capital crime, he cannot demand praetorian possession of his
estate in opposition to the terms of the will, but this does not prevent
his brothers from doing so, for they must demand praetorian possession
just as they would do if they were the grandsons of the other son,
as the freedman who was assigned to him does not cease to be the freedman
of the remaining sons. It must further be said that even if one brother
should refuse to demand praetorian possession, the other to whom the
freedman was not assigned can take his place, and claim praetorian
possession of the estate contrary to the provisions of the will.
(10)
A patron is entitled to praetorian possession of the estate of his
freedman, contrary to the provisions of the will, whenever he is not
appointed heir to that portion of said estate to which he is entitled.
(11)
If a patron is appointed under a condition, and the condition is complied
with during the lifetime of the testator, he cannot obtain praetorian
possession of the estate in opposition to the terms of the will.
(12)
What course should then be pursued if, at the time of death, the condition
was in suspense, but was fulfilled before praetorian possession was
granted to the patron; that is to say, before the estate of the freedman
was entered upon? Would he be called to the praetorian succession
under this section of the Edict? The better opinion is that the time
when the estate was entered upon should be considered; and this is
our practice.
(13)
Still, if the condition has reference to the past or the present time,
the patron will not be held to have been appointed heir conditionally
; for the condition has either been complied with ana he is held to
have been appointed absolutely; or it has not been complied with,
and he is not appointed heir.
(14)
Where a freedman appointed his heir as follows, "If my son should
die during my lifetime, let my patron be my heir," the will is
not considered to have been improperly drawn; for if the son should
die, as the condition has been fulfilled, the patron can obtain praetorian
possession of the estate.
(15)
If the portion of the estate to which he is entitled is bequeathed
to the patron, enough has been done for him, even if he should not
have been appointed heir.
(16)
Where, however, he was appointed to a smaller share than he was entitled
to, and the remainder has been made up to him, either by legacies
or trusts, he is held to have been satisfied.
(17)
The share to which the patron is entitled by law can also be made
up to him by donations mortis causa, for these take the place
of legacies.
(18)
The same rule will apply where a freedman did not make a donation
to his patron mortis causa, but gave him property in consideration
of the amount of the estate to which he was entitled; for then it
will either be held to have been given mortis causa, or what
the patron has received will exclude him from obtaining praetorian
possession of the estate contrary to the provisions of the will.
(19)
Where anything is given to a patron for the purpose of complying with
a condition, it should be included in the legal share of the latter,
if it was derived from the estate of the freedman.
(20)
We grant the patron his legal share of the property which the freedman
had at the time of his death, for we take into consideration the time
when he died. If, however, he diminished his property by some fraudulent
act, the Praetor will decide that the patron is also entitled to it,
just as if it belonged to the estate.
4.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XLII.
Where
a slave has detected the murderer of his master, the Praetor should
decide that he is free, and it is established that he will be the
freedman of no one, having obtained his liberty under a decree of
the Senate.
(1)
Where a freedman, after having been taken captive, dies in the hands
of the enemy, although the name of freedman does not apply to him,
still, in accordance with the Cornelian Law which confirms his will
just as if he had died at home, possession of his estate should be
granted to his patron.
(2)
If a patron should be banished, his son will have a right to praetorian
possession of the estate of his freedman, and his father, as patron,
will be no impediment to this, as he is considered to be dead. The
case, however, is different where a patron is in the hands of the
enemy, for he is an impediment to his children, on account of the
hope of his return, and the law of postliminium.
(3)
If a stranger has been appointed heir by a freedman, and is charged
to transfer the estate to his son, the patron should be excluded;
as the estate is delivered under the Trebellian Decree of the Senate,
and the son takes the place of the heir.
5.
Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book XV.
Where
a freedman has a patron, and the latter has children, and he appoints
his patron heir to the share of his estate to which the latter is
entitled, he should substitute his children for the same share, in
order that, although the patron may die during the lifetime of the
freedman, he can be considered to have satisfied the claims of his
children.
(1)
If a freedman has the emancipated son of his patron, and grandsons
descended from another son, who is under the control of the grandfather,
the freedman must only leave what he owes to the son, and not to the
grandsons; for, in this instance, it makes no difference whether they
are equally called to the succession of their grandfather, or not.
6.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIII.
If
the children of a freedman should be appointed heirs to only a small
portion of his estate, the patron cannot demand praetorian possession
contrary to the provisions of the will; for Marcellus, in the Ninth
Book of the Digest, says that no matter to how small a share of the
estate of a freedman his son may be appointed heir, the patron will
be excluded.
(1)
Where the daughter of a patron was appointed heir by the freedman
of her father, and the will by which she was appointed was alleged
to be forged, and an appeal was taken, and before it was heard the
daughter died, the Divine Marcus came to the relief of the heirs,
and decided that they should have whatever the daughter would have
been entitled to if she had lived.
(2)
If the son of the freedman, who had been appointed his heir, should
reject the estate, although he will retain the name of heir, the patron
can acquire praetorian possession.
(3)
If the son should meddle with the estate of his father, or the heir
who had entered upon it should obtain complete restitution of his
rights, after having rejected the estate, the patron can be admitted
to the succession.
(4)
If the patron and his children should enter upon the estate of the
freedman in accordance with the will of the deceased, or should prefer
to claim a legacy or a trust bequeathed to them, they shall not be
permitted to obtain praetorian possession in opposition to the provisions
of the will.
7.
Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book XV.
For
it would be absurd to allow the same person to partly approve the
will of the deceased, and partly reject it.
8.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIII.
If,
however, the demand of the patron has had no effect, I think that
there is no reason why relief should not be granted him. And, indeed,
if he has entered upon the estate, under the impression that he had
been appointed heir to the share to which he was legally entitled,
and it should afterwards appear that he has obtained a smaller share
than he had a right to expect, it is perfectly just that relief should
be granted him. If, however, he notified the heir in the presence
of witnesses to pay him his legacy, and should afterwards change his
mind, I think that he is entitled to relief.
(1)
Where a patron has received the legacy bequeathed to him, and afterwards
has been evicted, he will have a right to demand his lawful share
of the estate, because he did not receive what he expected to have.
If, however, he is not deprived of the entire legacy by eviction,
but obtains less than he had a right to expect, he will be entitled
to relief.
(2)
If a patron has received a legacy bequeathed to his slave, or to his
son, he will be excluded from praetorian possession of the estate
contrary to the provisions of the will, just as if he had accepted
a legacy bequeathed to himself.
(3)
And if he has received a donation mortis causa, it must be
held that he is excluded from praetorian possession in opposition
to the provisions of the will, just as if he had received it after
the death of the freedman. Moreover, if the freedman, during his lifetime,
had given it to him, and he had accepted it, he will not, for this
reason, be excluded from praetorian possession in opposition to the
provisions of the will, because it may be said that he expected that
some additional favor would be shown to him by the will of the freedman,
and he should be permitted to reject what he has received, or the
share to which he was entitled should be given to him pro rata.
(4)
Therefore, it is said that if, for the purpose of complying with a
condition, something has been given to the patron after the death
of the freedman, the former will be excluded from praetorian possession
of the estate in opposition to the terms of the will, as having, so
to speak, accepted it.
9.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XLII.
Where
anyone has wrongfully attempted to again reduce to slavery a freedman
belonging to his father, he cannot either himself, or in the name
of his children, obtain praetorian possession of his estate.
10.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIV.
If
satisfaction has not been given to one of two patrons, and more than
his share of the estate of a freedman has been left to the other,
an action will be granted to the one who did not receive that to which
he was entitled, in such a way that his portion will be made up out
of what was bequeathed to a foreign heir, and left to the other patron
in excess of his own share. The same rule shall also be observed where
there are several patrons.
(1)
Julianus says that he who has been disinherited by his grandfather
is also barred from acquiring the estates of his freedmen, but will
not be excluded from acquiring those of the freedmen belonging to
his father. If, however, he has been disinherited by his father, but
not by his grandfather, he should be excluded not only from the estates
of the freedmen of his father, but also from those of his grandfather
as well; because it is through his father that he acquires rights
over the freedmen of his grandfather. If, however, his father has
been disinherited by his grandfather, and he himself has not, a grandson
can demand praetorian possession of the estates of the freedmen of
his grandfather, in opposition to the provisions of the will. He also
says that if my father should disinherit me, and my grandfather should
disinherit my father, and my grandfather should die first, I will
be excluded from praetorian possession of the estates of the freedmen
of both. But if my father should die first, and my grandfather afterwards,
it must be said that the disinheritance of my father will not prejudice
me, so far as the estates of the freedmen of my grandfather are concerned.
11.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVI.
If,
however, my father was disinherited by his father, and I have been
disinherited neither by my father nor my grandfather, and my grandfather
should die, I will be entitled to the rights over the freedmen of
both my grandfather and my father. But I cannot, during the lifetime
of my father and as long as I remain under his control, demand praetorian
possession of the estates of the freedmen of my grandfather; but if
I have been emancipated, I will not be prevented from doing so.
12.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIV.
If
a patron, having made his will in accordance with military law, should
disinherit his son by passing him over in silence in his will, the
disinheritance will prejudice him, for he will be actually disinherited.
(1)
If anyone should assign a freedman to his son whom he has disinherited,
the son can obtain praetorian possession of the estate of the freedman.
(2)
If a son should be disinherited by his father without any evil intention,
but for some other reason, the disinheritance will not prejudice him;
as, for instance, suppose that he has been disinherited on account
of insanity, or because he was under the age of puberty, and the appointed
heir was charged to transfer the estate to him.
(3)
When anyone is disinherited, and it is judicially decided that this
was not the case, even should the judgment be wrongful, he will not
be excluded; for matters which are decided by a court must stand.
(4)
If the son of a patron is disinherited, and succeeds in obtaining
a judicial decision that the will is inofficious, but is defeated
with reference to a part of his claim, let us see whether the disinheritance
will prejudice his rights. I think that it will prejudice them, because
the instrument by which he was disinherited is valid.
(5)
Disinheritance causes no injury to children if the will is such that
the estate cannot be entered upon, or praetorian possession obtained
by it; for it is absurd that a will should be valid only so far as
the disinheritance is concerned, while it is void in other respects.
(6)
Where the son of a patron is appointed heir in the first degree, and
is disinherited in the second, the disinheritance does not prejudice
him, as he has been, or can be the heir under the will of his father;
for his father could not be believed to have thought that his son
was unworthy to obtain the property of his freedmen, when he himself
had called him to his own succession in the first degree. And it is
not credible that a son who has been disinherited in the first degree,
and appointed as a substitute for the heir, would be excluded from
the estate of a freedman. Therefore, a son appointed heir in the first
or second degrees, or, indeed, in any other degree, even though he
may have been disinherited by the same will, is not excluded from
obtaining the estate of his freedman.
(7)
If an emancipated son refuses to accept the estate, or a son who is
under paternal control refuses to keep it, neither of them will be
entitled to possession of the estate of the freedman.
13.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVI.
The
disinherited son of a patron, even though his own son has been appointed
heir by the latter, cannot obtain praetorian possession of the estates
of his father's freedmen in opposition to the terms of the will; for
although he may be the necessary heir of his father, he is not admitted
to the succession by himself, but through another. And it has been
positively decided that if an emancipated son is disinherited and
his slave is appointed the heir, and he orders his slave to enter
upon the estate, and in this way he becomes the heir of his father,
he will not be entitled to praetorian possession of the estates of
the freedmen of his father, contrary to the provisions of the will.
14.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLV.
A
patron who is over the age of twenty-five years, and accuses a
freedman of a capital crime, or makes application to have him reduced
to slavery, shall be excluded from possession contrary to the provisions
of the will.
(1)
It must be said, however, if he was a minor when he made the accusation,
that he is not excluded, whether he himself, or his guardian or curator
brought the accusation.
(2)
If, however, he should bring the accusation while he was a minor,
and after he became of age should obtain judgment, he must be said
to be entitled to indulgence, and should be pardoned, because he instituted
proceedings while he was a minor. Nor ought we to blame him for not
having abandoned the accusation, or for not demanding that it be dismissed,
for if he had done one of these things, he would be liable to the
penalty of the Turpillian Decree of the Senate, and he could not have
easily obtained the other. If, however, the case had been publicly
dismissed, and the patron, having attained his majority, should repeat
his demand, it must be said that he will be excluded from the succession,
for, having become of age, he can without any risk abandon an accusation
which has been dismissed.
(3)
He only is considered to have brought an accusation of a capital crime
who, by means of such a proceeding, seeks to have the accused party
suffer the punishment of death or exile, instead of banishment, which
causes the forfeiture of civil rights.
(4)
If, however, anyone accuses his freedman of an offence, the penalty
of which is not a capital one, and, nevertheless, the judge decides
to increase the penalty, this will be of no disadvantage to the son
of the patron; for neither the ignorance nor the severity of the judge
should prejudice the son of the patron, who has brought a less serious
accusation against the freedman.
(5)
Where, however, he does not accuse him, but gives his testimony against
his freedman in a capital case, or provides the accuser, I think that
he should be excluded from obtaining possession of his estate contrary
to the provisions of the will.
(6)
If a freedman accuses the son of his patron of the crime of lese
majeste, and the son demands that the freedman be punished for
slander, I think that he should not be excluded from the succession
under the terms of this Edict; and if he has been accused by him and
brings a counter accusation, the same rule will apply, for the patron
should be excused, if after having been attacked, he desires to revenge
himself.
(7)
If a son is compelled to avenge his father's death and accuses his
father's freedman, who was his physician, of the crime, or accuses
his slave who slept in the same room with him, or any other who was
attached to the person of his father, can it be said that relief should
be granted him? I think that it should be, if it was necessary for
him to bring an accusation against the freedman of his father, and
he was influenced by motives of affection, and the risk he ran of
losing his father's estate if he did not do so, even though the accusation
should prove to be false.
(8)
Moreover, we say that he has brought an accusation who alleges that
another is guilty of crime, and causes the case to be tried until
sentence is imposed. If, however, he does not proceed so far, he is
not considered to have brought the accusation, and this is our present
practice. But if he should desist after an appeal is taken, it has
been very equitably decided that he has not prosecuted the case to
a conclusion. Hence, if the freedman dies while the appeal is pending,
the son of the patron shall be permitted to obtain possession of his
estate, because the freedman has been removed by death from the consequences
of the sentence.
(9)
If the son of a patron gives his assistance, as an advocate, to the
accuser of a freedman of his father, he should not be excluded from
the succession on this account, for the advocate does not make the
accusation.
(10)
Where a father provides by his will that his freedman shall be accused
of having prepared poison for him, or to have committed some other
act of this kind to his injury, the better opinion is that his children
who did not voluntarily bring the accusation ought to be excused.
(11)
If the son of a patron should accuse the freedman of his father, and
should convict him of a crime, and the said freedman should afterwards
be restored to his rights, he shall not be excluded, for he prosecuted
the accusation which was brought to the end.
15.
Tryphonimis, Disputations, Book XVII.
The
same rule applies where the crime which was proved against the freedman
carries with it capital punishment, but the freedman was subjected
to a lower penalty; as, for instance, he was only banished, for the
Praetor only takes cognizance of a patron who brings a false accusation.
16.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLV.
He
is not considered to have demanded that a freedman be reduced to slavery,
who opposes one who is already a slave, and denies that he be given
his freedom; but he who demands that one who is in the enjoyment of
freedom shall be reduced to slavery.
(1)
Where anyone alleges that a slave is not entirely his, but that he
has a share in him, or the usufruct of him, or some other right to
which he would not be entitled unless the man was a slave, shall he
be excluded from the succession of the freedman, as demanding that
he be returned to slavery? This is the better opinion.
(2)
If a patron should demand that his freedman should be reduced to slavery,
and should succeed, and the truth having been afterwards ascertained,
he suffers him to remain at liberty, this should not prejudice him,
especially if he had good cause for his mistake.
(3)
He is not considered to have made a demand to reduce the freedman
to slavery who abandons the case before issue has been joined. If,
however, he does so after issue has been joined, it must be said that
this will not prejudice him, because he did not continue until a decision
had been rendered.
(4)
If the son of a patron, who has either been disinherited, or has demanded
that a freedman of his father should be returned to slavery, or has
accused the freedman of a capital crime, it will not prejudice his
children, if they are not under his control. This the Divine Brothers
stated in a Rescript to the Quintilians.
(5)
If anyone should obtain praetorian possession of the estate of his
freedman contrary to the provisions of his will, not only if he was
appointed heir by the said freedman, but also if he had been substituted
for his minor son, he will be excluded from all the benefits under
the will of the said freedman. For Julianus says that if a patron,
after making a demand for the praetorian possession of the estate
of his freedman, should enter upon the estate of the minor son of
said freedman, actions must be denied him.
(6)
If, however, anything should be left to the patron by a codicil or
a donation mortis causa, in like manner participation in these
benefits shall be refused him.
(7)
Sometimes it is evident that the right to claim a legacy should be
granted to the patron, after he has demanded possession of the estate
of his freedman, if he will receive no benefit therefrom; for the
reason that he has been asked to transfer the legacy to another.
(8)
Again, the Praetor says that he will not only refuse an action to
the patron to recover what is specifically given to him, but also
to recover anything which you may suggest might come into his hands
through others; as, for instance, through those who are subjected
to his authority, because he can retain such property, and will not
be obliged to surrender it.
(9)
We should grant the right to demand a bequest to a patron if the freedman
had bequeathed a preferred legacy of the price of a slave to his patron,
on condition that the latter should liberate the said slave.
(10)
If the substitute for a patron should be asked by him to deliver possession
of the estate of a freedman contrary to the provisions of the will,
an action to recover the share of him to whose patron possession was
given shall not be granted.
(11)
Where a patron has been substituted for the heir, and dies during
the lifetime of the testator, it is settled that if the son of the
patron demands praetorian possession of the estate of the freedman
contrary to the provisions of the will he can not only acquire the
share of the substitute, but can deprive all the heirs of a certain
portion of their inheritance, in order to make up the amount to which
he is legally entitled.
17.
The Same, On the Edict, Book XLVII.
When
a freedman dies without leaving any children, his patron and his patroness
can, at once, demand praetorian possession of his estate, and they
can even do so together. Any persons who are next of kin to the patron
and patroness can also be admitted to the succession together.
18.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XLIII.
The
illegitimate children of a patroness can also obtain praetorian possession
of the estate of a freedman of their mother, but children cannot be
admitted to the succession of the estate of a freedman of their father
unless they are legitimate.
19.
Ulpianus, Disputations, Book IV.
Where
a patron is appointed heir to a smaller share of an estate than he
is legally entitled to, and alleges that the will is forged, and loses
his case, there is no doubt that praetorian possession of the estate
contrary to the provisions of the will should not be granted him,
for the reason that he lost the estate by his own act when he rashly
declared that the will was forged.
(1)
If he has been appointed heir to the share of the estate to which
he was entitled, whether he accepts it or not, he will be excluded
from praetorian possession of the same contrary to the provisions
of the will; for, as he received the share to which he was entitled,
he cannot demand praetorian possession contrary to the provisions
of the will.
20.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXV.
A freedman
appointed his patron his heir, under the condition of his being sworn
(which condition the Praetor is accustomed to remit), and I do not
think that there is any doubt that the patron will be excluded from
praetorian possession of the estate, as it is true that he has been
appointed heir.
(1)
Where a legacy was left to Titius, and he was charged to transfer
it to his patron, an action to recover the legacy should be denied
to Titius, if the amount to which the patron is legally entitled has
been paid to him by the appointed heir.
(2)
A freedman appointed his patron and a stranger joint heirs to half
of his estate. The fourth to which the patron was appointed heir should,
all of it, be credited to him on his legal share, and the remainder
which is due on said share should be deducted pro rata from
the shares of all the other heirs.
(3)
The same rule should be observed with reference to a legacy bequeathed
to the patron and Titius conjointly; so that a part of the legacy
may be credited upon the share due to the patron, and as much should
be deducted from the share of Titius, proportionally, as that which
ought to be deducted from the portion of the heir.
(4)
Where a freedman appoints his emancipated son his heir under a certain
condition, and the condition having failed, his substitute enters
upon the estate, I ask whether the Praetor should give the patron
possession of the share to which he was entitled against the substitute,
or whether he should come to the relief of the emancipated son with
reference to the entire estate. The answer was that, as the father
had appointed his son his heir in the first degree conditionally,
and the condition under which he was appointed had failed to be fulfilled,
the estate will belong to the second degree; or if the son should
die while the condition is still pending, the patron will acquire
possession of the estate to the amount to which he was entitled by
law, as against the substitute. The same rule will apply where the
son does not obtain possession of the estate through having been excluded
by lapse of time, or because of his rejecting it. Therefore, if the
condition should fail to be fulfilled, the estate will belong to the
son, and the Praetor will, in preference, protect the emancipated
son against the substitute. Moreover, I think whenever a son is appointed
an heir conditionally, that, in some instances, disinheritance is
necessary with reference to the substitution, and in others it is
superfluous. For if the condition should be of such a nature that
it is in the power of the son to comply with it; for instance, if
it was that he should make a will, I hold that if the condition was
not fulfilled, the son must give way to the substitute. If, however,
the condition was such that it was not in the power of the son to
comply with it, for instance, if it was that Titius should become
Consul, then the substitute ought not to be admitted to the succession,
unless the son had been specifically disinherited.
(5)
If a freedman should appoint his emancipated son his heir, and charge
him to deliver the entire estate to Sempronius, and the son should
allege that he suspected the estate of being insolvent, but should
enter upon the same by order of the Praetor and transfer it to Sempronius,
possession of the share of the estate to which he was entitled will,
very properly, be granted to the patron, just as if not the son, but
he to whom the estate was transferred, had been the heir of the freedman.
Moreover, if the son should reject the inheritance of his father's
freedman, and his co-heir should assume all the burdens of the estate,
praetorian possession must be granted to the patron; for, in either
event, the share of the latter is not taken from that of the son,
but from that of the stranger.
21.
The Same, Digest, Book XXVI.
Where
one of three patrons fails to demand praetorian possession of the
estate, the other two will be entitled to equal shares of the same.
22.
Marcianus, Institutes, Book I.
If
a son under paternal control, who is a soldier, manumits his slave,
he makes him the freedman of his father, according to the opinion
of Julianus, which he adopts in the Twenty-seventh Book of the Digest;
but he says that as long as his son is living, he will have the preference
over his father with reference to the estate of the freedman. The
Divine Hadrian stated in a Rescript addressed to Flavius Aper, that,
in this instance, he made him his own freedman and not that of his
father.
23.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVII.
If
a freedman should pass over his patron in his will and appoint a foreign
heir, and his patron should give himself in adoption before demanding
praetorian possession in opposition to the terms of the will, and
the appointed heir should reject the estate, the patron can, then,
as heir at law, demand possession of the entire estate of the freedman.
(1)
If a freedman should die intestate, and his patron should have a son
and two grandsons by another son, the grandsons shall not be admitted
to the succession of the freedman, as long as there is a son, because
it is evident that the person who is in the nearest degree is the
one who is called to the succession of the freedman.
(2)
Moreover, if the freedman had two patrons, one of whom left a son
and the other left two, I stated that the estate should be equally
divided between them.
24.
The Same, Digest, Book LXV.
Where
two patrons had a freedman in common, and one of them required him
to swear that he would not marry, and the other to whom this fault
could not be imputed either died during the lifetime of the freedman,
or survived him, he alone can acquire the shares of the estate to
which both were legally entitled.
25.
The Same, On Urseius Ferox, Book I.
Whenever
praetorian possession of the share of the estate due to him can be
granted to a patron, an exception may be granted to the debtors against
the heir who demands payment, if the patron should not, in opposition
to the terms of the will, demand praetorian possession of the share
to which he is legally entitled.
26.
Africanus, Questions, Book II.
A freedman
devised land worth forty sesterces out of his estate which
was valued at eighty, and after having appointed a stranger his heir,
died on the day when the devise became due. I gave it as my opinion
that the patron could demand the share of the estate to which he was
entitled by law; for the deceased, at the time of his death, appeared
to have had an estate of more than a hundred sesterces, as
it could have been sold for more than that, including the amount of
the legacy. It would make no difference whether the appointed heir
rejected the legacy left by the freedman, or not; for if a question
should arise under the Falcidian Law, a bequest of this kind, even
though it were rejected, would be charged by the legatees to the quarter
of the estate due to the heir.
27.
The Same, Questions, Book IV.
If
a grandson should be disinherited by his grandfather, the patron,
during the lifetime of his son, the disinheritance will prejudice
him, so far as the estate of the freedman of his grandfather is concerned.
28.
Florentines, Institutes, Book X.
If
a freedman has incurred the penalty of death, the claim of his patron
to that share of his estate to which he is entitled will not be extinguished,
if he who had been sentenced to be executed should die a natural death;
but it has been decided that the remainder of the estate which, under
the Civil Law, would not belong to the person who emancipated him,
may be demanded by the Treasury.
(1)
The same rule should be observed with reference to the estates of
those who have killed themselves, or have taken to flight, through
fear of being accused, as has been established with respect to the
property of those who have been condemned to death.
29.
Marcianus, Institutes, Book IX.
Where
a slave is manumitted under the terms of a trust, he becomes the freedman
of the person who manumits him, and the latter can, as his patron,
claim his estate, and can obtain praetorian possession of it contrary
to the provisions of the will, as well as acquire it ab intestato;
but no services can be imposed upon him, nor, if they have been
imposed, can they be exacted.
(1)
If, however, a father, at his death, should bequeath a slave to his
son, and request the latter to manumit him, with the understanding
that he shall have the full right of patronage over him, it may be
maintained that he can afterwards legally impose services upon the
said slave.
30.
Gaius, On the Edict of the Praetor; Title, Concerning the Cause
of Freedom, Book II.
If
a son demands that a freedman of his father shall be reduced to slavery,
in order to preserve for himself a case of eviction against a third
party, he will not lose the benefit of praetorian possession of the
estate.
31.
Marcellus, Digest, Book IX.
Where
a freedman devised to his patron a tract of land which he himself
had purchased from him but which belonged to another, and the patron
asserted that the legacy belonged to him, he cannot obtain praetorian
possession of the estate contrary to the provisions of the will, even
though the devise was of no benefit to him; because the freedman bequeathed
to him property belonging to someone else, as well as for the reason
that the patron himself had sold the land to his freedman.
32.
The Same, Digest, Book X.
If
my freedman, after having been returned to slavery, is afterwards
liberated by another, he will become the freedman of the latter, and
the person who manumitted him will have preference over me in obtaining
praetorian possession of the estate of the freedman in opposition
to the terms of the will.
33.
Modestinus, On Manumissions.
If
a patron does not support the freedman, the Lex Aelia Sentia deprives
him of all the services to which he was entitled in consideration
of the grant of freedom; and this includes not only himself but also
those who may have any interest in the property, and it also deprives
him and his children of the estate, unless the patron was appointed
the heir, and it also deprives him of praetorian possession of the
estate, except where this is acquired in accordance with the provisions
of the will.
34.
Javolenus, On Cassius, Book III.
When
a freedman, who has two patrons, passes one of them over in his will,
and appoints a stranger heir to half of his estate, the patron who
is appointed heir can claim the share to which he is entitled without
deduction; and out of the other share which was left over and above
what was due to him, and out of the remaining half bequeathed to the
stranger, an amount shall be taken pro rata to make up the
share to which the other patron is entitled by law.
35.
The Same, Epistles, Book III.
Seius,
having appointed his freedman his heir, charged him with a legacy
to Maevius of the usufruct of a tract of land. The freedman died,
leaving Maevius his heir. I ask if the son of Seius should demand
praetorian possession of the estate of the freedman against Maevius,
whether the share of the land which was due to him, after deducting
the usufruct, shall be transferred to him; or whether all of it ought
to be transferred, because he had obtained possession of the property
which belonged to the freedman at the time of his death. The answer
was, I think that the usufruct should be restored to its original
condition; therefore it would be best to demand an arbiter, in order
that, by his decision, the usufruct may be transferred in its entirety.
36.
The Same, Epistles, Book VIII.
A freedman
who died insolvent, having passed oyer his patron, left his estate
to foreign heirs. I ask whether the patron can demand praetorian possession
contrary to the provisions of the will. The answer was that, as the
estate had been entered upon by the appointed heirs, the patron can
demand praetorian possession, because an estate is considered to be
solvent whenever an heir is found to accept it: And, indeed, it is
absurd that the right of the patron to demand praetorian possession
of an estate should be based on the estimate of others, and not on
the wishes of the patron himself; and that the little that the latter
can claim in a case of this kind should be taken from him. For many
reasons may arise for which it might be expedient for the patron to
demand praetorian possession, even if the amount of the indebtedness
which the freedman left behind him exceeds the assets of the estate;
for instance, if certain lands are included in the estate of the freedman
in which are situated the burial places of the ancestors of the patron,
and the latter takes advantage of his rights to obtain praetorian
possession, in order that the said burial places may be obtained by
him as his share, he considering this right to be of great importance
to him; or, for example, where a slave whom the patron values, not
from the price which he might bring but for the affection which he
entertains for him, forms part of the estate. Therefore, the patron
should be none the less entitled to claim possession of the estate,
who forms an estimate of the value of the property of the freedman,
rather by his own opinion, than by the computation of others; for
an estate should be considered to be solvent both because an heir
is found for it, and for the reason that praetorian possession of
the same is demanded.
37.
Ulpianus, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book XI.
Julianus
says that if a patron should sell to his freedman the obligations
which had been imposed upon him in consideration of liberating him
from slavery, his son can be barred from obtaining praetorian possession
of the estate of the freedman, for the reason that he does not obtain
possession of the said estate in opposition to the terms of the will,
as his father sold to him the gift, present, or services for which
he obtained his freedom. He says that it is evident if the son of
the patron should sell to him the services which were imposed upon
the latter in consideration of giving him his liberty, that the brother
of the patron can, nevertheless, obtain possession of the freedman's
estate contrary to the provisions of the will, because the son, by
selling to the latter the services which were the consideration of
his freedom, did not bar his uncle from asserting the claim.
(1)
If the freedman should appoint an heir, and the latter should enter
upon the estate before having put the slaves of the deceased to torture,
Julianus says that the patron will not be permitted to obtain possession
of the estate in opposition to the terms of the will, for he also
should avenge the death of the freedman. This rule, likewise, is applicable
to the patroness.
38.
Terentius Clemens, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book IX.
When
a son has been disinherited by his father, the question arises whether
the grandsons by said son are excluded from praetorian possession
of the estate of a freedman of their grandfather. This point must
be disposed of by deciding that as long as the son is living, and
his children remain under his control, they cannot be admitted to
praetorian possession of the freedman's estate to prevent those who
are excluded from obtaining possession in their own names, or from
acquiring it through the intervention of others. If, however, they
have been emancipated by their father, or have become their own masters
in any other way, they can obtain praetorian possession of the estate
of the freedman without encountering any obstacle.
(1)
If the son of the freedman rejects the estate of his father, it will
be to the advantage of the patron.
39.
The Same, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book X.
If
the daughter of the patron belongs to an adoptive family, she can
obtain praetorian possession of the estate of a freedman of her father.
40.
The Same, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book XII.
If
a father makes such a provision for his disinherited son that his
right over his freedman remains unimpaired, the disinheritance will
not prejudice his rights in this respect.
41.
Papinianus, Questions, Book XII.
Where
a freedman has satisfied the claim of his patron so far as the share
of his estate to which he is legally entitled is concerned, but at
the same time, being unwilling to concede it to him, attempts to deprive
him of certain property, the question arises, how should the matter
be decided? For what if, having appointed the patron his heir to the
share to which he is legally entitled, he should bequeath him ten
aurei, in addition, and charge him to manumit his own slave
who is worth ten aurei, or less? It would be unjust for the
patron to decide to accept the legacy, and not free his slave, but,
having accepted his legal share, he cannot be compelled to accept
the legacy and liberate the slave. This rule is adopted to prevent
him from being forced to manumit a slave who is unworthy of it. But
what course must be pursued, if, having appointed his patron his sole
heir, the freedman should make the same request of him? If the patron
has a substitute, a decision may be rendered in such a way that the
patron, having received the share to which he was entitled, the remainder
will pass to the substitute; so that if the slave can be purchased,
he may obtain his freedom. Where, however, no substitution has been
made, the Praetor, who has jurisdiction of the trust, may compel the
patron who accepts the estate of the freedman to grant freedom to
his slave.
42.
The Same, Questions, Book XIII.
A son,
who was his father's heir, arrogated his disinherited brother and
died, leaving the latter his heir. In this case the disinherited son
will not have the right to demand possession of the estate of the
freedman of his natural father. For although an adoption of this kind
does not affect the rights of a son who is not disinherited, it will
prejudice those of one that is; as the penalty imposed both by the
Civil Law and the Praetorian Edict is not rendered inoperative by
the act of adoption. Paulus says that anyone who obtains an estate
by a different title than the one which he lost is not prejudiced
by the latter, but is benefited by the one which he has acquired.
Hence it has been settled by the Edict, that a patron, who is at the
same time the son of a patroness, will not be excluded from, obtaining
praetorian possession of the estate of a freedman, where he has committed
some offence as patron.
(1)
Papinianus: A freedman appointed Titius heir to his castrensian property,
and another heir to his other property. Titius entered upon the estate.
The better opinion seemed to us to be that the patron could not yet
demand praetorian possession of the estate contrary to the provisions
of the will. However, the following question arose, namely, if the
person to whom the remainder of the estate had been left should refuse
to accept it, would it accrue to Titius, just as if they had accepted
two different shares of the same estate? It seems to me more equitable
that the remainder of the estate should be considered to be without
legal heirs. Therefore, Titius could not require the patron to contribute,
as the former had lost nothing, nor had anything been taken from the
remaining assets which had not yet been disposed of by the will.
(2)
Where the minor son of a freedman, who is under the age of puberty
and is alleged to be supposititious, obtains praetorian possession
of the estate of his father, under the First Section of the Edict,
the question arises whether the patron also can obtain praetorian
possession. There is no doubt that those who are in the second degree
cannot, under the Edict, be admitted to the succession, so long as
there are others entitled to it under the First Section; for, as long
as another possession has precedence, those that follow cannot be
permitted to take place. There is no doubt that if a decision should
be rendered against the child who is alleged to be supposititious,
it is understood that possession will not be granted him; and the
same rule will apply with reference to the patron, while the controversy
is pending. It is clear that examination of the controversy should
be deferred until the age of puberty, so far as the patron also is
concerned.
(3)
Where the will of a freedman is alleged to be forged by persons living
in a province, and an appeal has been taken from the judgment, and,
in the meantime, the daughter of the patron, whom the freedman appointed
his heir, dies, the Divine Marcus decided that the share of the estate
to which the daughter of the patron would have been entitled if she
had lived should be preserved for her son.
43.
The Same, Questions, Book XIV.
Where
a patron, having been appointed a substitute for Titius (who himself
had been appointed heir to half of the estate), while the latter was
deliberating whether he would accept, or not, obtained praetorian
possession of the estate of a freedman contrary to the testamentary
provisions, and Titius should afterwards accept the estate, Julianus
thinks that he has not been deprived of anything, any more than if
he had been appointed under a condition. Therefore, as long as Titius
deliberates, it will be uncertain whether half the estate will come
into possession of the patron under the substitution, or, whether,
if Titius should accept, the heirs will be compelled to contribute
from their shares the amount legally due to the patron.
44.
Paulus, Questions, Book V.
If
you appoint a patron heir to the share to which he is entitled by
law, and charge him to transfer absolutely a tract of land to someone,
and bequeath him a legacy of the same value as said land, under a
condition, the trust becomes conditional. There is something here,
however, which may cause annoyance, for the patron will be burdened
with the execution of the trust. It must be said in this instance
that security should be given by the trustee who is charged with the
legacy to the patron, so that the latter may not, under any circumstances,
suffer a diminution of his rights.
(1)
A patron having been appointed an heir, and a slave having been bequeathed
to him in order to make up the share to which he was entitled by law,
cannot demand praetorian possession contrary to the terms of the will,
even though the slave should die before the will is opened.
(2)
If a freedman, either by appointing him his heir, or by a legacy,
leaves his patron the share of his estate to which he is legally entitled
at the time of his death, and, after the decease of the freedman,
another slave having returned from captivity increases the value of
the estate; the patron cannot, on this account, complain that he had
a smaller interest in the slave than he would have had if he had been
appointed heir to the share in him to which he was entitled by law.
The same rule applies with reference to alluvium, provided the patron
is satisfied out of the estate which the freedman left at the time
of his death. This is also the case when a portion of a legacy or
of an estate is left to a freedman at the same time with others, and
the latter refuse to accept, and their share accrues to the estate
of the freedman.
45.
The Same, Questions, Book IX.
Where
a patron is appointed heir to the sixth of the estate of his freedman,
and the slave of the latter is appointed heir to the remainder, the
trust with which heirs are charged in favor of the patron will not
apply to the share of the slave. If, however, the slave should be
appointed sole heir, I do not think that the share due to the patron
should contribute to the legacies bequeathed under the trust.
46.
The Same, Opinions, Book III.
Paulus
gave it as his opinion that a patron who was deceived, and who accepted
the forged will of his freedman as genuine, is not prevented from
obtaining praetorian possession of his estate in opposition to the
terms of the will.
47.
The Same, Opinions, Book XI.
Paulus
also held that the disinheritance of a grandson, which was not made
by way of reproach, but for some other reason, did not injure him
to the extent of preventing him from demanding praetorian possession
of the estate of the freedman of his grandfather in opposition to
the terms of the will.
(1)
I ask if Titia, the daughter of a patron, should allege that her father
Titius had written a letter to her before his death, in which he said
that he had been badly treated by his freedman, and if relying upon
this letter, she accused the freedman after the death of her father,
whether this excuse would be of any advantage to her. Paulus answered
that she who accused the freedman in accordance with the wishes of
the father should not be excluded from praetorian possession of his
estate contrary to the provisions of the will, since she relied, not
only on her own judgment, but also on that of another.
(2)
The son of a patron sent the following letter to his freedman: "Sempronius
to his freedman Zoilus, Greeting. I grant you full power to make a
will because you deserve it on account of the fidelity which you have
always displayed towards me." I ask whether the freedman should
not leave something to the son of his patron. Paulus answered that
the freedman in question does not appear to have obtained the full
right to make a will by the above-mentioned letter.
(3)
Paulus gave it as his opinion that a grandson had a right to demand
praetorian possession of the estate of a freedman of his grandfather,
contrary to the provisions of the will, even if he had been conceived
after the death of his grandfather, who survived the freedman; and
that he could be admitted to the succession as the heir at law. For
the opinion of Julianus only has reference to a succession on the
ground of intestacy, and the demand for praetorian possession of the
estate of the grandfather.
(4)
Paulus also gave it as his opinion that although sons who have been
passed over by the will of a father who was serving in the army are
considered as disinherited, still, the silence of their father should
not prejudice their rights in such a way that they can be excluded
from the estates of the freedman of their grandfather. The same opinion
was given with reference to the estates of the freedmen of the father.
48.
Scaevola, Opinions, Book II.
I
ask what should be decided in the case of one who accused his
freedman of the crime of burglary. The answer was that if the offence
of which he was accused was such that, if it were proved, the freedman
would be sentenced to the mines, the patron should be denied praetorian
possession of the estate.
49.
Paulus, Opinions, Book III.
Where
a freedman is fraudulently arrogated, his patron does not lose his
right to his estate.
50.
Tryphoninus, Disputations, Book XVII.
It
makes no difference whether the patron, having been appointed heir,
accepts a smaller share of the estate of his freedman than the one
he is entitled to by law, or whether he orders his own slave, who
was appointed heir, to enter upon the estate, and he retains the same,
as he will, in either instance, be excluded from praetorian possession
of the estate of his freedman in opposition to the terms of the will.
(1)
If, however, he should sell the slave before ordering him to enter
upon the estate of the freedman, or manumit him, so that the new freedman
himself or the purchaser will become the heir, the patron is not prohibited
by the terms of the Edict from accepting praetorian possession of
the estate of the freedman contrary to the provisions of the will.
(2)
But ought the Praetor to refuse him the action to obtain possession,
because he attempted to evade the Edict for the purpose of acquiring
praetorian possession contrary to the provisions of the will either
by receiving a larger price from the purchaser, or by making a tacit
agreement with the slave to gain an undue advantage from his appointment
as heir to the estate? The suspicion is still greater where the patron
himself acquires the estate of the freedman through the acceptance
of his son, who was appointed heir, even though he was emancipated,
as everything which we have we wish to go to our children.
(3)
If, however, while the will remains unopened, and the patron is still
ignorant of the intentions of his freedman, he commits any of the
above-mentioned acts, having reference to the heir who was appointed
while under his control, and there is no suspicion of fraud, he can
avail himself of his right to obtain praetorian possession of the
estate in opposition to the terms of the will.
(4)
Where a patron, who is appointed by his freedman heir to the share
of his estate to which he is legally entitled, and is charged to transfer
the estate to another, alleges that he considers it to be insolvent,
and, having been compelled to accept it, although he could retain
the share to which he was entitled, transfers the same, he cannot
obtain praetorian possession contrary to the testamentary provisions,
both because he accepted the will of the freedman, and despised, and,
as it were, rejected his right to the possession of his legal share
of the estate.
(5)
The case of the son of a patron, whom a freedman has arrogated and
appointed heir to a smaller share of his estate than that to which
he was entitled, is very different from this, where there is no one
else belonging to the family of the patron. For, although he is, by
operation of law, the proper heir of the freedman, if he did not interfere
with the estate of the latter as belonging to his father, but abstained
from doing so in order to retain his right as patron, the son will,
nevertheless, be permitted to obtain praetorian possession of the
estate contrary to the testamentary provisions.
(6)
If a freedman should leave to his patron, who owed him a certain sum
of money, a release from liability, and he should avail himself of
an exception on the ground of bad faith against an heir demanding
payment of the debt, or he is released on account of the legacy, it
must be said that he cannot obtain praetorian possession of the estate
in opposition to the provisions of the will.
51.
Labeo, Epitomes of Probabilities, By Paulus.
If
you have accused the freedman of your father of a capital crime, and
your father has manumitted him, praetorian possession of the estate
of the freedman cannot be granted to you under the Edict of the Praetor.
Paulus: The contrary rule will apply if you should bring such an accusation
against a slave who afterwards becomes the property of your father,
and the latter subsequently manumits him.
Tit. 3.
Concerning the freedmen of municipalities.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIX.
Full
rights over the estate of their freedmen and freedwomen is granted
to municipalities, that is to say, they have the same rights over
them as other patrons have.
(1)
Is there, however, any doubt whether they can demand praetorian possession
of the estates of their freedman? There is some difficulty on this
point, because they cannot give their consent, still, they can obtain
praetorian possession through the agency of another. But, as the Senate
decided that estates should be transferred to them under the Trebellian
Decree, so, by virtue of another decree, when a municipality has been
appointed heir by a freedman, it is permitted to acquire his estate;
hence it must be said that it can obtain praetorian possession of
the estates of its freedmen.
(2)
The time fixed for claiming praetorian possession of the estate of
a freedman begins to run against a municipality from the date when
it passes an ordinance authorizing the demand. This was also the opinion
of Papinianus.
Tit. 4.
Concerning the assignment of freedmen.
1.
Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XIV.
By
a decree of the Senate enacted in the time of the Emperor Claudius,
during the Consulate of Velleius Rufus and Osterius Scapula, with
reference to the assignment of freedmen, it was provided as follows:
"Where anyone has two or more children born in lawful marriage,
and has indicated to one of them that he wishes to assign to him or
her a certain freedman or freedwoman, whom he designates, the said
male or female child, after the death of the person who manumitted
the said slave during his lifetime, or by his will, shall become the
sole patron or patroness of the said freedman or freedwoman, just
as if he or she had been liberated directly by said child. And if
either of said children should die without issue, all the rights of
the person who manumitted the slave shall pass to the other children,
just as if he who manumitted him or her had made no special provision
with reference to them."
(1)
Although the Decree of the Senate is expressed in language indicating
the singular number, it is, nevertheless, certain that several freedmen
can be assigned to several children as well as to one.
(2)
A freedman who is in the hands of the enemy can also be assigned.
(3)
Moreover, a patron can assign his freedman by any words whatsoever,
or by a gesture, or by his will or codicil, or during his lifetime.
(4)
He can also annul the assignment by the mere expression of his will.
(5)
If, however, anyone should assign the freedman to his son, whom he
had disinherited, the assignment will be valid, nor will the reproach
of disinheritance prejudice the son, so far as the right of patronage
is concerned.
(6)
If the son should be disinherited after the assignment, the act of
disinheritance does not always annul it, unless it was done with this
intention.
(7)
Where the child to whom the assignment was made declines to accept
it, I think that the better opinion is the one stated by Marcellus,
that is, that his brother shall be admitted to the right of patronage.
(8)
Where one patron left one son, and another two, and the freedman is
assigned to one of the two last, it should be considered into how
many shares the estate of the freedman must be divided, whether into
three, of which the one to whom the assignment is made will be entitled
to two shares, that is to say, his own and that of his brother, or
whether there ought to be two equal shares, as the other brother is
excluded by the assignment. Julianus, in the Seventy-fifth Book, says
that the better opinion is that the one who excludes his brother should
have two-thirds of the estate. This opinion is correct so long as
his brother is living, or can become the heir at law of the freedman;
but if he should forfeit his civil rights the estate must be divided
into two parts.
2.
Pomponius, Decrees of the Senate, Book IV.
If,
however, the child to whom I have made the assignment should die,
leaving a son, and his brother, and there should also be a son of
another patron, the grandson will be entitled to half of the estate,
which my son, who is living, would have if I had not assigned the
said freedman.
3.
Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XV.
The
same rule will apply where a person who had a son and a grandson assigns
the freedman to the grandson, for the latter will be admitted to the
succession of the freedman, even if there is a son of another patron.
This will occur during the lifetime of his uncle. But if his uncle
should no longer be living, the assignment made to the grandson will
be of no advantage to him, by diminishing the right of the son of
the other patron.
(1)
Moreover, it is certain that a freedman can be assigned to a grandson
by his grandfather, and it is established that, in this instance,
the grandson will take precedence over the son.
(2)
Wherefore, it may be asked if the patron should have a son and a grandson,
whether he can cause the Decree of the Senate to apply just as if
he had both of them under his control. In this case, as it is settled
that the assignment can be made to him who will again come under the
control of his father, why should we not admit that they are both
subject to the authority of the patron?
(3)
Again, can a question arise as to whether the grandson, who is under
the control of the father, can be admitted as heir at law of the freedman?
And as there are many cases under which a child who is under paternal
control can have a freedman, why should it not be conceded in this
instance that a father can obtain the benefit of the lawful inheritance
of the estate of the freedman through his son? This opinion is very
properly adopted by Pomponius. Sons under paternal control also have
freedmen; as, for example, where someone manumits a slave who forms
part of his peculium castrense.
(4)
I also think that the emancipated sons of a person to whom a freedman
has been assigned are entitled to the benefit of the Decree of the
Senate; not that they may be admitted as the heirs at law of the freedman,
but that they may acquire what property they can.
(5)
According to this, where a freedman dies after having been appointed
heir, since emancipated sons cannot be admitted to the succession
as heirs at law, let us see whether the son of the assignor, who remains
under his control, can be admitted or not. I think that the emancipated
children should be preferred by the Praetor under such circumstances.
(6)
By the children of the person to whom the assignment is made we must
understand not only his sons, but also his grandsons, and his granddaughters,
and his other descendants.
(7)
Where anyone assigns a freedman to two children, and one of them dies
without issue, and the other does not:
4.
Pomponius, Decrees of the Senate, Book IV.
Or
the one who survives declines to accept the estate of the freedman:
5.
Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XIV.
Shall
the share of him who has lost his civil rights, or rejected the estate,
revert to the family, or will it rather accrue to him in whose person
the assignment continues to exist? Julianus, in the Seventy-fifth
Book, says that the assignment will only become operative with respect
to the person of the latter, and that he alone should be admitted
to the succession; which is correct.
(1)
But what if one of the children should die, leaving issue, can the
latter be admitted to the succession, if the other child is living?
Julianus thinks that he alone should be admitted, but after his death
the children of the other will succeed to the estate; and that the
right over the freedman will not revert to the family.
(2)
But if one of these two children leaves sons, and the other grandsons;
shall they be admitted together to the succession of the freedman
as heirs at law? I think that the regular order of descent should
be preserved between them.
6.
Marcianus, Institutes, Book VII.
If
a slave should be ordered to be free, and afterwards is bequeathed
to the son of the testator, and the latter afterwards manumits him,
the freedman will belong to the son, just as if he had been assigned
to him. This will be the case whether it is either expressly stated,
or clearly understood that the slave was not bequeathed as a slave,
but assigned as a freedman.
7.
Scaevola, Rules, Book II.
We
can make an assignment absolutely and conditionally, by a letter,
in the presence of witnesses, or by means of a written instrument,
because the assignment of a freedman is not acquired either as a legacy
or under the terms of a trust, nor can it be charged with the execution
of a trust.
8.
Modestinus, Differences, Book VII.
Although
the children of a patron are, in many instances, considered to enjoy
the same rights as the person who manumitted the slave, still, they
cannot assign a freedman of their father to their own children, even
if he has been assigned to them by their parents. This opinion is
adopted by both Julianus and Marcellus.
9.
The Same, Pandects, Book IX.
Some
doubt exists on the point as to whether a patron can only assign a
freedman to his son, who is under his control, or to his emancipated
son, provided he has at least two others under his control. The better
opinion is that he can do so.
10.
Terentius Clemens, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book XII.
Where
a freedman is assigned under a condition, or after a certain period,
everything will remain unchanged while the condition is pending, or
the day has not arrived, just as if the freedman had not been assigned.
Therefore, if, in the meantime, he should die, his estate, both under
the Civil Law and the Praetorian Edict, will belong to all the children.
(1)
Where a freedman has been assigned to one child absolutely, and to
another conditionally, the one to whom he was assigned absolutely
must be said to alone have the right of a patron over him, while the
condition is pending.
11.
Papinianus, Opinions, Book XIV.
I gave
it as my opinion that where freedmen have been allotted to children
for the purpose of providing them with support, they are not to be
considered as assigned to them, as the patron intended to benefit
his freedmen in order that they can, the more readily, enjoy the advantages
of his will, without violating the requirements of the Common Law.
12.
Pomponius, Epistles, Book II.
Where
one of two patrons assigns the freedman to his son, there is no reason
why the other should not retain his rights over him unimpaired.
13.
The Same, Decrees of the Senate, Book IV.
Anyone
can, by his will, manumit a slave, and assign him to one of his children
as his freedman.
(1)
The Senate refers to children who are under the control of their father.
Must it therefore be understood that no provision is made for posthumous
children by this decree? I think that the better opinion is that posthumous
children are also included.
(2)
Where the Decree of the Senate says, "If anyone should lose his
civil rights," it refers to a person who has lost them forever,
and not to one who has been captured by the enemy, and may return.
(3)
An assignment can also be made to begin at a certain date, but it
can hardly be made for a certain term, as the Senate itself fixed
the limit of the transaction.
Tit. 5.
Where anything is done to defraud the patron.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIV.
Where
a fraudulent act is said to have been committed by a freedman in order
to prevent a part of his estate from coming into the hands of those
who have the right to obtain possession contrary to the testamentary
provisions, the Praetor takes cognizance of the case, and sees whether
he made a will or died intestate, and that the patron is not defrauded.
(1)
Where an alienation is fraudulently made, we do not inquire whether
it was made mortis causa, or not, for it is revoked, no matter
how it was done. If, however, it was not made with fraudulent intent,
but for some other reason, the plaintiff must then prove that the
alienation was made mortis causa. For if you suppose an alienation
to have been made mortis causa, we do not inquire whether or
not this was done with fraudulent intent; for it is sufficient to
show that it was made mortis causa. This rule is not unreasonable,
for donations mortis causa are compared to legacies, and, as
in the case of legacies, we do not ask whether they were made with
fraudulent intent or not, so we should not institute such an inquiry
with reference to donations mortis causa.
(2)
Again, whatever has been given to a son mortis causa is not
revoked, for, as anyone is at liberty to bequeath to his son as much
as he chooses, he is not considered to have defrauded his patron by
making the donation.
(3)
Everything, however, no matter what it is, that is done in order to
defraud a patron, is revoked.
(4)
We must understand the term "fraud" to apply to the person
who alienates the property, and not to him to whom it is transferred;
hence, it happens that where the recipient is not conscious of the
fraud or bad faith which has been committed, he must still be deprived
of the property which has been alienated, for the purpose of defrauding
the patron, even if he thought the freedman was freeborn, and not
one who had been manumitted.
(5)
The Favian Action will not lie against a fellow-patron who was refused
praetorian possession of the estate in opposition to the terms of
the will, on account of the donation, where the latter is not more
valuable than the share to which the patron was legally entitled.
Therefore, if the donation was made mortis causa, his fellow-patron
will be entitled to his share of the same, just as if one of the patrons
had been a legatee.
(6)
Moreover, let us consider whether the Favian Action only has reference
to the revocation of such alienations as those by which the freedman
diminishes his estate, or does it also have reference to other property
which he did not obtain? Julianus, in the Twenty-sixth Book of the
Digest, says that the Favian Action will not apply where a freedman,
with the intention of defrauding his patron, does not accept an estate,
or rejects a legacy which has been bequeathed to him. This appears
to me to be true. For, although a legacy is said to belong to us from
the time of the death of the testator, unless it should be rer jected,
still, when it is rejected, it is clear that it never did belong to
us; and the same rule should be adopted with reference to other acts
of generosity, where anyone wishes to make a donation to a freedman,
and he declines to accept it; as it is sufficient for the patron if
his freedman did not alienate any property to his prejudice, and not
if he did not acquire the same. Hence, if the legacy was bequeathed
to him under a condition, and the freedman should prevent the condition
from being fulfilled; or if he should make a stipulation under a condition,
and preferred to permit the condition to fail, it must be said that
the Favian Law does not apply.
(7)
But what if the freedman should voluntarily lose a lawsuit? If he
lost it intentionally, or confessed judgment, it must be said that
the Favian Law will be applicable; but if he refused to present his
claim in such a way as to collect it, in this instance, the matter
deserves consideration. I think that, under such circumstances, the
freedman has diminished his estate, for he has taken away a right
of action from his property, just as if he had permitted the time
for bringing the action to elapse.
(8)
The patron, however, cannot make use of the Favian Action, where,
for instance, the freedman refuses to bring suit to declare the will
inofficious, or to bring another action, for example, one for injury,
or to institute any legal proceeding of this kind.
(9)
But if the freedman has committed some act in order to defraud his
patron, the latter can avail himself of the Favian Action.
(10)
If, however, the freedman endowed his daughter, he is not considered
to have defrauded his patron of the amount which he gave to her by
way of dowry, because paternal affection should not be blamed.
(11)
If a freedman should make donations to several persons for the purpose
of defrauding his patron, either during his lifetime, or mortis
causa, the patron can bring either the Favian or Calvisian Action
against all the parties equally, to recover the share to which he
is entitled.
(12)
If anyone should either sell, hire, or exchange property, for the
purpose of defrauding his patrons, let us see what the decision of
the judge should be. Where the property has been sold, the choice
should be given to the buyer either to retain the article which has
been purchased, at its proper value, or to surrender it, after having
received the price which he paid. We should not absolutely rescind
the sale, as if the freedman had no right whatever to sell the property,
to avoid causing the purchaser to lose the price which he paid, especially
where no fraud is alleged on his part, but only where the fraud of
the freedman is to be taken into consideration.
(13)
If, however, a freedman should purchase property for the purpose of
defrauding a patron, it must also be said that if he purchased it
at too high a price, relief should be granted the patron on this account,
and he should not be given the choice of annuling the sale, or not;
but the vendor should be permitted either to surrender as much of
the price as exceeded the true value of the property, or to recover
what he sold, and return the price which he received. We observe the
same rule in the exchange, the hiring, and the leasing of property.
(14)
If, however, the freedman sold the property in good faith, and without
showing any partiality, but donated the price which he received to
another, it must be considered whether he who purchased the property,
or he who received the price as a gift, will be liable to the Favian
Action. Pomponius, in the Eighty-third Book of the Digest, very properly
says that the purchaser should not be molested, for the fraud was
committed against the patron with reference to the price, and therefore
that he who received the price as a gift would be liable under the
Favian Law.
(15)
Let us, however, see if the patron should allege that, although the
property was sold at a just price, it was to his interest, nevertheless,
that it should not have been sold at all; and that the fraud consists
in the fact that possession was alienated of something to which the
patron was attached, either on account of its convenience, or its
neighborhood, or the purity of the air, or because he was educated
there, or his parents were buried therein, if he desires to have the
sale revoked, whether he should be heard. He should not be heard in
any case of this kind, for the fraud is understood to involve pecuniary
loss.
(16)
But if the property was sold for too low a price, and the purchase
money should be donated to another, the Favian Action can be brought
against both parties, that is to say, against the one who bought the
property for less than its true value, and the one who received! the
Jprice as a gift. If he who purchased it is willing to surrender it,
he will not be compelled to do so, unless he receives the price which
he paid. Then what must be done if the purchaser, having been delegated,
should pay him to whom the freedman made the gift, would he still
be entitled to recover the price? The better opinion is that he would
be entitled to recover it, even though it may have come into the hands
of a person who is insolvent. For if the freedman squandered the purchase
money which he received, we should, nevertheless, hold that he who
paid it can recover it, if he is willing to rescind the sale.
(17)
Let us see whether the Favian Action will lie, in case a freedman
should borrow a sum of money for the purpose of defrauding his patron,
and what the remedy would be in this instance. If the freedman gave
away the money which he received, the patron can sue the person to
whom the freedman gave it, but if he received it and squandered it,
he who lent it should not lose it, nor can he be blamed for having
lent it.
(18)
It is evident that there will be ground for the Favian Action, if
the freedman did not receive the money, but entered into a stipulation
with the person who was to lend it to him.
(19)
Let us see whether the Favian Action will lie where a freedman becomes
surety for me, or pledges his property to another in order to defraud
his patron, and whether relief should not be granted to the patron
at my expense. For the freedman did not give anything to me, if he
became security for someone who was not solvent; and this is our practice.
Therefore, the creditor cannot be sued by the Favian Action, but the
debtor can be, as well as by the action on mandate. It is clear that
if the action on mandate should fail for the reason that a donation
had been made, there will be ground for the Favian Action.
(20)
The same rule should be adopted where the freedman directs something
to be done for the benefit of another.
(21)
Although the Favian Action will only lie with reference to the share
of the patron, still, where property cannot be divided, it will lie
for the entire amount; as for instance, in the case of a servitude.
(22)
If a freedman should give anything to my slave, or a son under my
control, for the purpose of defrauding his patron, let us see whether
the Favian Action can be brought against me. And it seems to me that
it will be sufficient if the action is brought against me as a master
or a father, and that when the judge renders his decision, not only
that has been done for the benefit of my property, but also anything
relating to the peculium should be taken into consideration.
(23)
If, however, an agreement has been made with a son, by order of his
father, the latter will certainly be liable.
(24)
If a freedman should contract with a slave for the purpose of defrauding
his patron, and the slave should be manumitted, the question arises
whether he will be liable to the Favian Action. As we have already
stated, it is only the fraud of the freedman which should be considered,
and not that of him with whom he made the agreement; hence the said
manumitted slave will not be liable to the Favian Action.;
(25)
It may also be asked if the manumitted slave should die, or be alienated,
must the action be brought within a year? Pomponius says that it must
be.
(26)
This action is a personal and not a real one, and will lie against
the heir and other successors, as well as in favor of the heir and
other successors of the patron; and it does not form part of the estate,
that is to say, of the property of the freedman; but belongs to the
patron personally.
(27)
If a freedman should give anything away for the purpose of defrauding
his patron, and then the latter should die during the lifetime of
the freedman, and the son of the patron should obtain praetorian possession
of the estate of the freedman contrary to the provisions of the will,
can the Favian Action be employed for the purpose of recovering the
property which has been alienated ? It is true, as Pomponius says
in the Eighty-third Book, and Papinianus also, in the Fourteenth Book
of Questions, that the Favian Action will lie in favor of the son,
as it is sufficient if the act was committed for the purpose of evading
the right of patronage; for we understand this to be done rather as
a fraud against the property than against the person.
(28)
The profits obtained after issue has been joined are also included
in this action.
2.
Marcianus, Rules, Book III.
It
is very properly held that even the profits which have already been
obtained are included in the Favian and Calvisian Actions, since it
is the intention of the Praetor to annul every fraudulent act of a
freedman.
3.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIV.
If
a patron who has been appointed heir to the share of an estate to
which he is entitled by law should accept the estate without being
aware that the freedman had alienated any property with the intention
of defrauding him, let us see whether he can be relieved on account
of his ignorance, in order to prevent him from being deceived by the
fraudulent conduct of his freedman. Papinianus, in the Fourteenth
Book of Questions, gives it as his opinion that the property which
was alienated remains in the same condition as before; and therefore
the patron should blame himself for not having obtained praetorian
possession contrary to the provisions of the will with reference to
what was either alienated or donated mortis causa, when he
could have done so.
(1)
This action is granted perpetually, because its object is the recovery
of property.
(2)
The Praetor permits a patron who has been appointed heir to an entire
estate to avail himself of the Favian Action, because it would be
unjust for him to be excluded from the benefit of the action, when
he did not voluntarily enter upon the estate, and did so only because
he was unable to demand praetorian possession contrary to the provisions
of the will.
(3)
If a freedman should die intestate, the patron, by entering upon the
estate can, by means of the Calvisian Action, revoke all alienations
fraudulently made, by which, in accordance with the terms of the will,
a smaller share of the estate of the freedman will come into the hands
of the patron or his children. This occurs whether praetorian possession
of the estate is demanded by the patron on the ground of intestacy,
or not.
(4)
Where there are several patronesses and patrons, each of them can
recover the share to which he or she is legally entitled, or they
can bring the Calvisian Action for this purpose.
(5)
When a freedman dies intestate, after leaving to his patron the share
to which the latter is legally entitled, or something more, and also
alienates some of his property, Papinianus, in the Fourteenth Book
of Questions, states that none of his dispositions should be revoked.
For he can leave something to anyone by his will, provided he bequeaths
to the patron the share to which the latter is entitled, and by making
any other donation he is not considered to have committed a fraud.
4.
The Same, On the Edict, Book XLIII.
Everything
which was fraudulently alienated by a freedman is revoked by the Favian
Action.
(1)
Where there are several patrons, each will have an equal share, but
if some of them do not claim their shares, they will accrue to the
others. What I have stated with reference to patrons also applies
to the children of a patron; but they have no right to share at the
same time, but only where the patrons are not in existence.
5.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XLII.
He
also is liable to the Favian Action who himself receives a donation,
rather than one who orders what is to be given to himself to be presented
to another.
(1)
In the Favian Action, if the property is not returned, judgment shall
be rendered against the defendant for the amount which the plaintiff
swears in court that it was worth.
6.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVI.
Where
a freedman, with the intention of defrauding his patron, and in violation
of the Decree of the Senate, lends money to a son under paternal control,
the Favian Action will not be granted him; because, in this instance,
the freedman should be understood to have rather donated the property
for the purpose of defrauding his patron than to have left the money
in violation of the Decree of the Senate.
7.
Scaevola, Questions, Book V.
Therefore,
if the Decree of the Senate does not apply, neither will the Favian
Action, as the property can be recovered by another proceeding.
8.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVI.
When,
however, the freedman lends money to a son under paternal control,
who is under twenty-five years of age, after proper cause has been
shown relief should be granted to the patron.
9.
The Same, Digest, Book LXIV.
A
freedman can, during his lifetime, legally make donations to his
friends who are entitled to them, but he cannot bequeath legacies
to such friends, when, by so doing, he diminishes the share of his
estate to which his patron is entitled.
10.
Africanus, Questions, Book I.
If
the property which was fraudulently alienated by the freedman is no
longer in existence, the patron cannot bring the action, just as if
the freedman had thrown away the money in order to perpetrate a fraud;
nor, even if he who obtained a donation mortis causa from the
freedman should have sold the property, and a bona fide purchaser
has acquired it by usucaption.
11.
Paulus, On the Lex Aelia Sentia, Book III.
A patron
is not considered to be defrauded by an act to which he consents.
Hence, where his freedman makes a donation with the consent of his
patron, it cannot be recovered by the Favian Action.
12.
Javolenus, Epistles, Book III.
A freedman
who desired to transfer a tract of land to Seius for the purpose of
defrauding his patron took the following course. Seius directed Titius
to receive the land in such a way that an obligation of mandate was
contracted between Seius and Titius. I ask whether after the death
of the freedman, the patron will only be entitled to an action against
Seius, who gave the mandate, or against Titius who holds the property,
or whether he can proceed against either of them whom he may select.
The answer was that the action will be granted against the person
who obtained the donation, provided the property came into his hands,
since the entire transaction which was carried on with his consent
should be embraced in the decision rendered against him. It cannot
be held that he should be forced to deliver property of which another
has possession, as he can recover it by an action on mandate, so that
he can either himself restore it to the patron, or he can compel him
with whom he contracted the mandate to do so. But what shall we say
if the party who intervened was in no way guilty of fraud ? We entertain
no doubt that an action cannot be brought against him. For he must
not be considered guilty of fraud who did a favor for his friend,
by which he made an acquisition for another than himself, through
the fraudulent act of the freedman.
13.
Paulus, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book X.
It
is provided by a Constitution of the Divine Pius, which has reference
to the adoption of minors under the age of puberty, that, out of the
property which the adoptive father possessed at the time of his death,
a fourth shall belong to the child who was adopted. The Emperor also
ordered any property which he had obtained from his adoptive father
to be given him, and if he should be emancipated after proper cause
was shown, he will lose his fourth. Therefore, where property has
been alienated for the purpose of defrauding the child, it can be
recovered by an action resembling the Calvisian or Favian Action.
Tit. 6.
Where no will is in existence by which children may be benefited.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIV.
The
Praetor, after speaking of the possession of the property of those
who execute wills, passes to intestate estates, following the same
order adopted by the Law of the Twelve Tables; for it is usual to
first treat of the wills of testators, and afterwards of intestate
succession.
(1)
The Praetor, however, divided intestate succession into four classes.
Of the various degrees, the first he establishes is that of children,
the second that of heirs at law, the third of cognates, and the fourth
of husband and wife.
(2)
Praetorian possession of an estate ab intestato can only be
acquired where no one appears to demand possession in accordance with
the provisions of the will, or in opposition thereto.
(3)
It is clear that if the prescribed time for demanding praetorian possession
of an estate in accordance with the terms of the will has not expired,
but possession of the estate has been rejected, it must be said that
praetorian possession of the same ab intestato may be demanded
at once. For he who rejected the estate cannot demand praetorian possession
after having done so, and the result will be that he can immediately
make the claim for possession on the ground of intestacy.
(4)
If, however, possession of an estate is granted under the Carbonian
Edict, the better opinion is for us to hold that praetorian possession
on the ground of intestacy can still be demanded, for, as we shall
show in its proper place, praetorian possession under the Carbonian
Edict does not interfere with that obtained by the Praetorian Edict.
(5)
In the case of succession ab intestato, the Praetor very properly
begins with the descendants; for, just as he grants them (before all
others), possession contrary to the provisions of the will, so he
calls them first to the succession in case of intestacy.
(6)
Moreover, we must understand the term "descendants" to mean
those whom we have stated to be entitled to praetorian possession
contrary to the provisions of the will; that is to say, natural, as
well as adopted children. We admit adopted children, however, only
where they were under paternal control, at the time of their father's
death. If, however, they were their own masters at that time, we do
not permit them to obtain praetorian possession of the estate, because
the rights of adoption are extinguished by emancipation.
(7)
If anyone adopts his emancipated son, instead of his grandson, and
then again emancipates him while he has a grandson by him, the question
was raised by Marcellus whether, after the adoption was rescinded,
this would be an obstacle to the grandson desiring to obtain praetorian
possession on the ground of intestacy. But as the grandson is ordinarily
joined with the emancipated father, cannot it be said that, though
the latter was adopted and occupied the place of a son, still, he
should not stand in the way of his own child? For the reason that
he was under paternal control as an adopted, and not as a natural
son.
(8)
If an appointed heir cannot take advantage of the will, either because
it has been erased or cancelled, or because the testator is shown
to have changed his mind in some other way, and that he intended to
die intestate, it must be said that those who obtain praetorian possession
of the estate will be entitled to it on the ground of intestacy.
(9)
Where an emancipated son is disinherited, and a son who was under
paternal control is passed over in the will, the Praetor should protect
the emancipated son who claims possession of the estate on the ground
of intestacy under the provision unde liberi, so far as half
of the estate is concerned, just as if the father had left no will.
2.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVII.
Where
an emancipated son, who was passed over, does not demand praetorian
possession of the estate contrary to the provisions of the will, and
the appointed heirs enter upon the estate, he will lose his father's
estate by his own fault, for although praetorian possession in accordance
with the provisions of the will may not have been demanded, the Praetor
still will not protect him so as to enable him to obtain praetorian
possession as a descendant. The Praetor is not accustomed to protect
a patron who has been passed over in the will against the appointed
heirs, if he does not demand praetorian possession of the estate contrary
to the provisions of the will, under that Section of the Edict which
refers to heirs at law.
3.
Ulpiamis, On Sabinus, Book VIII.
Praetorian
possession of an estate can be demanded on the ground of intestacy,
when it is certain that the will has not been signed by at least seven
witnesses.
4.
Paulus, On Sabinus, Book II.
Children,
even those who have lost their civil rights, are called to the possession
of an estate under the Edict of the Praetor, unless they have been
adopted, for the latter lose the name of children after emancipation.
If, however, they are natural children, and have been emancipated
and adopted, and emancipated a second time, they retain their original
character of natural children.
5.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book IV.
Where
one of those children to whom the Praetor promises the possession
of an estate is not under the control of the parent whose property
was in dispute at the time of his death, the possession of that share
of the estate to which he would have been entitled if he had remained
under paternal control is granted to him, and to his children who
were under the control of the deceased, if the estate belonged to
him in his own name and they were not specifically disinherited; so
that he himself will only have half of said share, and the other half
will be given to his children, and he can distribute his own property
among them alone, without any restriction.
(1)
If a father should emancipate his son and his grandson by the latter,
the son alone will be entitled to the possession of his estate on
the ground of intestacy, although the loss of civil rights would not
be an obstacle to anyone in distributing the estate under the Edict.
Moreover, those children who have never been under paternal control,
and have not obtained the place of proper heirs, are called to the
praetorian possession of the estate of their parents; for if an emancipated
son should leave a grandson under the control of his grandfather,
praetorian possession of the estate of the emancipated father shall
be given to the child who remains under the control of his grandfather;
and, if the latter should have been begotten after the emancipation
of his father, praetorian possession of the estate of his grandfather
will be given to him after his birth; provided the condition of his
father offers no obstacle to this being done.
(2)
If an emancipated son should not demand praetorian possession of an
estate on the ground of intestacy, all of the rights of the grandsons
will remain unimpaired, just as if there had been no son; and what
the son would have been entitled to if he had demanded praetorian
possession of the estate of his father on the ground of intestacy
will accrue to the grandsons alone who are descendants of the said
son, and not to any others.
6.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXXIX.
If
a father should emancipate his son, retaining his grandson under his
control, and his son should afterwards die, both the equity of the
case and the terms of the Edict by which it is provided that praetorian
possession of the estate of a father shall be granted to his children,
on the ground of intestacy, will have the effect of causing an account
to be taken, and the possession of the estate of the intestate father
to be delivered; so that the grandfather who will obtain the benefit
of praetorian possession of the estate through his grandson will be
compelled to make contribution to a sister who becomes her father's
necessary heir; unless the grandfather should not wish to obtain any
benefit from the property, and is ready to release his grandson from
his control in order that, after his emancipation, he may obtain all
the advantages of praetorian possession. Therefore, the sister, who
becomes the heir of her father, cannot justly complain of being in
this way excluded from the benefit of contribution; since, if her
grandfather sliould die intestate, she will be entitled to share equally
with her brother in his estate.
7.
Papinianus, Questions, Book XXIX.
A disinherited
son died while the testamentary heir was deliberating whether or not
he would accept the estate, and he finally rejected it. The grandson,
by the said disinherited son, will be the heir of his grandfather,
nor will his father be considered as an obstacle to this, since it
was after his death that the estate came to the grandson as heir at
law. It cannot be said that the grandson is the heir, but not the
direct heir, of his grandfather, because he was never in the first
degree ; as he himself was under the control of his grandfather, and
his father did not precede him in the succession. And, besides, if
he was not a direct heir, under what right will he be the heir, as
there was no doubt that he was not an agnate? Moreover, even if the
grandson should not be disinherited, the estate can be entered upon
by the testamentary heir after the death of the son. Therefore, if
the father was no obstacle to the son by the right of intestacy, he
will be considered to have been an obstacle under the right conferred
by the will.
(1)
Parents are not entitled to the estates of their children in the same
manner as children are entitled to the estates of their parents. It
is only the consideration of compassion which entitles parents to
the estates of their children, but children obtain those of their
parents on account of the intention of nature, as well as that of
their parents.
8.
The Same, Opinions, Book VI.
A son
under paternal control, with the consent of his father, took praetorian
possession of an estate as the next of kin to the deceased. Although
he should be excluded from the estate by the condition stated in the
will, if he remained under the control of his father, still he must
be considered to have obtained possession legally. He is not liable
to the penalty of the Edict, as he did not obtain possession in accordance
with the provisions of the will; as in that way he could not hold
the.property, nor was it in his power to comply with the condition,
as a father cannot easily be forced to emancipate his son.
9.
Paulus, Opinions, Book XI.
If
a son, after having been emancipated, demands praetorian possession
of the estate of his father, and subsequently changes his condition,
there is no reason why he should not retain what he has acquired.
If, however, he had changed his condition beforehand, he cannot demand
praetorian possession of the estate.
Tit. 7.
Concerning praetorian possession by agnates.
1.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVII.
The
following terms of the Edict, "If he who should have been the
heir of the testator dies intestate," must be taken in their
broadest sense, and understood to have reference to a certain period
of time, not to the date of the testator's death, but to that when
praetorian possession of his estate is demanded. Hence, if the heir-at-law
has lost his civil rights, it is clear that he can be barred from
obtaining this kind of praetorian possession of the estate.
2.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLVI.
When
the proper heirs reject possession of an estate ab intestato, we
hold that they offer no obstacle to the heirs-at-law, that is to say,
to those to whom the estate can legally pass. The reason for this
is because, by rejecting the possession of the estate in the capacity
of children, they begin to be entitled to it as heirs-at-law.
(1)
Moreover, this kind of praetorian possession not only passes to males,
but also to females, and not only to freeborn persons but also to
freedmen; and therefore it is common to several. For women may have
either blood relatives or agnates, and freedmen may also have patrons
and patronesses.
(2)
Not only can males obtain praetorian possession of this kind, but
females likewise can do so.
(3)
Where anyone dies, and it is uncertain whether he is the head of a
household or a son under paternal control, for the reason that his
father, who has been captured by the enemy, is still living, or because
his civil status is in suspense for some other reason, the better
opinion is that praetorian possession of his estate cannot be demanded,
as it is not apparent that he has died intestate, and it is uncertain
whether he can make a will or not. Therefore, when his condition is
ascertained beyond a doubt, praetorian possession of his estate can
be demanded; not from the time when it began to be positively known
that he died intestate, but when it became certain that he was the
head of a household when he died.
(4)
Moreover, this kind of praetorian possession includes everyone who
can succeed to the inheritance on the ground of intestacy, whether
the provision of the Twelve Tables, or some other enactment, or a
decree of the Senate constitutes him an heir at law. Finally the mother,
who is entitled to the succession under the Tertullian Decree of the
Senate, and also the children, who, under the Orphitian Decree of
the Senate, are admitted to the succession of their mother as her
heirs at law, can demand praetorian possession.
3.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XLIII.
Hence,
generally speaking, it should be remembered that every time that a
law or a Decree of the Senate grants an estate to anyone, praetorian
possession of the same must be demanded under this Section of the
Edict. If the law directs praetorian possession of an estate to be
granted it can be demanded, and this can either be done under the
Section of the Edict relating to special enactments, or under that
Section which is the subject of discussion at present.
4.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVII.
If
one of two brothers should die after having made a will in accordance
with law, and then, while his heir was deliberating with reference
to accepting the estate, the other brother should die intestate, and
the appointed heir should reject the inheritance, the paternal uncle
of the brothers will be entitled to it as heir at law; for that kind
of praetorian possession which refers to him "who should be the
heir" has reference to the time when the possession of an estate
can first be claimed on the ground of intestacy.
5.
Modestinus, Pandects, Book III.
There
is this difference between agnates and cognates: cognates are included
among agnates, but agnates are not included among cognates ; for example,
the brother of a father, that is, the paternal uncle, is both an agnate
and a cognate, but the brother of a mother, that is to say, the maternal
uncle, is an agnate, but not a cognate.
(1)
As long as there is any hope that a deceased person will have a direct
heir, there is no ground for the claim of blood relatives to the estate;
for example, where the wife of the deceased is pregnant, or his son
is in the hands of the enemy.
6.
Hermogenianus, Epitomes of Law, Book III.
Children
born after the death of their father, or after his captivity or banishment,
as well as those who are under his control at the time when he was
captured or banished, retain the right of consanguinity, even though
they may not be the heirs of their father, just as is the case with
children who are disinherited.
Tit. 8.
Concerning the praetorian possession granted to cognates.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLVI.
This
kind of praetorian possession depends entirely upon the indulgence
of the Praetor, and does not derive its origin from the Civil Law,
for he calls those to the possession of an estate who, under the Civil
Law, cannot be admitted to the succession, that is to say, cognates.
(1)
They are called cognates on account of their having the same birth;
or, as Labeo says, because they have a common origin, so far as their
birth is concerned.
(2)
Moreover, this law refers to such cognate relationship as is not servile,
for any cognation can hardly be considered servile.
(3)
Again, the praetorian possession which is granted by this Section
of the Edict includes six degrees of cognates, and two persons in
the seventh, that is, the children of a male or a female cousin.
(4)
Adoption also constitutes cognation. For anyone who is adopted becomes
the cognate of those persons of whom he becomes the agnate; since
whenever the rights of agnates are taken into account, we understand
that those who are made cognates by adoption are included. The result
is, therefore, that where a person is given in adoption, he will still
retain his rights of cognation in the family of his natural father,
as well as those which he obtains in his adoptive family; but he will
only obtain cognation in the adoptive family with reference to those
persons of whom he becomes the agnate; and he will retain the rights
of cognation with all the members of his natural family.
(5)
Moreover, he who is alone will be understood to be the next of kin
among the cognates; although, strictly speaking, the next of kin is
referred to as one of several.
(6)
It is proper for us to examine the rights of the next of kin among
the cognates at the time when praetorian possession of an estate is
granted.
(7)
Hence, if the nearest cognate should die while the appointed heirs
were deliberating whether to accept the estate or not, the next of
kin in the succession will take his place; that is to say, whoever
is ascertained to have a right to the next place.
(8)
If there is any prospect that a cognate who will be the next of kin
may be born, the condition is such that it must be said that he offers
an obstacle to those who follow him in the line of descent. But if
the child should not be born, we must admit to the succession the
person who appears to be next of kin to the said unborn child. This
rule, however, should only be adopted where the child who is said
to be unborn was conceived during the lifetime of him the possession
of whose estate is in question; for if he should have been conceived
after the death of the latter, he will offer no obstacle to the other,
nor will he himself be admitted to the succession; because he was
not the cognate next of kin to him in whose lifetime the unborn child
was not yet in existence.
(9)
If a woman should die while pregnant, and an operation should afterwards
be performed to deliver the child, the latter is in such a position
that it can obtain praetorian possession of the estate of its mother,
as the nearest cognate. Since the passage of the Orphitian Decree
of the Senate, the child can demand possession of the estate as heir
at law, because it was in its mother's womb at the time of her death.
(10)
Moreover, cognates are permitted to obtain praetorian possession in
regular gradation, so that those who belong to the first degree are
all admitted at once.
(11)
If a cognate should be in the hands of the enemy, at the time of the
death of the person the praetorian possession of whose estate is in
question, it must be said that praetorian possession of the same can
be demanded by him.
2.
Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book XVI.
In
this Section of the Edict, the Proconsul, actuated by sentiments of
natural equity, promises praetorian possession to all cognates whom
the tie of blood calls to the succession, even though they may not
be entitled to it under the Civil Law. Therefore, even the illegitimate
children of the mother, as well as the mother of such children, and
brothers of this description, can demand praetorian possession of
an estate from one another; for the reason that they are cognates,
reciprocally. This rule applies to the extent that where a female
slave who was pregnant when she was manumitted has a child, the child
subsequently born is the cognate of the mother, and the mother is
the cognate of the child, and any children who are afterwards born
to her are also cognates of one another.
3.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVII.
Rights
of cognation acquired by adoption are extinguished by the loss of
civil rights. Therefore, for example, if within a hundred days after
the death of his adopted brother, an adopted son loses his civil rights,
he cannot obtain praetorian possession of the estate of his brother,
which would otherwise pass to him as being the next of kin. For it
is clear that not only the time of the death, but also the time when
possession of the estate was demanded, should be taken into consideration
by the Praetor.
4.
Ulpianus, Rules, Book VI.
If
an illegitimate child should die intestate, his property will belong
to no one by the right of consanguinity or cognation; because the
rights of consanguinity, as well as those of cognation, are derived
from the father. However, on the ground of being next of kin, his
mother, or his brother by the same mother, can demand praetorian possession
of his estate under the terms of the Edict.
5.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book IV.
Praetorian
possession based on the right of legal inheritance is not granted
to such heirs at law as have lost their civil rights, because their
position is not the same as that of children; but such heirs are then
called to the succession as belonging to the degree of cognates.
6.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLV.
Where
cognates accuse one another of crime, such an accusation offers no
obstacle to succession to their estates.
7.
Modestinus, Rules, Book VI.
Anyone
who has become a slave in any way whatsoever can, under no circumstances,
regain his rights of cognation by manumission.
8.
The Same, Opinions, Book XIV.
Modestinus
stated that grandchildren, even though they are illegitimate, are
not, for that reason, excluded from the intestate succession of their
maternal grandmother.
9.
Papinianus, Opinions, Book VI.
Praetorian
possession can be obtained by an agnate of the eighth degree, as the
heir-at-law, even if he would not have been the true heir, but it
is not granted to a cognate who is next of kin, although he would
have been the true heir.
(1)
A nephew, who had been appointed heir to a part of his paternal uncle's
estate, having alleged that his uncle was deaf, and therefore could
not make a will, obtained possession of his estate as being the nearest
cognate of the deceased. It was decided that the time should be reckoned
from the day of his death, for the reason that it did not seem to
be probable that anyone so closely related by blood to the deceased
could not have been aware of his illness.
10.
Scaevola, Opinions, Book II.
A woman,
dying intestate, left a sister, Septitia, the daughter of another
father, and her mother pregnant by a second husband. I ask, if the
mother should reject the estate while she is still pregnant, and should
afterwards have a daughter named Sempronia, whether the said Sempronia
can obtain praetorian possession of the estate of her sister Titia.
The answer was that, according to the facts stated, if her mother
was excluded from the estate, she who was subsequently born could
obtain praetorian possession of the same.
Tit. 9.
Concerning the successory edict.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIX.
The
Successory Edict was promulgated in order that estates might not remain
too long without ownership, and the creditors suffer from too protracted
a delay. Therefore, the Praetor thought that a limit should be prescribed
for those to whom he granted praetorian possession, and to establish
a succession among them, in order that the creditors might sooner
ascertain to whom they must apply; whether the estate escheated to
the Treasury for want of ownership, or whether they themselves should
institute proceedings to obtain praetorian possession, just as if
the deceased had died without leaving any successor.
(1)
For even one can reject praetorian possession which is granted to
himself, but he cannot reject that which is granted to another.
(2)
Therefore, my agent cannot reject praetorian possession to which I
am entitled, without obtaining my consent to do so.
(3)
A master can reject praetorian possession to which he is entitled
through a slave.
(4)
Let us see whether a guardian can reject praetorian possession of
an estate to which his ward is entitled. The better opinion is that
he cannot do so, but the ward himself can reject it with the authority
of his guardian.
(5)
The curator of an insane person can, under no circumstances, reject
praetorian possession of an estate to which the latter is entitled
because the latter has not yet obtained it.
(6)
Where a person has once refused to demand praetorian possession of
an estate, he loses his right, even though the prescribed time for
doing so had not yet expired; for, when he refused to accept it, possession
of the estate had already begun to belong to others, or to escheat
to the Treasury.
(7)
Let us see whether praetorian possession of an estate authorized by
a decree can be rejected. And, indeed, it may be terminated by lapse
of time, but it is none the less true that it cannot be rejected,
because it was not granted before the decree was issued. Again, after
the decree has been issued, the rejection will be too late, as a right
which has once been acquired cannot be rejected.
(8)
If the relative first in degree should die within the prescribed hundred
days, the one next in succession can immediately demand possession
of the estate.
(9)
What we have said with reference to demanding praetorian possession
within a hundred days must be understood to mean that it can be demanded
even on the hundredth day; just as where an act is to be performed
within certain kalends, the kalends themselves are included.
The same rule applies where some act is to be performed within a hundred
days.
(10)
Where one of those to whom praetorian possession may be given under
the terms of the Edict refuses, or neglects to demand it for himself
within the specified time, the other heirs in the next degree can
claim praetorian possession of the estate, just as if the one in the
first degree had not been included in the number of those entitled
to the same.
(11)
However, it should be considered whether the one who is excluded in
this way can also be admitted to share with the others; for instance,
a son who is under paternal control, where possession of an estate
ab intestato has been granted to him under the First Section
of the Edict relating to children. He is excluded by lapse of time,
or by rejection of the estate, and praetorian possession passes to
the heirs next in degree. Will he himself succeed by virtue of this
Section relating to succession? The better opinion is that he can
do so; for he can demand possession of the estate as one of the heirs
at law, and after them, in his own degree, under the Section where
the cognates, who are next of kin, are called to the succession. This
is our practice, so that the son is admitted to the succession in
this manner, and therefore, he can succeed himself in accordance with
the Second Section of the Edict. This rule can also be said to apply
with reference to praetorian possession in accordance with the provisions
of the will; so that if he who can succeed to the praetorian succession
on the ground of intestacy does not apply for it in accordance with
the terms of the will, he can still in this way succeed himself.
(12)
A longer time to demand praetorian possession of an estate is accorded
to parents and children on account of the honor attaching to blood,
because those who are, so to speak, coming into possession of their
own property, should not be too closely restrained. It has, therefore,
been determined that they shall be given a year, so that they may
be afforded a reasonable time for demanding praetorian possession
of the estate, and not be pressed to do so; and that, on the other
hand, the property may not remain too long without an owner. It is
true that sometimes when they are interrogated in court by impatient
creditors, they must state whether they will demand praetorian possession
or not; so that, if they say that they intend to reject it, the creditors
may know what they will have to do. If they say that they are still
deliberating, they should not be hurried.
(13)
When anyone is substituted by his father for his brother, who is under
the age of puberty, he must demand praetorian possession of his estate,
not within a year, but within a hundred days.
(14)
This favor is granted to parents and children, not only where they
are themselves directly in the line of succession, but also where
a slave of one of the children or parents is appointed an heir; for
in this case, praetorian possession can be demanded within a year.
For it is the person who demands possession who is entitled to this
benefit.
(15)
If, however, the father of an emancipated son desires to obtain praetorian
possession of his estate in opposition to the provisions of the will,
it is settled that he has a year in which to do so.
(16)
Julianus says that, generally speaking, praetorian possession can,
under all circumstances, be demanded by parents and children within
a year.
2.
Papinianus, Opinions, Book VI.
A cognate
of an inferior degree is not entitled to the benefit of the Successory
Edict, when one in the first degree has obtained praetorian possession
under his own Section of the Edict. Nor will it make any difference
whether the cognate, first in degree, obtained the right of rejection
on account of his age. Hence it was decided that the property is legally
escheated to the Treasury as being without an owner.
Tit. 10.
Concerning the degrees of relationship and affinity and their different
names.
1.
Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book VIII.
The
degrees of relationship are, some of them, in the ascending, and some
of them in the descending line, or in the collateral line. Those in
the direct ascending line are parents; those in the direct descending
line are children; those in the collateral line are brothers and sisters
and their children.
(1)
Relationship in the direct ascending and descending lines begins with
the first degree, but in the collateral line there is no first degree,
and therefore it begins with the second. Hence cognates in the first
degree of the direct ascending and descending lines can share equally
with one another; but no one can do this in the collateral line in
this degree, but in the second and third degrees, and in those which
follow, the collateral heirs can share with one another, and sometimes
even with those of a higher degree.
(2)
We should, however, remember, whenever we consider the questions relating
to inheritance or to the praetorian possession of an estate, that
those who belong to the same degree do not always share equally with
one another.
(3)
Heirs who are first in the ascending line are the father and the mother;
those first in the descending line are the son and the daughter.
(4)
Those first in the second degree of the direct ascending line are
the grandfather and the grandmother; those first in the direct descending
line are the grandson and the grandfather; those first in the collateral
line are the brother and the sister.
(5)
Those first in the third degree in the direct ascending line are the
great-grandfather and the great-grandmother; those first in the descending
line are the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter ; those first
in the collateral line are the son and the daughter of the brother
and the sister, and, next in order, the paternal uncle and the paternal
aunt, the maternal uncle and the maternal aunt.
(6)
In the fourth degree of the direct ascending line are the great-great-grandfather
and the great-great-grandmother, in the direct descending line the
great-great-grandson and the great-great-granddaughter; in the collateral
line the grandson and the granddaughter of the brother and the sister,
and, in their order, the great-paternal uncle and the great paternal
aunt, that is to say, the brother and sister of the grandfather; the
great maternal uncle and the great maternal aunt, that is to say,
the brother and sister of the grandmother ; likewise, the brothers
and sisters of the great maternal uncle, that is to say, children
both male and female descended from two brothers; also the children
both male and female, born of two sisters; and children of both sexes,
the issue of a brother and a sister. All of these are known under
the common appellation of first cousins.
(7)
In the fifth degree of the direct ascending line are the great-great-great-grandfather
and the great-great-great-grandmother; in the direct descending line
the great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-granddaughter;
in the collateral line the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter
of the brother and the sister; and, in the same order, the great-great
paternal uncle and the great-great paternal aunt, that is to say,
the brother and sister of the great-grandfather, and the great-great-maternal
uncle and the great-great-maternal aunt, that is to say, the brother
and sister of the great-grandmother; also the son and daughter of
male cousins, and the son and daughter of female cousins, likewise
other male and female cousins and the sons and daughters of the latter
on both sides, and those of both sexes and are next to cousins in
degree; these being the sons and daughters of the great paternal uncle
and the great paternal aunt and the great maternal uncle and the great
maternal aunt:
2.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLVI.
That
is to say the male and female cousins of the father of him whose relationship
is in question, or the children of a father's brother.
3.
Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book VIII.
In
the sixth degree, in the direct ascending line, are the great-great-great-great-grandfather
and the great-great-great-great-grandmother. In the direct descending
line are the great-great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
and in the collateral line, the great-great-grandson and the great-great-granddaughter
of the brother and sister; and in their order, the great-great-paternal
uncle and the great-great-paternal aunt, that is to say, the brother
and sister of the great-great-grandfather; and the great-great-maternal
uncle and great-great-maternal aunt, that is to say, the brother and
sister of the great-great-grandmother. Likewise, the grandson and
the granddaughter of the great paternal uncle, and the great paternal
aunt, and of the great maternal uncle and the great maternal aunt.
Also, the grandson and the granddaughter of first cousins of both
sexes, and the son and the daughter of the great-paternal uncle and
the great-paternal aunt, and of the great-maternal uncle and the great
maternal aunt; as well as the children of cousins on both sides who
are properly called the issue of first cousins.
(1)
It is sufficiently apparent, from what we have said, how many persons
there can be in the seventh degree.
(2)
We must also remember that the relatives in the ascending and descending
lines must always be doubled; because we understand that there is
a grandfather and a grandmother on the maternal as well as the paternal
side, as well as grandchildren of both sexes, the children of sons
as well as daughters; and this order must be followed in all degrees
both ascending and descending.
4.
Modestinus, Pandects, Book XII.
So
far as our law is concerned, it is not easy to go beyond the seventh
degree, when a question arises with reference to natural relationship,
as nature hardly permits the existence of cognates to extend beyond
that degree.
(1)
The term "cognates" is thought to be derived from the fact
that relatives are descended from one ancestor, or have a common origin
or birth.
(2)
Relationship among the Romans is understood to be two fold, for some
connections are derived from the Civil and others from Natural Law,
and sometimes both coincide, so that the relationship by the Natural
and the Civil Law is united. And, indeed, a natural connection can
be understood to exist without the civil one, and this applies to
a woman who has illegitimate children. Civil relationship, however,
which is said to be legal, arises through adoption without Natural
Law. Relationship exists under both laws when a union is made by marriage
lawfully contracted. Natural relationship is designated by the term
cognation; but civil relationship, although it may very properly be
designated by the same name, is more accurately styled agnation, which
has reference to relationship derived through males.
(3)
As certain special rights exist with reference to persons connected
by affinity, it is not foreign to the subject to briefly discuss this
connection. Persons related by affinity are the cognates of husband
and wife, so called for the reason that two relationships, differing
from one another, are joined by marriage, and one is transferred to
the other. For affinity is derived from marriage.
(4)
The following are the terms of affinity, father-in-law, mother-in-law,
son-in-law, daughter-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, and
stepdaughter.
(5)
There are no degrees of affinity.
(6)
The father of the husband or the wife, is called the father-in-law,
and the mother of either of them is called the mother-in-law. Among
the Greeks the father of the husband was called hekuros
and the mother hekura, the father of the
wife was called penveros and the mother penvera. The
wife of the son is called the daughter-in-law, the husband of a daughter
the son-in-law. A second wife is called the stepmother of children
born of a former one; the husband of a mother having children by a
former husband is called the stepfather, and children born of either
of them are designated stepsons, and stepdaughters; a father-in-law
may also be denned as the father of my wife, and I am his son-in-law.
The grandfather of my wife is called my grandfather-in-law, and I
am his grandson-in-law; on the other hand, my father is the father-in-law
of my wife, and she is his daughter-in-law, and my grandfather is
her grandfather-in-law, and she is his granddaughter-in-law; likewise,
the grandmother of my wife is my grandmother-in-law, and I am her
grandson-in-law; and my mother is the mother-in-law of my wife, and
she is her daughter-in-law; and my grandmother is her grandmother-in-law,
and my wife is her granddaughter-in-law. The stepson of my wife is
the son of her former husband, and I am his stepfather; on the other
hand, my wife is said to be the stepmother of children whom I have
by a former wife, and my children are her stepchildren. The brother
of a husband is the brother-in-law of his wife, and is called by the
Greeks dayr, as is stated by Homer. The sister of the husband
is a sister-in-law of the wife called by the Greeks galos.
The wives of two brothers are called sisters-in-law, designated among
the Greeks as einateres, which Homer also mentions.
(7)
It is wrong for such persons to contract marriage reciprocally for
the reason that, on account of their affinity, they bear the relation
of parents and children to one another.
(8)
It must be remembered that neither cognation nor affinity can exist
unless the marriage which gives rise to affinity is not forbidden
by law.
(9)
Freedmen and freedwomen can become connected with one another by affinity.
(10)
A child given in adoption, or emancipated, retains all the relationship
by cognation and affinity which he formerly possessed, but he loses
the rights of agnation. But with reference to the family into which
he came by adoption, no one is his cognate except his adoptive father,
and those to whom he becomes the agnate. No one belonging to the adoptive
family is related to him by affinity.
(11)
Anyone who has been interdicted from fire and water, or has lost his
civil rights in any way, so as to have forfeited his freedom and his
citizenship, also loses all his connections of cognation and affinity
which he previously had.
5.
Paulus, On Plautius, Book VI.
If
I emancipate my natural son and adopt another, they will not be brothers.
Arrianus says that if, after the death of my son, I adopt Titius,
he will be considered the brother of the deceased.
6.
Ulpianus, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book V.
Labeo
says that the wife of my grandson, the son of my daughter, is my granddaughter.
(1)
Persons who are betrothed are included in the terms son-in-law and
daughter-in-law, likewise the parents of such persons are considered
to be included in the terms father-in-law and mother-in-law.
7.
Scaevola, Rules, Book IV.
The
illegitimate child of a woman whom I afterwards marry is also my stepson,
just as is the case with one whose mother formerly lived in concubinage
with some man, and was afterwards married to another.
8.
Pomponius, Enchiridion, Book I.
Servius
very properly says that the terms father-in-law and mother-in-law,
son-in-law and daughter-in-law, are also derived from betrothal.
9.
Paulus, Sentences, Book IV.
The
direct line of relationship is divided into two parts, one of which
is the ascending and the other the descending. Collateral lines are
also derived from the ascending line as well as from the second degree.
We have explained more fully in a special Book everything which has
reference to all these.
10.
The Same, On Degrees and Affinities and Their Different Names.
A person
learned in the law should be familiar with the degrees of relationship
and affinity, because, by the laws, it is customary for estates and
guardianships to pass to the next of kin. The Praetor, however, by
his Edict, grants the possession of an estate to the nearest cognate.
Moreover, under a law relating to criminal trials, we cannot be compelled,
against our will, to give testimony against persons connected with
us by affinity, and cognates.
(1)
The term cognation appears to be derived from a Greek word, for the
Greeks designated as suggneis, persons whom we call cognates.
(2)
Those are cognates whom the Law of the Twelve Tables styles agnates,
but the latter are really such from the same family through the father.
Those to whom we are related through women, are only designated cognates.
(3)
The next of kin among agnates are called "proper."
(4)
The same difference exists between agnates and cognates as exists
between genus and species. An agnate is also a cognate, but a cognate
is not an agnate; for one of these is a civil, and the other a natural
designation.
(5)
We make use of this term, that is to say, cognates, even with reference
to slaves. Therefore, we speak of the parents, the children, and the
brothers of slaves; but cognation is not recognized by servile laws.
(6)
The origin of cognation is derived from women alone, for he is a brother
who was only born of the same mother; but where persons have the same
father, but different mothers, they are agnates.
(7)
Ascendants, as far as the great-great-great-great-grandfather, are
indicated among the Romans by special names, relatives beyond that
degree, who have no particular designation are called ancestors. Likewise,
children as far back as the great-great-great-great-grandson have
special names, and those who are beyond this degree are styled posterity.
(8)
There are also cognates in the collateral degree, as brothers and
sisters and their descendants, as well as paternal and maternal aunts.
(9)
Whenever a question arises as to the degree of relationship existing
between one person and another, we must begin with him whose relationship
is in question; and if it is in the superior or inferior degree in
the direct ascending or descending line, we can easily ascertain the
relationship by following the line up or down, if we enumerate each
one who is next of kin through the different degrees. For anyone who
is the next of kin to a person who is in the next degree to me is
in the second degree to me; and, in like manner, the number increases
with each additional person. The same course should be taken with
reference to the degrees in the collateral line. Hence, a brother
is in the second degree, as the father and mother from whom his relationship
is derived is counted first.
(10)
Degrees are so called from their resemblance to ladders, or places
which are sloping, so that we ascend by passing from one to the next,
that is, we proceed to one who, as it were, originates from another.
(11)
Now let us consider each degree separately.
(12)
In the first degree of relationship, in the ascending line, are two
persons, the father and the mother; in the direct descending line
there are also two, the son and the daughter, who may be several in
number.
(13)
In the second degree, twelve persons are included, namely, the grandfather,
that is to say the father of the father and the mother, and the grandmother,
both paternal and maternal. The brother is also understood to belong
to one or the other of the parents, either only to the mother, or
to the father, or to both. This does not increase the number, however,
because there is no difference between him who has the same parents,
and him who has only the same father, except that the former has the
same paternal and maternal cognates. Therefore, the result, so far
as those who are born of different parents are concerned, is that
the brother of my brother may not be my cognate. For suppose that
I have a brother only by the same father, and he has one by the same
mother, the two are brothers, but the other is not my cognate. The
relation of sister is computed in the same way as that of a brother.
The relation of grandson is also understood in two ways, for he is
the son of a son, or the son of a daughter.
(14)
Thirty-two persons are included in the third degree. The term great-grandfather
is understood in four different ways, for he is the father of the
paternal grandfather or the maternal grandfather, or of the paternal
grandmother or of the maternal grandmother; the term great-grandmother
also includes four different persons, for she is the mother of either
the maternal grandfather or the paternal grandmother, or the mother
of the maternal grandfather or of the maternal grandmother.
The term paternal uncle (that is to
say, the brother of the father) is also to be understood in a double
sense; that is, whether he had the same father or the same mother.
My paternal grandmother married your father, and gave birth to you;
or your paternal grandmother married my father, and gave birth to
me; I am, therefore, your paternal uncle, and you are mine. This happens
where two women marry the son of one another, for the male children
who are born of them are the paternal uncle of one another, and the
female children are the maternal aunts of one another. If a man gives
his son in marriage to a woman whose daughter he himself has married,
the male children born to the father of the young man will call those
born to the mother of the girl their nephews, and the latter will
call the others their paternal uncles, and their paternal aunts. A
maternal uncle is a brother of the mother, and the same can be said
of her which we have stated with reference to the paternal uncle;
for if two men should marry each other's daughters, the males born
to them will be reciprocally maternal uncles, and the females will
be reciprocally maternal aunts. And, under the same rule, if males
are born by one marriage and females by another, the males will be
the maternal uncles of the females, and the females will be the maternal
aunts of the males. The paternal aunt is the sister of the father,
and what has been above mentioned will apply to her. The maternal
aunt is a sister of the mother, and likewise what has been previously
stated will apply to her.
It must be remembered that, while
the brothers and sisters of the father and the mother are called paternal
uncles and aunts, and maternal uncles and aunts, the sons and daughters
of brothers and sisters have no special name to designate their relationship,
but they are merely referred to as the sons and daughters of brothers
and sisters. It will hereafter be shown that this is also the case
with their descendants. The terms great-grandson and great-granddaughter
are also understood in four different ways, for they are either descended
from a grandson by his son, or from a grandson by his daughter; or
from a granddaughter by her son, or from a granddaughter by her daughter.
(15)
Eighty persons are included in the fourth degree. Great-great-grandfather
is a term which extends to eight persons, for he is either the father
of the paternal great-grandfather, or of the maternal great-grandfather,
whom we have stated should each be understood in a double sense; or
he is the father of the paternal great-grandmother, or of the maternal
great-grandmother, each of which names we also understand to be of
twofold signification. The term great-great-grandmother also includes
eight persons, for she is the mother of the paternal great-grandfather,
or the maternal greatgrandfather; or the mother of the paternal great-grandmother,
or of the maternal great-grandmother. The paternal great-uncle is
the brother of the grandfather, and he can be understood to be both
grandfather and brother in two ways, hence this term includes four
persons; as he may be the brother of the paternal or the maternal
grandfather, that is to say, he may be descended from the same father,
namely, the great-grandfather, or only from the same mother, namely,
the great-grandmother. Moreover, he who is my great uncle is the uncle
of my father or mother. My paternal great-aunt is the sister of my
grandfather, and the term grandfather, as well as that of sister (as
we stated above) is interpreted in two different ways, and therefore,
in this instance, we understand the term great-aunt to refer to four
different persons. In like manner, she who is the paternal aunt of
my father or my mother will be my paternal great-aunt. The maternal
great-uncle is the brother of the grandmother, and under the same
rule, there are four persons embraced in this appellation, and my
maternal great-uncle is the maternal uncle of my father or my mother.
The maternal great-aunt is the sister of the grandmother, and, in
accordance with the same rule, this term is to be understood in four
different ways; for she who is the maternal aunt of my father or my
mother is my maternal great-aunt. There are also in this degree the
children of brothers and sisters or first cousins of both sexes. They
are children born to brothers or sisters, and whom certain authorities
distinguish as follows: those who are born to brothers being designated
paternal first cousins, and those born to a brother or a sister are
called amitini and amitinse, and children of either
sex born of two sisters are called cousins on account of their descent.
According to Trebatius, many authorities call all of these children
cousins. Sixteen different persons are included in this appellation;
namely, the son and the daughter of a paternal uncle are designated
in a twofold manner, as is stated above; for the brother of my father
may, with him, be descended only from a common father, or a common
mother. The son and daughter of a paternal aunt, and the son and daughter
of a maternal uncle, is the son and daughter of a maternal uncle,
and the son and daughter of a maternal aunt, as well as the terms
paternal aunt, maternal uncle, and maternal aunt are to be understood
as having double signification in accordance with this rule. The grandson
and granddaughter of a brother and sister also belong to this degree.
But as the terms brother, sister, grandson, and granddaughter are
to be understood in a double sense, sixteen persons are included herein;
namely, the grandson born to the son and the grandson born to the
daughter of a brother, by the same father; the grandson born to the
son and the grandson born to the daughter of the brother by the same
mother, but by another father; the granddaughter born to a son and
the granddaughter born to a daughter of a brother by the same father,
and the granddaughter born to a son, or a daughter of a brother by
the same mother, but by a different father. Under this rule there
are eight persons and another eight will be added if we count the
grandsons and the granddaughters born to the sister. Moreover, the
grandson and the granddaughter of my brother and sister call me their
great-uncle. The grandchildren of my brothers and sisters and my own
call each other cousins. A great-great-grandson and a great-great-granddaughter
are the son and the daughter of a great-grandson or a great-granddaughter;
the grandson or the granddaughter of a grandson or a granddaughter,
the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter of the grandson of
a son or a daughter; it being understood that the grandson is such
for the reason that he is the son of my own son or my daughter, and
my granddaughter is such because she is the daughter of my son, or
my daughter; so that we descend by a degree to each person as follows:
the son, the grandson, the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson;
the son, the grandson, the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the grandson, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson;
the son, the grandson, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-granddaughter and the great-great-granddaughter.
In calculating the descent from the daughter the same persons are
enumerated, and in this way they make sixteen.
(16)
A hundred and eighty-four persons are included in the fifth degree,
as follows, the great-great-great-grandfather, and the great-great-great-grandmother.
The great-great-great-grandfather is the father of the great-great-grandfather,
or the great-great-grandmother; the grandfather of the great-grandfather
or the great-grandmother; the great-great-grandfather of the father
or the mother. This appellation includes sixteen persons, the enumeration
being made by males as well as females, in order that we may reach
each one thus designated; namely, the father, the grandfather, the
great-grandfather, the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandfather;
the father, the grandfather, the great-grandfather, the great-great-grandmother,
the great-great-great-grandfather; the father, the grandfather, the
great-grandmother, the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandfather
; the father, the grandfather, the great-grandmother, the great-great-grandmother,
the great-great-great-grandfather ; the father, the grandmother, the
great-grandfather, the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandfather;
the father, the grandmother, the great-grandfather, the great-great-grandmother,
the great-great-great-grandfather; the father, the grandmother, the
great-grandmother, the great-great-grandmother, the great-great-greatgrandfather;
the father, the grandmother, the great-grandmother, the great-great-grandfather,
the great-great-great-grandfather. The enumeration is made in like
manner on the mother's side. The term great-great-great-grandmother,
according to the same rule, includes the same number of persons, that
is to say sixteen. The great-great-paternal uncle is the brother of
the great-grandfather, or the great paternal uncle of the father or
mother. Under this name eight persons enumerated as follows are included,
the father, the grandfather, the great-grandfather, the great-great-grandfather,
the brother of the great-grandfather; the father, the grandfather,
the great-grandfather, the great-great-grandmother, the brother of
the great-grandfather ; the father, the grandmother, the great-grandfather,
the great-great-grandfather, the brother of the great-grandfather;
the father, the grandmother, the great-grandfather, the great-great-grandmother,
the brother of the great-grandfather.
There are the same number of persons
in making the calculation from the mother to her great-grandfather.
However, before mentioning the brother of the great-grandfather, we
place before him the great-great-grandfather for the reason (as we
stated above) that we cannot reach him whose relationship is in question,
unless we pass through those from whom he has descended, the maternal
great-great-uncle, that is the brother of the great-grandmother, maternal
great-uncle of the father or mother. By the same method of calculation,
we also, in this instance, compute eight persons except that, only
with this change, the brother of the great-grandmother is introduced.
The paternal great-great-aunt
is the sister of the great-grandfather and the great-aunt of the father
or mother. In this case the same enumerations of persons are made
as before, except that the sister of the great-grandfather is introduced
last. The maternal great-great-aunt is the sister of the great-grandmother,
and the maternal great-aunt of the father or mother. In this instance,
the number of persons is the same, except that the sister of the great-grandmother
is placed last. Certain authorities designate all those whom we have
mentioned as descended from the paternal great-uncle as follows, paternal
uncle, maternal uncle, paternal aunt, maternal aunt; those whom I
designate as such call me the great-grandson of their brother or sister.
In this degree are also included
the son and daughter of the paternal great-uncle, who are the son
and daughter of the brother of the grandfather, the grandson and granddaughter
of the great-grandson or the great-granddaughter by their sons or
daughters, and the first cousin of the father or the mother. In this
instance we also compute eight persons; for the reason that the grandfather
and the brother (as has already been stated), can exist in this capacity
in two ways, and therefore the character of son or daughter of a paternal
great-aunt belongs to four persons; the son and the daughter of the
paternal great-aunt are the son and the daughter of the sister of
the grandfather, and the grandson or the granddaughter by the daughter
of the great-grandfather, or the great-grandmother, and cousins of
the father or mother; the number of the persons being the same as
above stated. The son and the daughter of the maternal great-uncle
are the son and daughter of the brother of the grandmother, or the
grandson and granddaughter by the son, and the male and female cousins
of the father or the mother; and the number is the same as that given
above. The son and the daughter of the maternal great-aunt, that is
to say, the children of a sister of the grandmother, the grandson
and granddaughter by the daughter of the great-grandfather or great-grandmother,
and the cousins of the father or mother according to the same computation.
The persons whom we have just
enumerated from the son of the paternal great-uncle, concerning whose
relationship a question may arise, are properly designated cousins,
for, as Massurius says, a person whom anyone calls next in degree
to his cousin, who is a cousin of his father or mother, is designated
by him as the son or daughter of the cousin. The grandson and granddaughter
of the paternal uncle are the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter
of the paternal grandfather or the paternal grandmother, descended
from a grandson or a granddaughter by a son, and are the children
of cousins.
These include eight persons, that
is four grandsons and four granddaughters, for the reason that the
term paternal uncle is understood to be one of twofold meaning, and
the grandson or the granddaughter are doubled, so far as the two kinds
of uncles are concerned. The grandson or the granddaughter of the
paternal aunt are the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter born
to a grandson or a granddaughter of the paternal grandfather or grandmother,
and are the sons and daughters of cousins; and the number is the same.
The grandson and granddaughter of the maternal uncle are the great-grandson
and great-granddaughter of the maternal grandfather or grandmother.
The remainder are the same, as in the case of grandson or granddaughter
of the paternal uncle (the grandson and granddaughter of the maternal
aunt, that is to say, the great-grandson of the great-granddaughter,
by a grandson or granddaughter of the maternal grandfather or grandmother;
and the number of persons is the same).
All those whom we have just mentioned
from the grandson of the paternal uncle, in the case where relationship
is in question, are considered next in line to the cousin, for he
is the cousin of the father or mother. The great-grandson and the
great-granddaughter of a brother: in this degree sixteen persons are
included, the term brother being understood in two ways, and the great-grandson
and the great-granddaughter each being understood in four ways (as
we previously mentioned). The degree of great-grandson and great-granddaughter
of the sister likewise includes sixteen persons. The great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-granddaughter are the children of the great-great-grandson
and the great-great-granddaughter, the grandson and granddaughter
of the great-grandson or the great-granddaughter, the great-grandson
and the great-granddaughter of the grandson or the granddaughter;
the great-great-grandchildren of the son or the daughter. Thirty-two
persons are included under this appellation, for the great-great-great-grandson
includes sixteen, and the great-great-great-granddaughter the same
number.
(17)
Four hundred and forty-eight persons are included in the sixth degree,
as follows: the great-great-great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandfather
of the father, or mother, the great-great-grandfather, the grandfather
or grandmother, the great-grandfather of the great-grandfather or
great-grandmother, the grandfather of the great-great-grandfather
or the grandmother, and the grandfather of the great-great-grandfather
or grandmother, and the father of the great-great-great-grandfather
or the great-great-great-grandmother. He is called the grandfather
in the third degree. Thirty-two persons are included in this class.
For the number to which the great-great-great-grandfather belongs
must be doubled, a change being made with reference to each person,
so far as the relation of great-great-great-grandfather is concerned;
so that there are sixteen ways of being the father of the great-great-great-grandfather,
and as many of being the father of the great-great-great-great-grandmother.
The term great-great-great-great-grandmother
likewise includes thirty-two persons, the paternal great-great-uncle,
that is to say the brother of the great-great-grandfather, the son
of the great-great-great-grandfather and mother, the paternal great-great-uncle
of the father or mother. The sixteen persons mentioned as included
in the term are the following: the father, the grandfather, the great-grandfather,
the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandfather, the
brother of the great-great-grandfather; the father, the grandfather,
the great-grandfather, the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandmother,
the brother of the great-great-grandfather ; the father, the grandfather,
the great-grandmother, the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandfather,
the brother of the great-great-grandfather; the father, the grandfather,
the great-grandmother, the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandmother,
the brother of the great-great-grandfather; the father, the grandmother,
the great-grandfather, the great-great-grandfather, the great-great-great-grandfather,
the brother of the great-greatgrandfather; the father, the grandmother,
the great-grandfather, the great - great - grandfather, the great
- great - great - grandmother, the brother of the great-great-grandfather;
the father, the grandmother, the great-grandmother, the great-great-grandfather,
the great-great-great-grandfather, the brother of the great-great-grandfather;
the father, the grandmother, the great-grandmother, the great-greatgrandfather,
the great-great-great-grandmother, the brother of the great-great-grandfather.
The same number are included on
the mother's side. The maternal great-great-uncle, that is to say
the brother of the great-great-grand-mother, and the maternal great-uncle
of the father or mother. The number in the order of the persons is
the same as above mentioned; the only change being that the brother
of the great-great-grandmother is introduced instead of the brother
of the great-great-grandfather. The paternal great-great-aunt is the
sister of the great-great-grandfather, and the maternal great-great-aunt
of the mother; and the others proceed in regular order, as in the
case of the paternal great-great-uncle, with the exception that the
sister of the great-greatgrandfather is substituted instead of the
brother of the great-greatgrandfather. The maternal great-great-aunt
is the sister of the great-great-grandmother, and the great-aunt of
the father or mother, and the other degrees proceed as above, except
that, at the last, the sister of the great-great-grandmother is introduced
instead of the brother of the great-great-grandmother.
Certain authorities designate
by the following specific names all those whom we have traced from
the paternal great-great-uncle, the maternal great-great-uncle, the
paternal great-great-uncle, the paternal great-great-aunt, and the
maternal great-great-aunt; therefore, we use these terms indiscriminately.
Those whom I designate by these names call me the great-great-grandson
of their brother or their sister. The son and the daughter of the
paternal great-great-uncle are the son and daughter of the brother
of the great-grandfather, and the grandson and granddaughter of the
great-great-grandfather or great-great-grandmother, by the great-grandfather
through his son. There are sixteen persons in this class, the enumeration
being made in the same manner as was done in the fifth degree, when
we explained the relation of the paternal great-great-uncle; only
adding one more son or daughter, because it is necessary to include
as many persons in this class, as in those of the paternal great-great-uncle,
that is to say, eight. With reference to the person of the daughter,
the number computed is the same as that mentioned above; the son and
the daughter of the paternal great-great-aunt are the children of
the sister of the great-grandfather, and the grandson and the granddaughter
by the great-great-grandfather or the great-great-grandmother through
the great-grandfather by a daughter. In this instance, we compute
the persons according to the same rule. The son and daughter of the
maternal great-great-uncle are the children of the great-grandfather
and the great-grandmother, and the grandchildren of the great-great-great-grandfather,
and the great-great-great-grandmother through the great-grandmother
by a son. The enumeration, in this case, should be made just as in
that of the son and daughter of the paternal great-great-uncle. The
son and the daughter of the maternal great-great-aunt are the son
and the daughter of the sister of the great-grandmother, and the grandson
and granddaughter of the great-great-grandfather and the great-great-grandmother
through the great-grandmother by a daughter, the number and definitions
of the persons being the same as above.
All of those whom we have mentioned
as descended from the son of the paternal great-great-uncle are cousins
of the grandfather and grandmother, and the great-uncles and great-aunts
of the person whose relationship is in question; and they are also
distant cousins of the brothers and sisters of the father or mother
on both sides. The grandson and the granddaughter of a paternal great-uncle
and a paternal great-aunt, of a maternal great-uncle and a maternal
great-aunt, each of which classes includes sixty-four persons. For
as the person of the great-uncle has four different significations,
that of the grandson has two, the number is doubled in speaking of
the grandson, and he who is doubled is also quadrupled.
Where the granddaughter is concerned,
the number is also doubled; and we will mention one of these enumerations,
by way of example. The father, the grandfather, the great-grandfather,
the brother of the grandfather, who is the paternal great-uncle, his
son, and his grandson, by a son, and also his granddaughter; the father,
the grandfather, the great-grandmother, the brother of the grandfather,
who is the paternal great-uncle, his son, his grandson by his son,
and his granddaughter; the father, the grandfather, the great-grandfather,
the father of the grandfather who is the paternal great-uncle of his
daughter, and his grandson by his daughter, likewise, his grand-daughter;
the father, the grandfather, the great-grandmother, the brother of
the grandfather, who is the paternal great-uncle, his daughter, his
grandson by his daughter, and also his granddaughter. Under the same
rule, there are as many, beginning with the mother, that is to say
if we compute the grandsons and granddaughters of the brother of the
maternal grandfather. This also applies to the paternal great-aunt;
that is to say, where we enumerate the grandchildren of the sister
of the grandfather. The same rule also applies to the maternal great-uncle,
that is to say, the brother of the grandmother. According to the same
rule, the computation is made with reference to the maternal great-aunt,
that is to say, the sister of the grandmother; from whom the entire
number of sixty-four descendants is derived. All of these are the
great-grandsons or great-granddaughters of the great-grandfather or
great-grandmother of the person whose relationship is in question,
the grandsons or granddaughters of the brother or sister of the same
grandfather or grandmother.
And, on the other hand, the grandfather
and grandmother, the paternal great-uncle and the paternal great-aunt,
the maternal great-uncle and the maternal great-aunt of the same person.
There are, in addition, the father and the mother of the same person,
and the brothers and sisters of both of these in the degree above
cousins, and he is their cousin, and they are his.
The great-grandson of the paternal
uncle and his granddaughter include eight persons; for there are sixteen
of both sexes; namely, the father, the grandfather, the paternal uncle,
the son of the latter, his grandson by a son, his great-grandson through
his son by a grandson, and his great-granddaughter; the father, the
grandmother, the paternal uncle, the son of the paternal uncle, his
grandson through his son, his great-grandson by a grandson through
his son, and his great-granddaughter; the father, the grandfather,
the paternal uncle, the daughter of the latter, his grandson by his
daughter, his great-grandson by his grandson by his daughter's son,
and his great-granddaughter ; the father, the grandmother, the paternal
uncle, the daughter of the paternal uncle, his grandson by his daughter,
his great-grandson born to his grandson by his daughter, and his great-granddaughter;
the father, the grandfather, the paternal uncle, the son of the paternal
uncle, the granddaughter by the son of his daughter, the great-grandson
born to the son of his daughter, and his great-granddaughter; the
father, the grandmother, the great-uncle, the son of the great-uncle,
his granddaughter by his son, his great-grandson born to his son through
his granddaughter, and also his great-granddaughter; the father, the
grandfather, the great-uncle, the daughter of the great-uncle, his
granddaughter by his daughter, his great-grandson born to his granddaughter
by his daughter, and his great-granddaughter ; the father, the grandmother,
the paternal uncle, the daughter of the paternal uncle, his granddaughter
by his daughter, his great-grandson by his granddaughter through his
daughter, and his granddaughter, the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter
of the paternal aunt. Under the same rule this class contains the
same number of persons by substituting the paternal aunt for the paternal
uncle. This also applies to the great-grandson and great-granddaughter
of the maternal uncle, the latter being introduced instead of the
paternal uncle. The great-grandson and great-granddaughter of the
paternal aunt, and, in this instance, the maternal aunt is substituted
instead of the paternal uncle, and we find the same number of persons.
All of these are the grandsons or granddaughters of the cousins of
him whose relationship is in question.
The great-great-grandson and the
great-great-granddaughter of the brother and sister give rise to sixty-four
persons, as appears from what is above stated. The great-great-great-grandson
and great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson or the
great-great-granddaughter of the son of the daughter, and the great-great-grandson
and the great-great-granddaughter of the great-grandson, and the great-granddaughter
of the great-grandson, or the great-granddaughter of the great-grandson
or the great-granddaughter, or the grandson and granddaughter of the
great-great-grandson or the great-great-granddaughter, or the son
of the daughter of the great-great-grandson or the great-great-granddaughter.
These appellations include sixty-four persons, for the grandson in
the third degree gives rise to thirty-two, and the granddaughter in
the third degree to the same number. For from the great-great-grandson
the number is quadrupled, making thirty-two, as the term grandson
itself signifies two persons, the great-grandson four, the great-great-grandson
eight, the great-great-great-grandson sixteen. To these are added
the grandson and the granddaughter in the third degree, one of whom
is born to the great-great-great-grandson, and the other to the great-great-great-granddaughter.
Moreover, the same duplication is made in each individual degree,
for the females are added to the males, from whom each one is derived
in regular order, and they are enumerated as follows: the son, the
grandson, the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the daughter, the grandson, the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter ; the daughter, the
grandson, the great-grandson, the great - great - grandson, the great
- great - great - grandson, the great-great-great-great-grandson and
the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the son, the granddaughter,
the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the daughter, the granddaughter, the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great grandson, the great-great-great-great grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the son, the grandson,
the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great grandson and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the daughter, the grand-son,the great-granddaughter,the great-great-grandson,the
great-great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-great-grandson,
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the son, the granddaughter,
the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter
; the daughter, the granddaughter, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-great grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the son, the grandson,
the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter
; the daughter, the grandson, the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the son, the grandson,
the great-grandson, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-great-grandson,
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the grandson,
the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-great-grandson,
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the granddaughter,
the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-great-grandson,
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the granddaughter,
the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-great grandson and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter
; the son, the grandson, the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, and the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the grandson,
the great-grandson, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-great
granddaughter; the son, the granddaughter, the great-grandson, the
great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson,
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the son, the granddaughter,
the great grandson, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great -great - grandson and the great - great - great
- great - granddaughter ; the daughter, the granddaughter, the great-grandson,
the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-granddaughter, the
great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter
; the son, the grandson, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the grandson,
the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson,
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the granddaughter,
the great-granddaughter, the great-great-grandson, the great-great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the grandson, the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson,
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the grandson,
the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter
; the son, the grandson, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the daughter, the grandson,
the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the son, the granddaughter, the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter ; the daughter, the
granddaughter, the great-grandson, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter; the son, the granddaughter,
the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-great-grandson and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter;
the daughter, the granddaughter, the great-granddaughter, the great-great-granddaughter,
the great-great-great-granddaughter, the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter.
(18)
One hundred and twenty-four persons are included in the seventh degree,
beginning with the father and the mother of the great-great-great-great-grandfather
and the great-great-great-great-grandmother. These constitute in all
a hundred and twenty-eight persons, for there are as many fathers
and mothers of the great-great-great-great-grandfather as of the great-great-great-great-grandmother,
and these make sixty-four. The brother and the sister of the great-great-great-grandfather
and the great-great-great-grandmother are the son and daughter of
the great-great-great-great-grandfather, the paternal and maternal
uncle and the paternal and maternal aunt of the great-great-grandfather
and the great-great-grandmother; the paternal great-uncle and the
maternal great-uncle, the paternal great-aunt and the maternal great-aunt
of the great-grandfather and the great-grandmother ; the paternal
great-great-uncle, the maternal great-great-uncle, the paternal great-great-aunt,
and the maternal great-great-aunt of the grandfather or grandmother;
the paternal great-great-uncle, the maternal great-great-uncle, the
paternal great-great-aunt and the maternal great-great aunt of the
father or mother.
The persons connected with the
brother of the great-great-greatgrandfather are thirty-two in number,
for there are sixteen derived from the great-great-great-grandfather,
and as many more are necessarily added on account of the duplication
of the person of the brother. For sixteen brothers of the great-great-great-grandfather
are computed as descending from his father, as well as sixteen from
his mother. In like manner the sisters of the great-great-great-grandfather
are thirty-two in number. This makes sixty-four in all, and as many
for the brother and sister of the great-great-great-grandmother must
be reckoned. The son and the daughter of the paternal great-great-uncle
are the grandson of the great-great-great-grandfather and the granddaughter
by his son, the son and daughter of the brother of the great-great-grandfather.
The son and the daughter of the paternal great-great-aunt are the
grandson of the great-great-great-grandfather and granddaughter by
his daughter, the son and the daughter of the sister of the great-great-grandfather.
The son and the daughter of the maternal great-great-uncle are the
grandson of the great-great-great-great-grandfather and the granddaughter
by his son, the son and the daughter of the brother of the great-great-grandmother.
The son and the daughter of the maternal great-great-aunt are the
grandson and the granddaughter of the great-great-great-grandfather,
by his granddaughter by a daughter, the son and daughter of the sister
of the great-great-grandmother.
All these persons whom we have
mentioned as being descended from the son of the paternal great-great-uncle
are the cousins of the greatgrandfather and the great-grandmother
whose relationship is in question, one degree above the cousins of
his grandfather and grandmother. Each one of these names includes
sixteen persons, because when the paternal great-great-uncle gives
rise to sixteen, his son and his daughter each gives rise to the enumeration
of as many more; and from all those which we trace back to the son
of the paternal great-great-uncle by multiplying eight by sixteen,
we obtain one hundred and twenty-eight.
The term grandson of the paternal
great-uncle includes sixteen persons. For he is the great-grandson
of the great-great-grandfather and the great-great-grandmother, and
as the great-great-grandfather is counted eight times, the grandsons
being counted twice eight times, make up the above-mentioned number.
The same rule applies to the granddaughter of the paternal great-uncle.
According to the same rule the
grandson and granddaughter of the maternal great-great-uncle include
thirty-two persons. The grandson and granddaughter of the paternal
great-aunt under this classification includes the same number. This
also applies to the grandson and the granddaughter of a maternal great-aunt,
and hence, for all of these, a hundred and twenty-eight persons are
obtained. The grandfather and grandmother of the person whose relationship
is in question are related in the degree above cousins to the persons
herein- before mentioned, namely, the father, the mother and the male
and female cousins. He whose degree of relationship is in question
is their cousin, but in an inferior degree, and, as Trebatius says,
this is done to indicate that they are related; and he gives as the
reason for this, that the last degrees of relationship are those of
cousins. Therefore, the son of my cousin is very properly called my
near relative; and he is also called the son of my cousin. Hence those
who are born of cousins call one another near relatives, for they
have no special name by which they may be designated.
The great-grandson and the great-granddaughter
of the paternal great-uncle, the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter
of the maternal great-uncle, the great-grandson and the granddaughter
of the paternal great-aunt, the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter
of the maternal great-aunt: from all these a hundred and twenty-eight
persons are derived, because each of these appellations includes sixteen.
For example, the term paternal great-uncle is understood in four different
ways, the persons of each paternal great-uncle being quadrupled; the
great-grandson and the great-granddaughter include thirty-two persons;
and this number multiplied by four makes the entire number above mentioned.
The fathers and mothers of these are the cousins of him whose degree
of relationship is in question, and he is their cousin.
The great-great-grandson and the
great-great-granddaughter of the paternal uncle, the great-great-grandson
and the great-great-granddaughter of the maternal uncle, the great-great-grandson
and the great-great-granddaughter of the paternal aunt, the great-great-grandson
and the great-great-granddaughter of the maternal aunt: each of these
terms includes sixteen persons; for example, the great-great-grandson
of the paternal uncle is enumerated in such a way that his great-grandson
and great-granddaughter shall be counted as four, and their children
will amount to sixteen. The same rule applies to the daughter as to
the others, and in this way the entire number is brought up to a hundred
and twenty-eight. These are the great-grandson and the great-granddaughter
of the cousins of him whose degree of relationship is in question;
the sons and daughters of the paternal great-great-uncle, the maternal
great-great-uncle, the paternal great-great-aunt, and the maternal
great-great-aunt, of those whose degree of relationship is in question.
The same rule applies to the cousin
of the great-grandfather and the great-grandmother. The great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of the brother or sister
include one hundred and twenty-eight persons. The son and daughter
of the great-great-great-great-grandson, and the son and daughter
of the great-great-great-great-granddaughter : these also constitute
a hundred and twenty-eight persons, because as the great-great-great-great-grandson
and the great-great-great-great-granddaughter include sixty-four persons
(as we have previously stated), their son and their daughter under
the same enumeration will each include as many more.
Tit. 11.
Concerning praetorian possession with reference to husband and wife.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLVII.
In
order that praetorian possession of an estate may be demanded in case
of the intestacy of either the husband or the wife, there must be
a lawful marriage. On the other hand, if the marriage is unlawful,
praetorian possession of the estate cannot be demanded. In like manner,
the estate cannot be entered upon under the will, nor can praetorian
possession, in accordance with the terms of the will be claimed; for
nothing can be acquired where a marriage is illegal.
(1)
In order that praetorian possession of this kind may be obtained,
the woman must be the wife of her husband at the time of his death.
If a divorce has occurred, even though the marriage still exists according
to law, this succession will not take place. This may happen in certain
instances; for example, where a freedwoman is divorced without the
consent of her patron; as the Lex Julia relating to the marriages
of different orders still retains the woman in the matrimonial condition,
and forbids her to marry another against the consent of her patron.
The Lex Julia with reference to adultery renders a divorce
void if it is not obtained in a certain way.
Tit. 12.
Concerning the succession of veterans and soldiers.
1.
Macer, On Military Affairs, Book II.
Paulus
and Menander say that a soldier who deserves to suffer the punishment
of death should be permitted to make a will; and if he should die
intestate, after having been punished, his property will belong to
his next of kin; provided he is punished for a military offence, and
not for an ordinary crime.
2.
Ulpianus, Opinions, Book XVI.
The
castrensian property of a soldier who died intestate cannot be claimed
by the Treasury, if he left a lawful heir, who is within the sixth
degree; or one next of kin in the same degree demands praetorian possession
within the prescribed time.
Tit. 13.
Concerning those who are not entitled to praetorian possession of
an estate.
1.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVIII.
If
my slave was appointed an heir, and I fraudulently prevented the testator
from changing his will, and I afterwards manumitted the slave, the
question arises whether actions to recover the estate should be refused
to him. I answered, that this case is not included in the terms of
the Edict; it is, however, but just, if the master was guilty of fraud,
to prevent the will by which a slave was appointed heir from being
changed; and he, even though he was manumitted, should accept the
estate, the actions should be denied him, as an action is denied an
emancipated son, where his father has committed fraud in order to
prevent the testator from changing his will.
Tit. 14.
Concerning praetorian possession of property granted by special laws
or decrees of the Senate.
1.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIX.
The
Praetor says: "I will grant the possession of property, whenever
it must be given under the terms of any law or decree of the Senate."
(1)
Praetorian possession of property, although obtained under some other
Section of the Edict, does not interfere with possession of this kind.
(2)
Where anyone is entitled to an estate by the Law of the Twelve Tables,
he cannot demand it under this part of the Edict, but under another
Section relating to necessary heirs; for, under this Section, praetorian
possession is not granted unless a special law provides for it.
Tit. 15.
What order is to be observed in granting praetorian possession.
1.
Modestinus, Pandects, Book VI.
The
following are the degrees of praetorian possession on the ground of
intestacy: first, that of the proper heirs; second, that of the heirs
at law; third, that of the next of kin; finally that of husband and
wife.
(1)
Praetorian possession on the ground of intestacy is granted where
there is no will, or where there is one and no application is made
for possession of the estate either in accordance with the provisions
of the will, or in opposition to them.
(2)
Praetorian possession of the estate of a father dying intestate is
granted to his children; not only to such as were under his control
at the time of his death, but also to those who have been emancipated.
2.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLIX.
The
time for claiming praetorian possession of the estate is an available
one. It is designated available, because all the days of which it
is composed can be taken advantage of; that is to say, all the days
are included on which he who was entitled to the succession had knowledge
of, and could have accepted it. There is no doubt, however, that the
days on which he did not know of the succession, or could not have
demanded it, are not included. Still, it may happen that where the
person interested was aware of the facts, or could have claimed possession
in the first place, was subsequently misinformed, or thought that
he had no right to acquire possession; for instance, if he knew from
the beginning that the owner of the property had died intestate, and
afterwards doubted whether this was the case, or whether he died testate,
or whether he was still living; because a rumor of this kind was afterwards
circulated. On the other hand, it may also happen that a person who
at first was ignorant that he had a right to the succession may afterwards
ascertain that he was entitled to it.
(1)
It is clear that while the days prescribed for demanding praetorian
possession of an estate are available ones, those during which court
is in session are not included, provided the praetorian possession
is of such a nature that it can be demanded without ceremony. But
what if the possession is such that it requires an investigation by
a tribunal, or a decree of the Praetor ? In this instance, the
days of the session of the tribunal during which the Praetor has rendered
his decision, and on which nothing has been done by him to prevent
possession of the estate from being granted, must be computed.
(2)
With reference to the praetorian possession of an estate which is
granted in court, inquiry is made whether the Praetor presided in
his tribunal, and did not grant possession to the parties demanding
it; for it must be said that the time for obtaining possession does
not begin to run while the presiding magistrate is occupied with other
matters, either those relating to military affairs, or the custody
of prisoners, or special investigations.
(3)
If the Governor of the province was in the neighboring town, the
time required for making the journey must be added to that prescribed
by law, that is to say, by allowing twenty thousand paces to a day;
nor should we expect the Governor of the province to come to the home
of him who claims possession of the estate.
(4)
When an unborn child is placed in possession, there is no doubt that
the prescribed time for demanding it should not run against those
in the next degree, not only during the hundred days, but also for
the time during which the child may be born; for it must be remembered
that, even if he is born before this time, praetorian possession will
be granted him.
(5)
Pomponius says that the knowledge which is necessary is not such as
is exacted from persons learned in the law, but is what anyone can
acquire, either by himself or through others; that is to say, by taking
the advice of persons learned in the law, as the diligent head of
the household should do.
3.
Paulus, On the Edict, Book XLIV.
The
knowledge of the father with reference to praetorian possession will
not prejudice the rights of a son in such a way as to make the prescribed
time run against him, if he is not informed.
4.
Julianus, Digest, Book XXVIII.
If
you have been substituted for your co-heir, and you obtain possession
of an estate, and your co-heir determines not to demand possession
of the same, the entire possession will be understood to be given
to you, and your co-heir will not even have the power of afterwards
claiming possession.
(1)
A son is entitled to the term of one year in which to demand [possession,
not only where he does so as a son, but where he demands it as an
agnate, or a cognate; just as where a father manumits his son, and
although he may demand possession of the estate, as having been manumitted,
still, he will be entitled to a term of a year in which to do so.
5.
Marcellus, Digest, Book IX.
Where
praetorian possession of an estate is granted to a son under paternal
control, the days on which he is unable to notify his father, so that
the latter may either direct him to accept possession, or ratify the
possession which has already taken place, will not run against him.
Suppose that, on the first day when he knew that he was entitled to
praetorian possession of the estate he had accepted it, and could
not notify his father in order that he might approve of what he had
done, the hundred days will not run against him. They will, however,
begin to run from the date when his father could have been informed,
but, after the hundred days have elapsed, the ratification will be
void.
(1)
It may be asked if, when a son was able to demand praetorian possession
of an estate, his father was absent so that he could not notify him;
or if he was insane, and the son should neglect to demand possession,
whether he could do so afterwards. But how can it prejudice his rights,
if the possession of the estate was not demanded, when, if this had
been done, it could not have been obtained unless the father had ratified
the act?
(2)
If a slave belonging to another is appointed heir, and then is sold
by his master, the question arises whether the days prescribed for
demanding praetorian possession must be considered to run against
the new master. It is settled that the time to which the former master
was entitled will run against him.
Tit. 16.
Concerning proper heirs and heirs at law.
1.
Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XII.
Those
are properly called intestates who, having testamentary capacity,
did not exert it. Moreover, where a man has made a will and his estate
has not been entered upon, or if his will is broken, or void, he is
not improperly said to have died intestate. It is clear that anyone
who cannot make a will is not correctly styled intestate, as, for
example, a minor under the age of puberty, an insane person, or one
who is forbidden to have charge of his own property; still, we should
also understand such persons to be intestate. He also is regarded
as intestate who has been captured by the enemy, since by the Cornelian
Law his succession passes to those to whom it would go if he had died
in his own country; for his estate is held to be transmitted to his
heirs.
(1)
It may be asked, if a child conceived by and born of a female slave
who has suffered from delay in the execution of a trust granting her
her freedom will be the proper heir of its father. And, as it has
been established that it was born free, in accordance with a Rescript
of the Divine Marcus and Verus, and Our Emperor Antoninus Augustus,
why should not the said female slave be considered as absolutely manumitted,
so that, after having been married, she may be able to bring forth
a proper heir? It is not strange that a child can be born free whose
mother is a female slave, as it has been stated in a rescript
that a child born of a woman who is a captive is freeborn. Wherefore,
I venture to say that if the father of the child was of the same condition
as the mother, that is, if he suffered from the delay of the heir
in granting his freedom under a trust, the child born to the father
would be his heir, just as in the case where his parents are captives,
and he returns with them. Therefore, if the father should manumit
him, subsequent to the delay, he will receive him under his control.
Or if he should die before being manumitted, the child will be born
the proper heir.
(2)
We understand proper heirs to be children of both sexes, and natural
or adopted children.
(3)
Sometimes a son who is a proper heir is excluded from the estate of
his father, and the Treasury is preferred to him; for example, if
his father should after his death be condemned for treason, what must
be done in this case? In this case the son would be deprived of the
rights of sepulture.
(4)
When a son ceases to be a proper heir, all the grandsons and grandchildren
born to him will succeed to his share of the estate, where they are
under his control. This rule is based on the principles of natural
equity. Again, a son ceases to be a proper heir if, through the entire
or partial loss of civil rights, he leaves the control of his father.
But if the son is in the hands of the enemy, the grandsons will not
succeed him as long as he lives. Hence, if he is ransomed from captivity,
they will not succeed him until he has reimbursed the person who ransomed
him. If, however, in the meantime, he should die, as it is settled
that at the time of his death he had recovered his former condition,
he will be an obstacle to the succession of his grandchildren.
(5)
If a child does not cease to be under the control of his father, because
he has never begun to be under his control, as, for instance, if my
son should be taken captive by the enemy during the lifetime of my
father, and should die in captivity after I have become my own master,
my grandson will be entitled to the succession in his place.
(6)
Granddaughters, as well as grandsons, succeed to the place of their
parents.
(7)
Sometimes, although a father does not cease to be under paternal control,
and, indeed, has never begun to be under such control, we, nevertheless,
say that his children succeed to him as proper heirs; for instance,
where I have arrogated a man whose son has been captured by the enemy,
and whose grandson was at home, and the son who was arrogated having
died, and the captive who was in the hands of the enemy having also
died, the great-grandson of the latter will become my proper heir.
(8)
It must, however, be remembered that grandsons and their successors,
although their parents may precede them at the time of death, can
still sometimes be proper heirs, although succession does not exist
among proper heirs. This may take place where the head of a household,
having made a will, dies after disinheriting his son, and while the
appointed heir is deliberating whether or not he will accept the estate,
the son dies, and the appointed heir afterwards rejects the estate.
The grandson can then be the proper heir, as Marcellus, in the Tenth
Book, also says, since the estate has never passed to the son. The
same rule will apply where the son is appointed heir to the entire
estate, under a condition with which it was within his power to comply;
or a grandson is appointed under any kind of a condition, and both
of them die before it is complied with. For it must be held that those
can succeed as proper heirs, provided they were either born, or even
had been conceived at the time of the testator's death. This opinion
is also adopted by Julianus and Marcellus.
(9)
After the proper heirs, the heirs related by blood are called to the
succession.
(10)
Cassius defines heirs by blood to be those who are united with one
another by the tie of consanguinity. It is true that these are heirs
by blood, even if they are not the proper heirs of their father; as,
for example, where they have been disinherited. But even if their
father has been banished, they will, none the less, be related by
blood, even though they should not be the proper heirs of their father.
Those, also, who have never been under paternal control, will be related
to one another by blood; as, for instance, those who are born after
the captivity or death of their father.
(11)
Moreover, not only natural children, but also those who have been
adopted, will also enjoy the rights of consanguinity with such as
belong to their family, even where they are yet unborn, or have been
born after the death of their father.
2.
The Same, On Sabinus, Book XIII.
Next
in succession to blood-relatives, agnates are admitted, where there
are no blood-relatives. This is reasonable, for where there are blood-relatives
the estate does not pass to the heirs at law, even if the former do
not accept the estate. This should be understood to be the case where
no blood-relative is expected to come into existence. Moreover, if
a blood-relative can be born, or can return from captivity, the agnates
are prevented from claiming the succession.
(1)
Again, agnates are cognates of the male sex, descended from the same
person. For after my proper heirs and my blood-relatives, the son
of my blood-relative is next of kin to me, as I am to him. The same
rule applies to the brother of my father, who is called my paternal
uncle, as well as to the others in succession, and all who are descended
from the same source, ad infinitum.
(2)
This inheritance passes to the agnate who is the next of kin, namely,
him whom no one precedes, and where there are several in the same
degree to all of them; that is to say per capita. For instance,
if I had two brothers, or two paternal uncles, and one of them left
one son, and the other two, my estate would be divided into three
parts.
(3)
It makes little difference, however, whether the agnate referred to
acquired that character by birth or by adoption, for one who is adopted
becomes the agnate of the same persons to whom his adopted father
sustains the same relationship, and he will be entitled to their estates
by law, just as they will be to his.
(4)
An estate only passes by law to the next agnate. Nor does it make
any difference whether there is only one, or several of which one
stands first, or where there are two or more of the same degree who
precede the others, or are alone; because he is next in succession
whom no one precedes, and he is the last whom no one follows; and
sometimes the same one is both first and last, for the reason that
he happens to be the only one.
(5)
Sometimes, we admit to the succession an agnate who is of a more distant
degree; as, for instance, where someone, who has a paternal uncle,
and that uncle a son, makes a will, and, while the appointed heir
is deliberating whether or not he will accept the estate, the uncle
dies, after which the appointed heir rejects the estate, then the
son of the paternal uncle will be admitted to the succession. Hence
he can also demand praetorian possession of the estate.
(6)
We do not consider him to be the next of kin who was such at the time
that the head of the household died, but he who was such at the time
that it is certain that he died intestate. According to this, even
if he who was entitled to precedence was the proper heir or a blood-relative,
and neither of them was living at the time that the estate was rejected,
we consider him to be the next heir who was first in succession at
the time when the estate was rejected. Hence, it may be very fairly
asked whether we can still grant the succession, even after the rejection
of the estate. Suppose that the appointed heir was requested to transfer
the estate, and rejected it; as the Divine Pius stated in a Rescript,
he could, nevertheless, be compelled to accept and transfer the estate.
Suppose, for example, that he had lived over the hundred days prescribed
by law and that, in the meantime, the next heir had died, and that
afterwards, he also, who was asked to transfer the estate died. It
must be said that the heir in the next degree should be admitted to
the succession with the charge of executing the trust.
3.
The Same, On Sabinus, Book XIV.
When
a freedman dies without making a will, it is certain that his estate
first passes to his proper heirs, and, if there are none of these,
then to his patron.
(1)
We should understand a freedman to mean one whom any person has raised
from servitude to the dignity of a Roman citizen, either voluntarily
or through necessity, having been charged to manumit him, for his
patron will also be admitted to the legal succession of the freedman.
(2)
If anyone should manumit a dotal slave, he will be considered his
patron, and will be entitled to his estate as the heir at law.
(3)
It is clear that he whom I have purchased under the condition of manumitting
him, even though he may obtain his freedom by the Constitution of
the Divine Marcus, still (as is stated in the same Constitution) he
will become my freedman, and his estate will pass to me as heir at
law.
(4)
Where a slave has deserved his freedom under the Decree of the Senate,
for detecting the murder of his master, and the Praetor has assigned
him to anyone to become his freedman, he will undoubtedly become such,
and his estate will belong to his patron as his heir at law; but if
the Praetor did not assign him to anyone, he will indeed become a
Eoman citizen, but he will be the freedman of him of whom he was recently
the slave, and the former will be admitted to his succession as his
heir at law, unless he should be excluded from his estate as being
unworthy to receive it.
(5)
Anyone who compels his freed woman to swear that she will not marry
unlawfully does not come within the terms of the Lex Aelia Sentia.
If, however, he should compel his freedman to swear that he will
not marry within a certain time, or marry anyone without the consent
of her patron, or her fellow-freedwoman, or a female relative of his
patron, it must be said that he will be liable under the Lex Aelia
Sentia, and cannot be admitted, as the heir at law, to the freedman's
estate.
(6)
If municipal magistrates should manumit a slave of either sex, and
he or she should afterwards die intestate, he or she shall be admitted
to the succession as heir at law.
(7)
A soldier, by manumitting a slave constituting part of his peculium,
will make him his freedman, and can be admitted to his estate
as heir at law.
(8)
It is perfectly evident that the Emperor can be admitted to the succession
of the estates of his freedmen.
(9)
It is also certain that an unborn child will be admitted, as heir
at law, to an estate by a provision of the Twelve Tables, if he should
afterwards be born; and hence the agnates next in succession to him,
and over whom he has preference, must wait, in case he should be born.
Hence, he shares with those who are in the same degree; for instance,
where there is a brother of the deceased, and the unborn child; or
a son of the paternal uncle, and the child who is yet unborn.
(10)
Moreover, the question arose in what way a division should be made
in this case, for the reason that several children might be born at
a single birth. It was decided that if it was absolutely certain that
the woman who alleged that she was pregnant was not in that condition,
the child who was already born would be the heir to the entire estate,
since he becomes the heir without his knowledge. Wherefore, if in
the meantime he should die, he will transmit the estate unimpaired
to his own heir.
(11)
A child born after ten months is not admitted to the succession as
heir at law.
(12)
Hippocrates says, and the Divine Pius also stated in a Rescript addressed
to the Pontiffs, that a child was considered to have been born within
the time prescribed by law, and could not be held to have been conceived
in slavery, if its mother had been manumitted before the one hundred
and eighty-second day previous to delivery.
4.
Pomponius, On Sabinus, Book IV.
Children,
the civil status of whose father has been altered, retain the right
of inheritance, both with reference to other persons and among themselves,
and vice versa.
5.
Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLVI.
Where
anyone, having a brother and a paternal uncle, dies after having made
a will, and the brother then dies intestate while a condition imposed
upon the appointed heir is still pending, and the condition should
not afterwards be complied with, it is settled that the paternal uncle
can enter upon the estates of both the deceased brothers.
6.
Julianus, Digest, Book LIX.
Titius,
having disinherited his son, appointed a foreign heir under a condition.
The question arose, if after the death of the father and while the
condition was pending, the son should marry a wife and have a child,
and then should die, and the condition imposed upon the appointed
heir should not subsequently be complied with, whether the estate
would belong by law to the posthumous grandson, or to the grandfather.
The answer was, that a child conceived after the death of its grandfather
cannot, as the proper heir, obtain his estate, or, as his cognate,
acquire praetorian possession of the same; for the reason that the
Law of the Twelve Tables calls to the succession him who was in existence
at the time of the death of the person the disposition of whose estate
is in question.
7.
Celsus, Digest, Book XXVIII.
Or,
if he had been conceived in his lifetime, because a child who has
been conceived is, to a certain extent, considered as being in existence.
8.
Julianus, Digest, Book LIX.
The
Praetor, by his Edict also, on the ground of their being next of kin,
promises the possession of an estate to those who were cognates of
the deceased at the time of his death. For, although it is customary
to call those cognates grandsons who were conceived after the death
of their grandfather, this designation is not proper, but susceptible
of abuse, as it is based on analogy.
(1)
If anyone should leave his wife pregnant, and a mother and a sister,
and the mother should die during the lifetime of his wife, and his
wife should afterwards have a dead child, the estate will pass to
the sister alone, as the heir at law; because it is certain that the
mother died at a time when she could not lawfully have acquired the
estate.
9.
Marcianus, Institutes, Book V.
Where
some of several heirs at law, having been prevented by death, or by
some other cause fail to accept the estate, their shares will accrue
to the others who do accept it; and even though the latter may die
before this takes place, the right will still pass to their heirs.
The case of an appointed heir is different where his co-heir has been
substituted for him, as the estate will pass to the other, by virtue
of the substitution, if he is living; but if he should die, it will
not descend to his heir.
10.
Modestinus, Differences, Book VI.
If
the property of an intestate son passes to his father, who manumitted
him, as the heir-at-law, or, if not having manumitted him, he should
be entitled to praetorian possession of the same, the mother of the
deceased will be excluded.
11.
Pomponius, On Quintus Mucius, Book X.
The
rights of succession by law are extinguished by forfeiture of civil
rights, where these are derived from the Twelve Tables, and the forfeiture
takes place during the lifetime of anyone entitled to the estate,
or before she enters upon it, as he can no longer correctly be styled
either the proper heir or an agnate. This rule, however, is by no
means applicable to successions regulated by new enactments, or decrees
of the Senate.
12.
The Same, On Quintus Mucius, Book XXX.
The
son is the nearest agnate of his father.
13.
Gaius, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book X.
No
woman either has proper heirs, or can cease to have them, on account
of her loss of civil rights.
14.
The Same, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book XIII.
Formal
acceptance is not necessary for proper heirs, because they immediately
become heirs by operation of law.
15.
Papinianus, Questions, Book XXIX.
When
a father dies in the hands of the enemy, we consider that his son,
who has already died in his own country, was the head of the household
at the time of his death; although, as long as he lived, he was not
completely released from paternal authority. Therefore, this son can
have an heir, if his father does not return from captivity. If, however,
his father should return after the death of his son, he will, under
the law of postliminium, be entitled to whatever property the
former acquired in the meantime; and there is nothing extraordinary
in the fact that, in this case, the peculium of the deceased
son will pass to the father, as the former has always been under his
control by the constitution which establishes that the right has only
been in abeyance.
16.
The Same, Opinions, Book XII.
A father
inserted into the dotal contract executed at the time of his daughter's
marriage that she should receive a dowry, with the understanding that
she must expect nothing more from her father's estate. It Was decided
that this clause did not change the right of succession, for the contracts
of private individuals are not held to supersede the authority of
the laws.
Tit. 17.
On the Tertullian and Orphitian Decrees of the Senate.
1.
Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book XII.
Under
the Orphitian Decree of the Senate children can be admitted to the
succession of their mother whether she is freeborn or manumitted.
(1)
When any doubt exists with reference to the condition of the mother,
namely, whether she is independent or subject to paternal control
(as for instance, where her father is a captive in the hands of the
enemy), whenever it is positively established that she was her own
mistress when she died, her children will be entitled to her estate.
Hence the question arose whether or not, during the intermediate time
and while her condition was in suspense, relief should be granted
to the children by the Praetor, for fear that if they should die in
the interim they might not be able to transmit anything to their heirs.
The better opinion is that relief should be granted them, as has been
decided in many cases.
(2)
Illegitimate children are also admitted to the succession of their
mother as heirs at law.
(3)
An estate is sometimes granted to a son born in slavery, as heir at
law; for example, where he was born of a female slave while the heir
was in default for not granting his mother freedom under the terms
of a trust. It is certain that if he was born after the manumission
of his mother, he will be entitled to her estate as heir at law, even
though he was conceived in slavery; and even if he was conceived while
his mother was in the hands of the enemy but was born in captivity,
and returned with his, mother, he will have a right to her estate
as heir at law, just as an illegitimate child; according to a Rescript
of our Emperor and his Divine Father addressed to Ovinius Tertullus.
(4)
The estate of a mother is not transmitted to her son as heir at law,
who, at the time of her death, was a Roman citizen, and before the
estate was entered upon was reduced to slavery; not even if he should
afterwards become free, unless he had been made a penal slave and
was subsequently restored to his civil rights by the indulgence of
the Emperor.
(5)
If, however, the son was born after a surgical operation had been
performed upon his mother for that purpose, the better opinion is,
that he will be entitled to her estate as heir at law. For he can
demand praetorian possession, whether he was appointed heir, or his
mother died intestate, as belonging to the class of cognates, and,
still more, as one of the heirs at law. The proof of which is, that
an unborn child is admitted to praetorian possession of the estate
under every Section of the Edict.
(6)
Anyone who hires his services for the purpose of fighting wild beasts,
or who has been condemned for a capital crime and not restored to
his civil rights, is not entitled to the estate of his mother under
the Orphitian Decree of the Senate; but, on the ground of humanity,
it has been held that he can obtain it. The same rule will apply where
the son is under the control of him who is in the above-mentioned
condition, for he can be admitted to the succession of his mother
under the Orphitian Decree of the Senate.
(7)
If a mother, having several children, should make a will and appoint
one of them her heir under a condition, and the child should demand
praetorian possession of the estate while the condition was still
pending, and afterwards, the condition should not be fulfilled, it
is but just that the other children should not be deprived of the
estate as heirs at law. This Papinianus also stated in the Sixteenth
Book of Questions.
(8)
The forfeiture of civil rights which takes place in the case of children
without affecting their legal position, does not, in any way, prejudice
them as heirs at law; for it is only the ancient right of inheritance
which passes by the Law of the Twelve Tables that is extinguished
by the forfeiture of civil status, but those new rights which are
established by special taws or by the decrees of the Senate are not
lost under such circumstances. Hence, whether the civil rights of
a child were lost before or after it was entitled to its mother's
estate, it will still be admitted to the succession as heir at law,
unless the greater diminution of civil rights, which deprives a person
of citizenship, as, for instance, where he is deported, has taken
place.
(9)
"Let the ancient law be observed, where none of the children,
or none of those who are entitled to the estate as heir at law, desires
to obtain the estate." This clause was enacted in order that
the ancient law might not apply as long as there was a single child
who wished to obtain his mother's estate as heir at law. Hence, if
one of two children should accept the estate, and the other should
reject it, the share of the latter will accrue to the former. And
if the mother should leave a son and a patron, and the son should
reject the estate, it will pass to the patron.
(10)
If anyone, after having entered upon the estate of his mother, should
then reject it and obtain complete restitution, must the ancient law
be observed? The terms of the law admit that this can be done, as
it says, "Desires to obtain the estate," for, in this instance,
he has not this desire, although he had it originally; therefore I
hold that the ancient law will be applicable.
(11)
Moreover, will the succession pass to him who was at the time the
heir at law, or will it go to him who was the heir at law when the
estate passed to the son ? Suppose, for instance, that there was a
blood-relative of the deceased, as well as her son, and that the said
blood-relative died while the son was deliberating whether or not
he would accept the estate of his mother, and he should then reject
the estate; can the son of her blood-relative be admitted to the succession?
Julianus very properly thinks that, by the Tertullian Decree of the
Senate, there is ground for the admission of the nearest agnate.
(12)
The enactment of the Senate says, "Whatever has been judicially
decided is finally settled and terminated, and shall be valid,"
must be understood to mean a decision rendered by someone who had
the right to do so, whether reference is had to a transaction made
in good faith, in order to render it valid; or it was ended by consent,
or quieted by a long silence.
2.
The Same, On Sabinus, Book XIII.
A mother
is entitled to the benefit of the Tertullian Decree of the Senate,
whether she is freeborn, or has been manumitted.
(1)
We should understand the law referring to the son or the daughter
to apply to either such as are lawfully begotten or illegitimate.
Julianus, in the Fifty-ninth Book of the Digest, adopts this opinion
with reference to legitimate children.
(2)
If the son or the daughter has been manumitted, the mother cannot
claim his or her estate as heir at law, for she has ceased to be the
mother of children of this kind. This was the opinion of Julianus,
and it has also been decided by our Emperor.
(3)
Where, however, a woman conceived a child while in slavery, and it
was born after she was manumitted, it will be entitled to her estate
as her heir at law. The same rule applies if the slave conceived while
serving out a sentence, and the child was born after she was restored
to her rights. This will also be the case where she was free when
she conceived, but was serving out a sentence when the child was born,
and afterwards was restored to her rights. If, however, she was free
when she conceived, and the child was born after she had been reduced
to slavery, and she was subsequently liberated, the child will be
admitted to the succession as her heir at law. Likewise, it must be
said that she will be entitled to the benefit of the law, if she was
manumitted while pregnant. The mother will inherit the estate of her
child born in slavery, as its heir at law; for instance, if it was
born after the heir was in default in granting her her freedom, in
compliance with a trust; or where it was born while she was in the
hands of the enemy, and returned with her from captivity; or if it
was born after she was ransomed.
(4)
When a woman is of infamous reputation, she will, nevertheless, be
entitled to the estate of her child as heir at law.
(5)
A minor under the age of puberty, for whom his father made a pupillary
substitution, certainly dies intestate when his substitutes reject
the inheritance. Therefore, if the minor should be arrogated, it must
be said that his mother is entitled to the property which he would
have left if he had died intestate.
(6)
The children of the deceased, whether they are of the male or female
sex, or natural or adopted, if they are proper heirs, stand in the
way of their mother, and exclude her from succession as heir at law;
and those entitled to possession of the estate under the Praetorian
Edict also exclude their mother, even if they are not proper heirs,
provided they are natural children. Adopted children are also admitted
to the succession, after their emancipation, if they belong to the
number of natural children; as for instance, a natural grandson adopted
by his grandfather; for, even though he may be emancipated, if he
obtains praetorian possession, he will take precedence of his mother.
(7)
Where, however, a son is in the hands of the enemy, or is yet unborn,
the mother's right remains in suspense until he returns from captivity,
or is born.
(8)
When there are proper heirs, who, however, are not entitled to the
estate, let us see whether the mother can be admitted to the succession
; for instance, when they reject the estate. Africanus and Publicius
venture to hold that the mother will be admitted if the children do
not accept the estate, and will take precedence of her whenever they
are entitled to the property, in order that the mere name of proper
heir may not prejudice the right of the mother; which opinion is the
more equitable one.
(9)
Where anyone dies, leaving a daughter whom he had legally given in
adoption, and her mother, the Divine Pius decided that the Tertullian
Decree of the Senate did not apply to such a case; and that the mother
and daughter, as the next of kin, should be entitled to praetorian
possession of the estate. Julianus, however, says that the mother
cannot be admitted to the succession under the Decree of the Senate,
if the daughter should fail to demand possession under the Praetorian
Edict; but this is not true, for she succeeds her daughter, and hence
it must be held that the other cannot obtain praetorian possession
of the estate while the daughter has the right to demand it, as she
has the expectation of succeeding as heir at law.
(10)
If an emancipated son, after having acquired praetorian possession
of the estate, should abstain from taking it, in order to obtain complete
restitution, it is true that the Decree of the Senate will apply.
If, however, he should again meddle with the estate, the mother must,
a second time, refrain from applying for it.
(11)
Where one of the children of the deceased, who is yet unborn, is placed
in possession of the estate, and is afterwards born, and dies before
obtaining actual praetorian possession, let us see whether the rights
of the mother of the deceased will be prejudiced as praetorian possessor
of the estate. I think that her rights will not be affected, provided
the child was not born the proper heir of his father; for if it is
not sufficient for him to formally be placed in possession, unless,
after his birth, he obtained actual praetorian possession. Therefore,
if possession is granted to an insane person by a decree of the Praetor,
and he should die before he recovers his senses, and before actually
acquiring praetorian possession, he will not interfere so as to exclude
his mother.
(12)
If a child, whose condition is in controversy, has only obtained Carbonian,
praetorian possession, the question arises whether such possession
will prejudice the rights of the mother. Under these circumstances,
as possession of this description is terminated after a prescribed
period, it must be said that, after this period has elapsed, the rights
of the mother will not be prejudiced; or if the child should die under
the age of puberty, the mother will be entitled to the estate.
(13)
When, however, possession has been demanded for an infant by his guardian,
even though he may die immediately, it must be said that his mother
will be excluded, for this case is not similar to the one where praetorian
possession is given to an insane person.
(14)
Moreover, the mother is only excluded from the benefit of the Decree
of the Senate, where her son enters upon the estate as the heir at
law, but if he should fail to do so, his mother will be admitted to
the inheritance under the Tertullian Decree. Where, however, this
son is not the only heir at law, but there are others who can be admitted
with him, the mother will not be called to the succession of their
shares by the Decree of the Senate.
(15)
The father takes precedence of the mother in the succession of either
a son or a daughter, whether he appears as the heir, or is entitled
to praetorian possession of the estate. However, neither the grandfather
nor the father exclude the mother, under the Tertullian Decree of
the Senate, even though they may be charged with a trust. Only the
natural, and not the adoptive father takes precedence of the mother,
for the better opinion is that when the adoptive father ceases to
be such, he will be excluded by the mother; since he is not entitled
to praetorian possession of the estate contrary to the provisions
of the will, because he is no longer the father.
(16)
However, no matter in what way the natural father may have obtained
praetorian possession, whether on the ground of intestacy, or in opposition
to the terms of the will, in every instance, he excludes the mother.
(17)
If an agnate of the deceased and his mother survive him, and his natural
father belongs to an adoptive family, we admit the mother to the succession,
as the agnate excludes the father.
(18)
If a sister related by blood to the deceased survives him as well
as his mother, his father having either been adopted or emancipated,
and his sister desires to obtain the estate, it is settled by the
Decree of the Senate that the mother can be admitted with the sister,
and the father will be excluded. If the sister rejects the estate,
the mother cannot be admitted under the Decree of the Senate, because
of the father. Although, under other circumstances, the mother is
not required to wait until the sister decides whether or not she will
accept the estate; still, in this instance, she should wait, for it
is the sister who excludes the father. Therefore, if the sister rejects
the estate, the mother will be entitled to praetorian possession of
the same, along with the father, in the capacity of cognates. In this
case, she must suffer the delay, and cannot obtain praetorian possession
of the estate before the father himself demands it; since if he fails
to do so, she can then succeed under the Decree of the Senate.
(19)
But if the mother herself is the sister by blood of the deceased (for
example where the father of the mother adopted a grandson by the daughter)
and there is also a natural father; the mother who is entitled to
the succession as sister will exclude the father; if, however, she
rejects the right derived from her sister, or loses it through alteration
of her civil status, she cannot be admitted to the succession under
the Decree of the Senate, on account of the father, but if he rejects
the estate, she can still be admitted under the Decree of the Senate.
(20)
If the mother of a son or a daughter does not enter upon the estate
under the Tertullian Decree of the Senate, the ancient law with reference
to the inheritance of their property must be observed; for the ancient
law becomes operative when the preference granted to the mother no
longer exists, as will be the case, if she neglects to take advantage
of the Decree of the Senate.
(21)
If the mother should reject the praetorian possession, and deliberate
as to whether she will enter upon the estate under the provisions
of the Civil Law, it must be said that the agnate will not succeed,
as it has not yet been announced that the mother will not accept the
estate.
(22)
We, having said that the ancient law must be observed if the mother
does not accept the estate, must consider to whom it will pass, whether
to the next of kin at the time, or to the person who was next of kin
when it was certain that the son died intestate. For instance, if
there was a paternal uncle living at the time he died intestate, and
a son of the said paternal uncle living at the time when the mother
rejected the succession, the estate will not yet pass to the uncle;
and therefore, if the latter should die while the mother is deliberating,
his son will be called to the succession.
(23)
If the mother did not demand solvent guardians for her children, or
if the former ones having been excused or rejected, she did not immediately
present the names of others, she will not have the right to claim
for herself the property of her intestate children. And, indeed, if
she does not apply for guardians, she will be liable to the penalty
of the constitution, for it says, "Or not demand." But of
whom must this demand be made? The constitution, indeed, mentions
the Praetor, but I think that it will also be applicable in the provinces,
if she does not have recourse to the municipal magistrates, since
the necessity of making the appointment imposes an obligation upon
them.
(24)
But what if she did make the demand, only after having been notified
to do so by her freedman, or her relatives, would she be liable to
the penalty of the Decree of the Senate? I think that she would be,
if she allowed herself to be compelled to do so; but not if, after
having been notified, she did not delay in making the demand.
(25)
What course should be pursued if their father forbade the children
to demand a guardian, as he desired their property to be administered
by their mother? She will be liable to the penalty, if she does not
make the demand, and does not administer the guardianship in a proper
manner.
(26)
She could be excused if she does not demand guardians for her children,
when they are extremely poor.
(27)
If, during her absence, she has been anticipated by her freedmen or
by others, it must be said that she will not be excluded, unless this
has happened after she had refused to make the demand.
(28)
She will be punished for not demanding a guardian for her children;
but what if she does not demand one for her grandchildren? If she
does not demand one for them, she will also be punished.
(29)
What if she should not demand curators for her children? The rescript
is silent on this point, but it must be said that if she does not
demand curators for such of them as are under the age of puberty,
the same rule will apply; but this will not be the case where all
of them have reached the age of puberty.
(30)
But what if a woman, who is pregnant, does not demand a curator for
the property of her unborn child? I say that she will be liable to
the penalty, and also where she has a child under the age of puberty,
who is in the hands of the enemy.
(31)
What if she should not demand a guardian or a curator for her insane
son? The better opinion is that she will be liable.
(32)
Not only she who does not make the demand, but also she who has done
so without using proper care, is punishable (as is set forth in the
rescript), for instance, where a guardian is demanded who is exempt
by reason of some privilege; or who is already charged with three
guardianships; but in such a case she will only be liable to punishment
where she has acted designedly.
(33)
What must be done if she demanded persons of this kind, and they,
nevertheless, accepted or were retained? The mother shall be excused.
(34)
But what if she should demand, as guardians, persons who are incompetent,
that is to say, not qualified for the guardianship, being perfectly
aware that the Praetor would not appoint them? And what must be done
if the Praetor should appoint them, in accordance with the demand
of the mother ? In this instance, the Praetor is guilty of the offence;
but we also punish the design of the mother.
(35)
Hence, if these guardians are either excused or rejected, the mother
should apply for the appointment of others without delay.
(36)
Therefore, she will be punished if she does not apply for guardians
at all, or does not apply for such as are suitable, even if, through
the fault of the Praetor, persons who are incompetent should be appointed.
(37)
It may be a matter of doubt whether, by suitable guardians, it is
meant that she should demand those who are solvent, or persons of
good morals. I think that she can readily be excused if she applies
for the appointment of such as are wealthy.
(38)
The mother is also punished if, when the first guardians applied for
have been either excused or rejected, she does not immediately present
the names of others.
(39)
But what if all of them should neither be excused nor rejected; for
it must be considered whether she would be to blame for not having
demanded the appointment of another, instead of one who was excused
? I think that she would be to blame for not having done so.
(40)
What if one of the guardians should die? I think that, although the
law makes no provision on this point, the spirit of the constitution
will apply.
(41)
When we said "Rejected," must we understand this to refer
to those who were not appointed by the Praetor; or to such as have
been removed, on account of being suspected; or to those who have
been excluded because of negligence or ignorance? It is very properly
held that the latter are included among those rejected. Will those
who conceal themselves render her liable? This is difficult to decide,
for she is not to blame for not having denounced them as suspicious.
On the other hand, if they conceal themselves, she can, under the
Edict, apply to the Praetor to order them to appear, and if they do
not do so to remove them as being liable to suspicion.
(42)
What must be done if she does not compel them to administer the guardianship?
As we require the mother to discharge her entire duty, she must be
careful to do so, lest something may arise to exclude her from the
estate.
(43)
The term "Without delay" must be understood to mean as soon
as possible, that is to say, as soon as she has an opportunity to
appear before the Praetor who has jurisdiction of the matter; unless
she should be prevented by illness, or for any other good reason,
which would hinder her from sending someone to apply for the appointment
of guardians, provided that she does not exceed the term of a year
in doing so. If, however, she should be prevented by the death of
her son, she will not be at all responsible.
(44)
The following point can very properly be discussed; namely, where
a large legacy is left to a minor under the condition that he shall
not have any guardians; and, for this reason his mother does not demand
any for him, in order that the condition may not fail to be fulfilled;
will the condition be applicable to such a case? I think that it will
not, if the loss is less than the amount of the legacy. This question
is treated by Tertullianus with reference to municipal magistrates,
and he thinks that an action should be granted against them to the
extent that the amount of the loss exceeds the value of the legacy,
unless someone may think that this condition is, as it were, opposed
to the public welfare; and should be remitted, as many other conditions
are under different circumstances; or quibbling with reference to
the words employed, he may censure the mother for not applying for
the appointment of guardians. Suppose, however, that the condition
was more clearly expressed, should the mother be excused? Or should
she be held responsible for not having petitioned the.Emperor to remit
the condition? I think that she ought not to be considered responsible.
(45)
I also think that the mother should be excused when she does not apply
for a guardian for her insolvent son, since she consults his interest,
because, not being defended, he will be subject to less annoyance.
(46)
If anyone should appoint his wife, who is the mother of their common
son, his heir, and ask that she shall not be obliged to furnish security
to transfer the estate to him when he reaches the age of puberty,
and that his mother shall not be required to ask that guardians shall
be appointed for him; it must be held that the constitution will not
apply, as she has carried out the intention of the father, and did
not demand guardians for her son, who had no property. If, however,
she was not released from giving security, the contrary rule will
apply, since, on this account, he should have guardians. But if a
minor under the age of puberty should be arrogated after his mother
had failed to apply for the appointment of guardians, and should die,
it must be said that she will not be entitled to an action under the
stipulation, against the arrogator of her son.
(47)
When the mother is forbidden to claim her right under the Decree of
the Senate, it should be considered whether we shall admit the other
relatives, just as if there was no mother; or whether we may say that
she herself can become the heir, or adopt any other means, in order
to obtain the succession. We, however, refuse all actions to her under
such circumstances, and we learn from a Rescript of our Emperor Antoninus
Augustus and his Divine Father, addressed to Mammia Maximina, and
dated the day before the Ides of April, during the second term
of the Consulate of Plautianus, that if the mother is excluded, the
other relatives will be admitted to the succession just as if there
was no mother. Therefore, both the agnates and other relatives will
succeed; or, if there are none, the estate will be without ownership.
3.
Modestinus, Rules, Book VIII.
Most
authorities are of the opinion that an adoptive father does not exclude
the mother.
4.
The Same, Rules, Book IX.
It
is a rule of law that the property of a mother dying intestate belongs
to all the children, even if they are the issue of different marriages.
5.
Paulus, On the Tertullian Decree of the Senate.
It
is considered perfectly just for all the children of the deceased
to be preferred to the mother, even if they should be members of another
family by adoption.
(1)
A grandson, born to an adopted son, will exclude his mother from
the succession, according to the terms of the Decree of the Senate.
(2)
If the grandfather manumits his grandson by his son, and the former
should die leaving his father, his grandfather, and his mother, it
may be asked which of these is entitled to the preference? For if
the mother excludes the grandfather, who was the emancipator, and
who takes precedence of the father, the father of the deceased will
then be admitted to the succession, by the Edict of the Praetor. This
being the case, the Decree of the Senate will no longer apply, and
the grandfather will again be called to the succession. It will, therefore,
be more equitable to preserve the right for the grandfather, who is
ordinarily entitled to praetorian possession of an estate even against
the appointed heir.
6.
The Same, On the Orphitian Decree of the Senate.
Under
the terms of this Decree, the mother of the son is entitled to his
estate, even if she is under the control of another.
(1)
Let us see whether a son who has stated that he does not wish to accept
the estate of his mother, can, by virtue of these words, "If
none of them desires to accept the estate," enter upon it after
having changed his mind, before a blood-relative or an agnate does
so; because these terms have a broader meaning. And, as they have
a broad meaning, a year should be granted him in which to change his
mind, as he has a year in which to accept praetorian possession of
the estate.
7.
The Same, On the Tertullian and Orphitian Decrees of the Senate.
When
anyone dies intestate, leaving a mother, and a brother, or a sister
related by blood, although they are such from being arrogated, the
same rights will be preserved, so far as the person of the mother
is concerned, as in the case where natural children survive.
8.
Gaius, On the Tertullian Decree of the Senate.
The
right of the mother will remain in suspense, if the emancipated son
of the deceased deliberates as to whether he will demand praetorian
possession of the estate, or not.
9.
The Same, On the Orphitian Decree of the Senate.
It
is provided by a Decree of our Most Holy Emperor that the estate of
a mother, dying intestate, belongs to her children, even though they
may be under the control of another.
10.
Pomponius, Decrees of the Senate, Book II.
If
a son under paternal control, who is a soldier, does not make a will
disposing of the property which he acquired while in the service,
let us see whether it will belong to his mother. I do not think that
it will, for the privilege of disposing of property of this description
is, in fact, granted by military law; and, under such circumstances,
sons are, by no means, regarded as the heads of households, so far
as such property is concerned.
(1)
While the right of a mother remains in suspense, for the purpose of
determining whether or not certain persons can exclude her from the
succession, and the result is that they cannot do so, the right to
which she was entitled during the intermediate time will be unimpaired;
for instance, if a son should die intestate, and a posthumous child
could have been born to him, but either was not born, or died at birth;
or where a son, who was in the hands of the enemy, did not return,
so as to take advantage of the law of postliminium.