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The Digest of Justinian

§2.1.3.pr

Division of Imperium and Definition of Jurisdiction

Ulpian divides imperium into pure imperium (the power of the sword for punishment) and mixed imperium (which includes jurisdiction and consists in granting possession of property), and further defines jurisdiction as the power to appoint a judge.

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[ULPIANUS libro secundo de officio quaestoris.]

[ULPIAN, On the Office of Quaestor, Book Two.]

§2.1.3.pr

​Imperium aut merum aut mixtum est. merum est imperium habere1 gladii potestatem ad animaduertendum facinorosos homines,2 quod etiam potestas appellatur. mixtum est imperium, cui etiam iurisdictio inest, quod in danda bonorum possessione consistit. iurisdictio est etiam iudicis dandi licentia.3

​Imperium is either pure or mixed. Pure imperium is to have the power of the sword for punishing criminal men, which is also called potestas. Mixed imperium is that which also includes jurisdiction, and which consists in granting the possession of property. Jurisdiction is also the power of appointing a judge.

Syntax notes3 items
  1. 2.1.3.prmerum est imperium habere

    The infinitive phrase habere... functions appositively as the subject or predicate with the copula est, meaning 'pure imperium is to have...'.

  2. 2.1.3.prad animaduertendum facinorosos homines

    The gerund construction with ad expresses purpose. Here, animaduertere takes a direct accusative facinorosos homines, rather than the more common intransitive use with the preposition in.

  3. 2.1.3.priudicis dandi licentia

    A gerundive construction in the genitive modifying the noun licentia. It is synonymous with the gerund construction iudicem dandi, meaning 'the power (or permission) of appointing a judge'.

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-07-12) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)
  • 2026-09-21 AI review — note 1
urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:2.1.3.pr