Protection for Possessors of Irregular Water Servitudes — Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian Book 8 (8.4.2.pr), Latin & English

[IDEM libro septimo decimo ad edictum.]

[THE SAME, On the Edict, Book 17]

§8.4.2.pr

De aqua per rotam tollenda ex flumine uel haurienda, uel si quis seruitutem castello¹ imposuerit, quidam dubitauerunt, ne hae seruitutes non essent:² sed rescripto imperatoris Antonini ad Tullianum adicitur, licet seruitus iure non ualuit, si tamen hac lege comparauit seu alio quocumque legitimo modo sibi hoc ius adquisiuit, tuendum esse³ eum, qui hoc ius possedit.

Concerning the drawing of water from a river by means of a wheel, or the ladling of it, or if anyone has imposed a servitude on a water-tower, some have doubted whether these might not be servitudes; but in a rescript of the Emperor Antoninus to Tullianus it is added that, even if the servitude was not valid by law, yet if he acquired it under these terms or by any other lawful method for himself, he who has possessed this right is to be protected.

Syntax notes3 items

8.4.2.prcastello
In this hydrological context, castellum refers to a "water-tower" or "distribution reservoir" (castellum aquae) rather than a military fortress.
8.4.2.prne hae seruitutes non essent
The clause introduced by ne with non following the verb of doubt dubitauerunt expresses a negative apprehension: "lest these might not be servitudes" (i.e., doubting whether they qualify as servitudes).
8.4.2.prtuendum esse
A gerundive of obligation in indirect speech introduced by adicitur, with eum as its subject ("that he ought to be protected"). It refers to the praetorian protection (tueri) granted to the de facto possessor (qui hoc ius possedit), even if the servitude was invalid under civil law (iure).

Translated by Gemini 3.5 Flash (published 2026-07-12) · Revision history (1, latest 2026-09-21)

2026-09-21 AI review — translation 1

urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:8.4.2.pr