Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §14.6.1.pr-14.6.1.3

Text and Scope of the SC Macedonianum Regarding Sons

Passage 2240 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Ulpian quotes the text of the Senatus Consultum Macedonianum, which forbids lending money to a filius familias, and discusses its application in cases of pending power (e.g., when a father is captured by enemies), arrogation followed by emancipation, and the high public dignity of the son.

[ULPIANUS libro uicensimo nono ad edictum. ] §14.6.1.prUerba senatus consulti Macedoniani haec sunt: 'Cum inter ceteras sceleris causas Macedo, quas illi natura administrabat, etiam aes alienum adhibuisset, et saepe materiam peccandi malis moribus praestaret, qui pecuniam, ne quid amplius diceretur incertis nominibus crederet: placere, ne cui, qui filio familias mutuam pecuniam dedisset, etiam post mortem parentis eius, cuius in potestate fuisset, actio petitioque daretur, ut scirent, qui pessimo exemplo faenerarent, nullius posse filii familias bonum nomen exspectata patris morte fieri. ' §14.6.1.1Si pendeat, an sit in potestate filius, ut puta quoniam patrem apud hostes habet, in pendenti est, an in senatus consultum sit commissum: nam si recciderit in potestatem, senatus consulto locus est, si minus, cessat: interim igitur deneganda est actio.
[ULPIANUS, On the Edict, Book 29] The words of the Senatus Consultum Macedonianum are as follows: "Since Macedo, among other causes of crime which his natural disposition supplied to him, had also added debt, and since those who lent money on uncertain names—so that nothing harder might be said—often provided to bad morals the material for sinning: it is resolved that no action or claim shall be granted to anyone who has lent money to a filius familias, even after the death of the parent under whose power he had been, so that those who lend money by a most pernicious example may know that no debt of a filius familias can become a good debt by waiting for the death of the father." If it is pending whether a son is under power, for example, because he has a father among the enemy, it is in suspense whether the senatus consultum has been violated; for if he falls back under power, there is room for the senatus consultum; if not, it does not apply. Therefore, in the meantime, the action must be denied.
§14.6.1.2Certe si adrogatus mutuam pecuniam acceperit, deinde sit restitutus, ut emanciparetur, senatus consultum locum habebit: fuit enim filius familias.
Certainly, if an arrogated person has received a loan of money, and then has been restored in order to be emancipated, the senatus consultum will apply; for he was a filius familias.
§14.6.1.3In filio familias nihil dignitas facit, quo minus senatus consultum Macedonianum locum habeat: nam etiamsi consul sit uel cuiusuis dignitatis, senatus consulto locus est: nisi forte castrense peculium habeat: tunc enim senatus consultum cessabit
In the case of a filius familias, his dignity does nothing to prevent the Senatus Consultum Macedonianum from applying; for even if he is a consul or of any other dignity, there is room for the senatus consultum: unless perchance he has a castrense peculium; for then the senatus consultum will not apply.

Notes

  1. §14.6.1.prne quid amplius diceretur — A purpose clause meaning "lest anything more be said." It is interpreted as a rhetorical euphemism used by the drafters of the senatus consultum, as if to say "not to use any harsher words" when describing the shameful practice of the moneylenders who lend under dubious and uncertain names.
  2. §14.6.1.prqui pecuniam, ne quid amplius diceretur incertis nominibus crederet — A relative clause within the cum-clause with an omitted antecedent referring to the moneylenders. The subjunctive crederet is a subjunctive of characteristic, defining the class of individuals who would lend money on such highly unstable credit accounts.
  3. §14.6.1.2restitutus, ut emanciparetur — Refers to a situation where a formerly independent person (sui iuris) was arrogated (becoming a filius familias), and was subsequently "restored" (restitutus) to his former status in order to be emancipated. The participle restitutus means the undoing or cancellation of the arrogation, and the purpose clause ut emanciparetur explains the ultimate goal of this restoration.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §14.6.1.pr-14.6.1.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:14.6.1.pr-14.6.1.3

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.