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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §22.5.4.pr

Prohibition of Compelling Testimony from Relatives and Patrons

Passage 3257 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Under the provisions of the Lex Julia, it prohibits summoning certain close relatives, specific freedmen, and patrons to testify, and forbids compelling testimony between patrons and freedmen.

[PAULUS libro secundo ad legem Iuliam et Papiam. ] §22.5.4.prLege Iulia iudiciorum publicorum cauetur, ne marito denuntietur, ut testimonium litis dicat aduersus socerum generum, uitricum priuignum, sobrinum sobrinam, sobrino sobrina natum, eosue qui priore gradu sint, item ne liberto ipsius, liberorum eius, parentium, uiri uxoris. item patroni patronae: et ut ne patroni patronae aduersus libertos neque liberti aduersus patronum cogantur testimonium dicere.
[PAULUS, On the Lex Julia et Papia, Book 2.] By the Lex Julia on public trials, it is provided that a husband should not be summoned to give testimony in a lawsuit against his father-in-law, son-in-law, stepfather, stepson, male cousin, female cousin, a child born of a male or female cousin, or those who are of a closer degree; likewise, that [such summons] should not [be served] on the freedman of himself, of his children, of his parents, [or] of the husband or wife; likewise, [not] on a patron or patroness; and that patrons and patronesses should not be compelled to give testimony against their freedmen, nor freedmen against their patron.

Notes

  1. §22.5.4.prsobrino sobrina natum — sobrino refers to a male cousin, and sobrina to a female cousin. natum is an accusative (participle) in apposition/parallel with the other accusative nouns (socerum, etc.), meaning 'one born of a male or female cousin' (i.e., a second cousin).
  2. §22.5.4.prliberto ipsius, liberorum eius, parentium, uiri uxoris — The genitives ipsius, liberorum eius, parentium, uiri, and uxoris all modify the dative liberto. The phrase 'uiri uxoris' (of the husband or wife) reflects that although the section begins with 'marito' (husband), the rule applies to spouses generally, indicating the owner of the freedman depending on whether the party is the husband or the wife.
  3. §22.5.4.prpatroni patronae — Although the manuscripts read 'patroni patronae' (genitive singular or nominative plural), it is commonly interpreted as a scribal error for the datives 'patrono patronae', serving as the indirect object of the impersonal passive 'denuntietur' ('nor should it be summoned to a patron or patroness'). While it is grammatically possible to take it as a genitive modifying 'liberto' ('freedman of a patron or patroness'), treating it as a dative referring to the patrons themselves is more consistent with the subsequent clause where they are protected from being compelled to testify (cogantur).
  4. §22.5.4.prpriore gradu — gradus means 'degree' of relationship, and prior indicates 'former' or 'prior' in order. In Roman family law, 'a prior degree' (priore gradu) means a 'closer degree' of relationship (i.e., a lower numerical degree of kinship).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §22.5.4.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:22.5.4.pr

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