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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §23.1.17.pr

Prolongation of Betrothal for Just Causes

Passage 3305 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Gaius explains that betrothals may be prolonged for several years due to just and necessary causes, such as the illness of either party, the death of parents, capital charges, or necessary long-term travel abroad.

[GAIUS libro primo ad legem Iuliam et Papiam. ] §23.1.17.prSaepe iustae ac necessariae causae non solum annum uel biennium, sed etiam triennium et quadriennium et ulterius trahunt sponsalia, ueluti ualetudo sponsi sponsaeue uel mortes parentium aut capitalia crimina aut longiores peregrinationes quae ex necessitate fiunt.
[GAIUS, in the first book on the Lex Iulia et Papia.] Often, just and necessary causes prolong betrothals not only for a year or two, but even for three or four years, or even longer; such as the ill health of the betrothed man or woman, the deaths of parents, capital charges, or longer journeys abroad which are undertaken out of necessity.

Notes

  1. §23.1.17.prtrahunt — The verb 'trahere' is used here in the sense of 'to prolong' or 'drag out' in time. Combined with the accusatives of duration (annum, biennium, triennium, quadriennium, ulterius), it indicates that the state of betrothal (sponsalia) is prolonged for such periods.
  2. §23.1.17.prcapitalia crimina — In Roman law, 'capitale crimen' refers to a serious offense involving the penalty of death, or the loss of liberty or citizenship, as well as the prosecution of such crimes. Facing such a serious criminal trial was considered a 'just and necessary cause' (iustae ac necessariae causes) to delay the fulfillment of a betrothal.
  3. §23.1.17.prualetudo — While 'ualetudo' is originally a neutral noun (vox media) meaning 'state of health', in this context it is used in the sense of 'illness' or 'poor health'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §23.1.17.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:23.1.17.pr

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