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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §28.5.3.pr-28.5.3.4

Institution of Slaves as Heirs and Conditional Freedom

Passage 4182 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section explains the relationship between conditions and the grant of freedom in instituting slaves as heirs, cites juristic opinions on conditional heir institution, and discusses the transition of legal status between necessary and voluntary heirs as well as the stability of their rights.

[IDEM libro tertio ad Sabinum. ] §28.5.3.prSeruus alienus uel totus uel pro parte sine libertate heres institui potest.
[THE SAME, from the third book on Sabinus.] A slave of another, either for the whole or for a part, can be instituted heir without the grant of freedom.
§28.5.3.1Si seruum meum pure heredem scripsero, sub condicione liberum, differtur institutio in id tempus, quo libertas data est.
If I shall have written down my slave as heir unconditionally, but free under a condition, the institution is deferred to that time when freedom was granted.
§28.5.3.2Si quis ita scripserit: 'si Titius heres erit, Seius heres esto: Titius heres esto', quasi quaeuis condicio exspectatur Titii aditio, ut Seius heres fiat: et sane et Iuliano et Tertulliano hoc uidetur.
If anyone writes thus: 'If Titius shall be heir, let Seius be heir; let Titius be heir,' the acceptance of Titius is awaited, just like any condition, in order that Seius may become heir; and indeed this is the view of both Julian and Tertullian.
§28.5.3.3Qui fideicommissam libertatem sub condicione accepit, potest ab herede pure cum libertate heres institui et non exspectata condicione libertatem et hereditatem consequitur et erit interim necessarius: et existente condicione uoluntarius heres efficietur, ut non desinat heres esse, sed ut ius in eo mutetur successionis.
He who has received a trust-bequeathed freedom under a condition can be instituted heir by the heir unconditionally along with freedom, and without waiting for the condition, he obtains both freedom and the inheritance, and will be in the meantime a necessary heir; and when the condition is fulfilled, he will be made a voluntary heir, not so that he ceases to be heir, but so that the law of succession is changed in his case.
§28.5.3.4Aperturae tabularum dilatio necessarii heredis ius non mutat, ut solemus in substituto impuberis dicere: nam est relatum, si se adrogandum dederit substitutus impuberi defuncti filius, necessarium eum fore.
The postponement of the opening of the tablets does not change the right of the necessary heir, as we are accustomed to say in the case of the substitute of an impuber; for it is reported that if the substitute for the impuber, the son of the deceased, should give himself to be arrogated, he will be a necessary heir.

Notes

  1. 28.5.3.1sub condicione liberum — The adjective 'liberum' (free) functions as an object or complement of 'scripsero'. This should be understood by supplying an ellipsis such as '[eum] sub condicione liberum [esse iussero]' (if I shall have ordered him to be free under a condition) to express a conditional manumission.
  2. 28.5.3.2quasi quaeuis condicio — The nominative 'quaeuis condicio' (any condition) is introduced by 'quasi' (as if) and functions predicatively or adverbially. It explains that Titius's acceptance of the inheritance (aditio), which is a legal prerequisite, is treated as if it were an ordinary condition voluntarily set in the will, and its fulfillment must be awaited.
  3. 28.5.3.3ut non desinat heres esse, sed ut ius in eo mutetur successionis — The two clauses introduced by the conjunction 'ut' express a result or qualification. They specify that the transition from a necessary heir to a voluntary heir does not mean a loss of status as an heir, but merely a change in the legal nature or status of the succession in the person of the same individual.
  4. 28.5.3.4substitutus impuberi defuncti filius — The dative 'impuberi' depends on 'substitutus' (substitute), meaning 'the substitute for the impuber'. The nominative 'defuncti filius' is in apposition, indicating that this substitute is 'the son of the deceased'. It defines the complex kinship relation of the subject in the context of their status regarding succession if they submit to arrogation.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §28.5.3.pr-28.5.3.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:28.5.3.pr-28.5.3.4

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