Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §28.5.92.pr

Prohibition of Appointing the Emperor as Heir for Litigation

Passage 4271 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Paulus states that it is odious to appoint the Emperor as an heir for the purpose of litigation, and that no benefit should be deceitfully derived from the imperial majesty.

[PAULUS libro quinto sententiarum. ] §28.5.92.prImperatorem litis causa heredem institui inuidiosum est nec calumnia facultatem ex principali maiestate capi oportet.

[PAULUS, in the fifth book of Sentences.] It is odious for the Emperor to be appointed heir for the sake of a lawsuit, nor should an opportunity be seized through chicanery from the imperial majesty.

Notes

28.5.92.prImperatorem litis causa heredem institui — An accusative and infinitive construction (institui is the present passive infinitive, and Imperatorem is its subject accusative) functioning as the subject of the impersonal phrase 'inuidiosum est'. 'litis causa' (genitive + causa) expresses purpose, meaning 'for the sake of a lawsuit', implying an intention to leverage the Emperor's authority for litigation advantages.
28.5.92.prnec ... oportet — The negative conjunction 'nec' negates the impersonal verb 'oportet'. The subject of 'oportet' is the accusative and infinitive construction 'facultatem ... capi' (where 'capi' is the passive infinitive).
28.5.92.prcalumnia — Ablative of means or cause, meaning 'chicanery', 'malicious prosecution', or 'deceitful pretexts'. The context forbids acquiring any such advantage (facultas) by abusing the imperial majesty (principali maiestate).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §28.5.92.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:28.5.92.pr

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