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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §33.4.10.pr

Joint Legacy Instead of Dowry and Falcidian Law Reduction

Passage 5012 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The passage discusses the scope of a wife's claim when the same estate is jointly bequeathed to her (in lieu of her dowry) and to Maevius, and the Falcidian law reduces Maevius' share.

[SCAEUOLA libro octauo quaestionum. ] §33.4.10.prSi Seiae pro dote centum fundus legatus sit idemque Maeuio: quod Maeuio Falcidia aufert, pro eo quasi concursus non fuerit, mulier plus uindicet, quia amplius sit in dote mulieris.
[SCAEVOLA, from the eighth book of Questions.] If an estate is bequeathed to Seia in lieu of a dowry of one hundred, and the same estate to Maevius: as to what the Falcidian law takes away from Maevius, the woman may claim more, just as if there had been no competition, because there is greater privilege in a woman's dowry.

Notes

  1. 33.4.10.prpro dote centum — The indeclinable numeral centum (one hundred) is used substantively to express the value or amount of the dowry. It means "in lieu of a dowry of one hundred."
  2. 33.4.10.prquod Maeuio Falcidia aufert — Falcidia is a feminine singular nominative referring to the Lex Falcidia (Falcidian Law), which limits bequests to secure a quarter of the estate for the heir, thereby reducing the co-legatee Maevius' share. The quod-clause is a relative clause referring back to eo (ablative neuter singular of is) in pro eo, meaning "as to what the Falcidian law takes away from Maevius."
  3. 33.4.10.prquasi concursus non fuerit — The perfect subjunctive fuerit introduced by quasi expresses a hypothetical comparison (as if). It indicates that the "competition (concursus)" over the same legacy is treated as if it had never existed regarding the portion reduced by the Falcidian law, allowing that portion to accrue to the wife.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §33.4.10.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:33.4.10.pr

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