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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §34.4.15.pr

Validity of Bequest of a Slave Sold and Repurchased

Passage 5247 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This passage explains that if a bequeathed slave is alienated and then bought back by the testator, the legacy is generally invalid unless the legatee can prove a new intention of the testator.

[PAULUS libro singulari de adsignatione libertorum. ] §34.4.15.prCum seruus legatus a testatore et alienatus rursus redemptus sit a testatore, non debetur legatario opposita exceptione doli mali.
[PAULUS in the single book on the assignment of freedmen.] When a slave bequeathed by a testator and alienated has been bought back again by the testator, he is not due to the legatee if the plea of fraud is opposed.
sane si probet legatarius nouam uoluntatem testatoris, non submouebitur.
Of course, if the legatee proves a new intention of the testator, he will not be barred.

Notes

  1. §34.4.15.propposita exceptione doli mali — An ablative absolute construction consisting of the noun 'exceptione' and the perfect participle 'opposita'. Since the alienation and repurchase are deemed to negate the testator's original intent to bequeath, if the legatee sues for the slave, the heir can oppose the 'plea of fraud' (exceptio doli mali) to block the claim.
  2. §34.4.15.prnon submouebitur — The third-person singular future passive of the verb 'submouere' (to bar, dismiss), with 'legatarius' from the preceding clause as its subject. It means that if the legatee can prove that the testator had a renewed intent (nouam uoluntatem) to bequeath the slave after buying him back, the legatee's claim will not be defeated by the heir's plea.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §34.4.15.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:34.4.15.pr

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