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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §37.1.6.pr-37.1.6.2

Patron Accrual and Benefits of Bonorum Possessio

Passage 5715 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This chunk explains that there is no right of accrual between a patron and an appointed heir, outlines the various benefits of the possession of goods including equitable remedies for those under status loss, and notes that shorthand-written wills are excluded from the edict.

[PAULUS libro quadragesimo primo ad edictum. ] §37.1.6.prSed cum patrono quidem contra tabulas certae partis bonorum possessionem praetor polliceatur, scripto autem heredi secundum tabulas alterius partis: conuenit non esse ius adcrescendi.
[PAULUS, book 41 on the Edict.] But since the praetor promises to the patron indeed the possession of goods of a certain share contrary to the will, but to the appointed heir the possession of the other share according to the will: it is agreed that there is no right of accrual.
igitur non petente scripto secundum tabulas alterius quoque partis nominatim patrono possessionem pollicetur, cum ceteri, quibus adcrescendi ius est, semel debent adgnoscere bonorum possessionem.
Therefore, if the appointed heir does not petition for the possession according to the will, the praetor promises the possession of the other share also specifically to the patron, whereas others, who have the right of accrual, must claim the possession of goods only once.
§37.1.6.1Bonorum possessionis beneficium multiplex est: nam quaedam bonorum possessiones competunt contra uoluntatem, quaedam secundum uoluntatem defunctorum, nec non ab intestato habentibus ius legitimum uel non habentibus propter capitis deminutionem.
The benefit of the possession of goods is manifold: for some possessions of goods apply contrary to the will, some according to the will of the deceased, and also to those on intestacy who have a statutory right, or who do not have it because of a loss of status.
quamuis enim iure ciuili deficiant liberi, qui propter capitis deminutionem desierunt sui heredes esse, propter aequitatem tamen rescindit eorum capitis deminutionem praetor.
For although children who have ceased to be self-successors because of a loss of status are lacking under civil law, the praetor nevertheless rescinds their loss of status for the sake of equity.
legum quoque tuendarum causa dat bonorum possessionem.
He also grants the possession of goods for the sake of upholding the laws.
§37.1.6.2Notis scriptae tabulae non continentur edicto, quia notas litteras non esse Pedius libro uicesimo quinto ad edictum scribit.
Tablets written in shorthand are not included in the edict, because Pedius writes in the twenty-fifth book on the Edict that shorthand characters are not letters.

Notes

  1. §37.1.6.prnon petente scripto — The noun `herede` (heir) is omitted; this is an ablative absolute construction meaning 'the appointed heir not petitioning.' `scripto` (written, appointed) is a substantivized adjective modifying the omitted `heres`.
  2. §37.1.6.prnominatim — An adverb meaning 'by name' or 'specifically.' It indicates a contrast where, unlike the automatic accrual of shares via the `ius adcrescendi`, the patron requires a specific individual promise in the edict to acquire the other share.
  3. §37.1.6.2notis — Ablative of means, referring to 'marks,' 'signs,' or 'shorthand.' According to Pedius, these are not recognized as 'letters (litterae)' in the context of the civil law or edict, rendering tablets written in shorthand invalid under the edict.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §37.1.6.pr-37.1.6.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:37.1.6.pr-37.1.6.2

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