Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §39.5.7.pr-39.5.7.6

Capacity of a Son Under Paternal Power to Make Donations

Passage 6222 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

The text discusses the capacity of a son under paternal power to make donations or donations mortis causa from his peculium. While generally prohibited, exceptions are allowed based on the father's express permission, the son's high social status, or in the case of soldiers holding a castrense peculium.

[IDEM libro quadragensimo quarto ad Sabinum. ] §39.5.7.prFilius familias donare non potest, neque si liberam peculii administrationem habeat: non enim ad hoc ei conceditur libera peculii administratio, ut perdat.
[THE SAME in the forty-fourth book on Sabinus.] A son under paternal power cannot make a donation, even if he has the free administration of his peculium: for the free administration of his peculium is not granted to him for the purpose of throwing it away.
§39.5.7.1Quid ergo, si iusta ratione motus donet, numquid possit dici locum esse donationi? quod magis probabitur.
What then, if he makes a donation moved by a just cause? Could it be said that there is room for a donation? This is rather to be approved.
§39.5.7.2Item uideamus, si quis filio familias liberam peculii administrationem concesserit, ut nominatim adiceret sic se ei concedere, ut donare quoque possit, an locum habeat donatio: et non dubito donare quoque eum posse.
Likewise, let us see, if anyone has granted to a son under paternal power the free administration of his peculium so as to add expressly that he grants it to him in such a way that he can also make a donation, whether the donation takes place: and I do not doubt that he can also make a donation.
§39.5.7.3Nonnumquam etiam ex persona poterit hoc colligi: pone enim filium esse senatoriae uel cuius alterius dignitatis: quare non dicas uideri patrem, nisi ei specialiter donandi facultatem ademit, hoc quoque concessisse, dum liberam dat peculii administrationem?
Sometimes this can also be inferred from the person: for assume that the son is of senatorial or some other dignity; why should you not say that the father seems to have granted this also when he gives the free administration of the peculium, unless he has specifically taken away from him the faculty of donating?
§39.5.7.4Pari autem ratione, qua donare filius familias prohibetur, etiam mortis causa donare prohibebitur: quamuis enim ex patris uoluntate mortis quoque causa donare possit, attamen ubi cessat uoluntas, inhibebitur haec quoque donatio.
By the same reasoning, moreover, by which a son under paternal power is prohibited from making a donation, he will also be prohibited from making a donation mortis causa: for although he can make a donation mortis causa by the will of his father, nevertheless, where the will is lacking, this donation also will be barred.
§39.5.7.5Sed enim meminisse oportet, si cui donare quoque permissum est, nisi specialiter etiam mortis causa donare fuerit permissum, non posse mortis causa donare.
But indeed, it must be remembered that, even if anyone has been permitted to make a donation, unless he has also been specifically permitted to make a donation mortis causa, he cannot make a donation mortis causa.
§39.5.7.6Haec omnia locum habebunt in paganis: ceterum qui habent castrense peculium uel quasi castrense, in ea condicione sunt, ut donare et mortis causa et non mortis causa possint, cum testamenti factionem habeant.
All these things will apply in the case of civilians: but those who have a castrense peculium or quasi-castrense are in such a position that they can make donations both mortis causa and not mortis causa, since they have the power to make a will.

Notes

  1. §39.5.7.1quod magis probabitur — The relative pronoun quod refers to the affirmative answer to the preceding question (i.e., that there is indeed room for a donation when moved by a just cause) and functions as the subject of the clause. probabitur (future passive) is used here in the sense of "to be approved" or "to be accepted as correct" in legal opinion, rather than "to be proved."
  2. §39.5.7.3quare non dicas — dicas is a potential subjunctive in the present tense (second person singular used generally, "why should you not say..."). The following accusative-with-infinitive construction uideri patrem... hoc quoque concessisse functions as the object clause of dicas.
  3. §39.5.7.6in paganis — The noun paganus does not mean "pagan" in this classical legal context; rather, in Roman law, it refers to a "civilian" or "non-soldier" in contrast to a soldier (miles). It is used here to draw a contrast with those who possess a military peculium (castrense peculium).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §39.5.7.pr-39.5.7.6. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:39.5.7.pr-39.5.7.6

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.