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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §4.5.5.pr-4.5.5.2

Loss of Citizenship and Public Rights in Capitis Deminutio

Passage 757 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

Paulus explains that the loss of citizenship causes capitis minutio, giving examples like interdiction and defection, and then states that public rights and offices (such as magistrates or senators) are preserved in capitis deminutio where citizenship is retained.

[PAULUS libro undecimo ad edictum. ] §4.5.5.prAmissione ciuitatis fit capitis minutio, ut in aqua et igni interdictione.
[PAULUS libro undecimo ad edictum.] By the loss of citizenship there occurs a capitis minutio, as in the case of interdiction from water and fire.
§4.5.5.1Qui deficiunt, capite minuuntur (deficere autem dicuntur qui ab his, quorum sub imperio sunt, desistunt et in hostium numerum se conferunt: sed et hi, quos senatus hostes iudicauit uel lege lata): utique usque eo, ut ciuitatem amittant.
Those who defect undergo capitis minutio (moreover, those are said to defect who withdraw from those under whose power they are, and betake themselves to the number of the enemies; but so too do those whom the senate or a passed law has judged to be enemies): at any rate, to the extent that they lose their citizenship.
§4.5.5.2Nunc respiciendum, quae capitis deminutione pereant: et primo de ea capitis deminutione, quae salua ciuitate accidit, per quam publica iura non interuerti constat: nam manere magistratum uel senatorem uel iudicem certum est.
Now we must consider what things are lost by capitis deminutio: and first, concerning that capitis deminutio which occurs while citizenship is preserved, by which it is established that public rights are not subverted; for it is certain that the office of magistrate, senator, or judge remains.

Notes

  1. §4.5.5.1utique usque eo, ut ciuitatem amittant — Although separated by the parenthetical explanation, this clause modifies the main verb phrase "capite minuuntur." The phrase "usque eo, ut..." expresses degree or result, meaning "to the extent that..."
  2. §4.5.5.2salua ciuitate — An ablative absolute consisting of the noun civitas and the adjective salvus, expressing an attendant circumstance: "with citizenship remaining intact" or "while preserving citizenship."
  3. §4.5.5.2manere magistratum uel senatorem uel iudicem certum est — The accusative-and-infinitive clause (magistratum... manere) functions as the subject of the impersonal expression "certum est" (it is certain). The accusatives "magistratum," "senatorem," and "iudicem" serve as the subjects of the intransitive verb "manere" (to remain).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §4.5.5.pr-4.5.5.2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:4.5.5.pr-4.5.5.2

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