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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §40.1.9.pr

Ineligibility for Freedom Under Manumission Prohibitions

Passage 6303 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section rules that a slave cannot obtain freedom if their manumission is prohibited by a sale agreement, a will, or by public authorities (a prefect or a governor).

[PAULUS libro singulari regularum. ] §40.1.9.prSeruus hac lege uenditus, ne manumittatur, uel testamento prohibitus manumitti, uel a praefecto uel a praeside prohibitus ob aliquod delictum manumitti ad libertatem perduci non potest.
[PAULUS, in the single book of Rules.] A slave sold under the condition that he should not be manumitted, or prohibited by a will from being manumitted, or prohibited from being manumitted by a prefect or a governor on account of some offense, cannot be brought to freedom.

Notes

  1. §40.1.9.prhac lege — Here, 'lex' (lex venditionis) does not mean a general state 'law', but rather a 'condition', 'clause', or 'agreement' attached to a contract of sale. The following clause 'ne manumittatur' (that he should not be manumitted) explains the specific content of this condition.
  2. §40.1.9.prprohibitus manumitti — The verb 'prohibere' (to prohibit) is used here in the passive participle 'prohibitus', accompanied by the passive infinitive 'manumitti' (to be manumitted), forming the construction 'prohibited from being manumitted' which modifies the subject 'Seruus'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §40.1.9.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:40.1.9.pr

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