Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §40.4.34.pr

Invalidity of Time Limits Added to Grants of Freedom

Passage 6382 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section explains that if a grant of freedom is written with a time limit (e.g., 'up to ten years'), the addition of the time limit is superfluous and therefore disregarded.

[IDEM libro septuagensimo quarto ad edictum. ] §40.4.34.prideoque si ita scriptum sit 'Stichus usque ad annos decem liber esto', temporis adiectio superuacua est.
[THE SAME in the seventy-fourth book on the Edict.] And therefore, if it is written thus: 'Let Stichus be free up to ten years', the addition of the time is superfluous.

Notes

  1. §40.4.34.prliber esto — esto is the future imperative (third-person singular), which is a standard formulary expression used in wills to command the manumission of a slave.
  2. §40.4.34.prsuperuacua est — Meaning 'superfluous' or 'unnecessary.' In Roman law, a time limit attached to a grant of freedom is treated as of no effect (disregarded), meaning the slave becomes free permanently without restriction.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §40.4.34.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:40.4.34.pr

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