Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §41.2.6.pr-41.2.6.1

Definition of Clandestine Possession and Intrusion

Passage 6704 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This text defines secret possession (clam possidere) based on the origin of acquisition rather than its retention, and explains the retention of possession by a person away at the market, along with the transition to possession by force when the trespasser excludes the returning owner.

[ULPIANUS libro septuagensimo ad edictum. ] §41.2.6.prClam possidere eum dicimus, qui furtiue ingressus est possessionem ignorante eo, quem sibi controuersiam facturum suspicabatur et, ne faceret, timebat.
[ULPIANUS libro septuagensimo ad edictum.] We say that a person possesses secretly who has entered into possession clandestinely without the knowledge of the one whom he suspected would raise a dispute against him, and whom he feared lest he should do so.
is autem qui, cum possideret non clam, se celauit, in ea causa est, ut non uideatur clam possidere: non enim ratio optinendae possessionis, sed origo nanciscendae exquirenda est: nec quemquam clam possidere incipere, qui sciente aut uolente eo, ad quem ea res pertinet, aut aliqua ratione bonae fidei possessionem nanciscitur.
But he who, when he was possessing not secretly, concealed himself, is in such a position that he is not deemed to possess secretly; for it is not the manner of maintaining possession, but the origin of acquiring it, that must be investigated. Nor does anyone begin to possess secretly who acquires possession either with the knowledge or consent of the person to whom the thing belongs, or for some reason in good faith.
itaque, inquit Pomponius, clam nanciscitur possessionem, qui futuram controuersiam metuens ignorante eo, quem metuit, furtiue in possessionem ingreditur.
Therefore, Pomponius says, he acquires possession secretly who, fearing a future dispute, enters into possession clandestinely without the knowledge of the person whom he fears.
§41.2.6.1Qui ad nundinas profectus neminem reliquerit et, dum ille a nundinis redit, aliquis occupauerit possessionem, uideri eum clam possidere Labeo scribit: retinet ergo possessionem is, qui ad nundinas abiit: uerum si reuertentem dominum non admiserit, ui magis intellegi possidere, non clam.
Labeo writes that if anyone, having set out for the market, has left no one behind, and, while he is returning from the market, someone else has seized possession, the latter is deemed to possess secretly; therefore, the one who went to the market retains possession. But if he does not admit the returning owner, he is understood to possess rather by force, not secretly.

Notes

  1. §41.2.6.prignorante eo, quem sibi controuersiam facturum suspicabatur et, ne faceret, timebat — ignorante eo is an ablative absolute, where eo serves as the antecedent of the relative pronoun quem. controuersiam facturum is a future infinitive with esse omitted, acting as the object of suspicabatur ('suspected that [he] would raise'). ne faceret, timebat is a construction where the verb of fearing timebat takes a subjunctive clause with ne ('feared lest he should do [so]').
  2. §41.2.6.prin ea causa est, ut non uideatur clam possidere — in ea causa est is an idiomatic expression meaning 'is in such a legal position.' The demonstrative adjective ea is elaborated by the subsequent subjunctive clause introduced by ut (uideatur), denoting result or defining the substance.
  3. §41.2.6.prnon enim ratio optinendae possessionis, sed origo nanciscendae exquirenda est — Both optinendae and nanciscendae are gerundives (adjectives of the gerund) agreeing with possessionis (genitive singular feminine). In the latter phrase, possessionis is omitted by context and understood as origo nanciscendae (possessionis) ('the origin of acquiring possession').
  4. §41.2.6.1ui magis intellegi possidere, non clam — intellegi ('to be understood') is a passive infinitive used impersonally. The logical subject of its complement possidere ('to possess') refers to the trespasser (aliquis) mentioned in the previous sentence. ui is the ablative singular of uis, meaning 'by force.'

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §41.2.6.pr-41.2.6.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:41.2.6.pr-41.2.6.1

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.