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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §47.10.9.pr-47.10.9.4

Atrocious Iniuria by Act, Place, or Status and Liability

Passage 8008 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This section discusses the criteria for determining when an injury (iniuria) is deemed atrocious (based on act, location, or status), and explains the liabilities involving a filiusfamilias, a slave, and attempts on chastity.

[ULPIANUS libro quinquagensimo septimo ad edictum. ] §47.10.9.prSed est quaestionis, quod dicimus re iniuriam atrocem fieri, utrum, si corpori inferatur, atrox sit, an et si non corpori, ut puta uestimentis scissis, comite abducto uel conuicio dicto.
[ULPIANUS, On the Edict, book fifty-seven.] But it is a matter of question, as to our saying that an injury becomes atrocious by the act itself, whether it is atrocious only if inflicted on the body, or also if not on the body, as for example by tearing clothes, abducting a companion, or shouting abuse.
et ait Pomponius etiam sine pulsatione posse dici atrocem iniuriam, persona atrocitatem faciente.
And Pomponius says that even without physical striking, an injury can be called atrocious, since the status of the person makes it atrocious.
§47.10.9.1Sed et si in theatro uel in foro caedit et uulnerat, quamquam non atrociter, atrocem iniuriam facit.
But also if a person beats and wounds in the theater or in the forum, even if not severely, he commits an atrocious injury.
§47.10.9.2Parui autem refert, utrum patri familias an filio familias iniuria facta sit: nam et haec atrox aestimabitur.
Moreover, it matters little whether the injury is done to a paterfamilias or to a filiusfamilias; for this latter also will be estimated as atrocious.
§47.10.9.3Si atrocem iniuriam seruus fecerit, si quidem dominus praesens sit, potest agi de eo: quod si afuerit, praesidi offerendus est, qui eum flagris rumpat.
If a slave has committed an atrocious injury, if indeed the master is present, an action can be brought concerning him; but if he is absent, he must be handed over to the governor, who is to scourge him severely with whips.
§47.10.9.4Si quis tam feminam quam masculum, siue ingenuos siue libertinos, inpudicos facere adtemptauit, iniuriarum tenebitur.
If anyone has attempted to corrupt the chastity of either a woman or a man, whether freeborn or freed, he will be held liable for injuries.
sed et si serui pudicitia adtemptata sit, iniuriarum locum habet.
But even if the chastity of a slave is attempted, there is room for the action on injuries.

Notes

  1. §47.10.9.prest quaestionis — quaestionis is a predicative genitive of characteristic, where 'est quaestionis' means 'it is a matter of question' or 'is open to doubt'. The subject of this expression is the indirect question introduced by 'utrum... an...'. The clause 'quod dicimus...' serves as an introductory or appositive clause indicating the premise ('as to our saying that...').
  2. §47.10.9.prpersona atrocitatem faciente — An ablative absolute construction, meaning 'since the status (of the person) makes it atrocious.' Here, 'persona' refers to the social status or standing of the parties involved (especially the victim, or the offender).
  3. §47.10.9.2et haec — 'haec' is a feminine singular demonstrative pronoun, which here refers to the injury done to the 'filius familias' (agreeing with the feminine 'iniuria facta'). 'et' is used adverbially to mean 'also' or 'even'.
  4. §47.10.9.3qui eum flagris rumpat — A relative clause of purpose or destiny with the subjunctive 'rumpat', referring back to 'praesidi' (the governor). The verb 'rumpere' (literally 'to break' or 'to burst') here means to scourge or beat severely with whips.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §47.10.9.pr-47.10.9.4. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:47.10.9.pr-47.10.9.4

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