Humanitext Reader

Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §47.19.2.pr-47.19.2.1

Governor's Inquiry into Plundered Inheritance Absent Theft

Passage 8090 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This text explains that in cases of plundered inheritance where an action for theft cannot be brought (specifically, before acceptance of inheritance or before the heir takes possession), the only available relief is the extraordinary hearing of the provincial governor.

[ULPIANUS libro nono de officio proconsulis. ] §47.19.2.prSi expilatae hereditatis crimen intendatur, praeses prouinciae cognitionem suam accommodare debet: cum enim furti agi non potest, solum superest auxilium praesidis.
[ULPIANUS, in the ninth book on the office of proconsul.] If a charge of plundered inheritance is brought, the governor of the province must grant his extraordinary hearing; for since an action for theft cannot be brought, the only thing remaining is the assistance of the governor.
§47.19.2.1Apparet autem expilatae hereditatis crimen eo casu intendi posse, quo casu furti agi non potest, scilicet ante aditam hereditatem, uel post aditam antequam res ab herede possessae sunt.
It is apparent, however, that the charge of plundered inheritance can be brought in that case where an action for theft cannot be brought, namely, before the inheritance is accepted, or after acceptance but before the things are possessed by the heir.
nam in hunc casum furti actionem non competere palam est: quamuis ad exhibendum agi posse, si qui uindicaturus exhiberi desideret, palam sit.
For it is clear that an action for theft does not lie in this case; although it is clear that an action for production can be brought, if anyone intending to claim ownership wishes the things to be produced.

Notes

  1. §47.19.2.prcognitionem — Here, "cognitio" refers to the "extraordinary investigation" (cognitio extra ordinem) conducted directly by the provincial governor, rather than the ordinary formulary procedure.
  2. §47.19.2.prfurti agi non potest — "furti" is the genitive of charge used with the impersonal passive "agi potest" to mean "an action for theft can be brought." Since the inheritance is not yet in anyone's possession, the civil action for theft (actio furti) does not apply.
  3. §47.19.2.1ante aditam hereditatem — This is a dominant participle construction (comparable to "ab urbe condita"), where the past participle "aditam" modifying the noun "hereditatem" functions after the preposition "ante" to mean "before the acceptance of the inheritance."
  4. §47.19.2.1uindicaturus — The future active participle of the verb "vindico," expressing the intention to claim or assert ownership ("vindicare") in a legal context. It modifies the subject "qui" in "si qui" (if anyone).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §47.19.2.pr-47.19.2.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:47.19.2.pr-47.19.2.1

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.