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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §49.16.9.pr-49.16.9.1

Prohibition and Exceptions for Soldiers Buying Land in Their Province

Passage 8611 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It regulates that soldiers are prohibited from purchasing landed estates in the provinces where they serve, with exceptions for the treasury's sale of ancestral properties, post-service purchases, and acquisition through inheritance.

[MARCIANUS libro tertio institutionum. ] §49.16.9.prMilites prohibentur praedia comparare in his prouinciis, in quibus militant, praeterquam si paterna eorum fiscus distrahat: nam hanc speciem Seuerus et Antoninus remiserunt.
[MARCIANUS, from the third book of Institutions.] Soldiers are prohibited from purchasing landed estates in the provinces where they are serving, except where the imperial treasury sells their paternal estates; for Severus and Antoninus exempted this particular case.
sed et stipendiis impletis emere permittuntur.
However, they are permitted to buy after completing their military service.
fisco autem uindicatur praedium illicite comparatum, si delatus fuerit.
An illegally purchased estate is confiscated to the treasury if an accusation is made.
sed et si nondum delata causa stipendia impleta sint uel missio contigerit, delationi locus non est.
But if, before the case has been reported, their service is completed or their discharge occurs, there is no longer any room for an accusation.
§49.16.9.1Milites si heredes extiterint, possidere ibi praedia non prohibentur.
If soldiers become heirs, they are not prohibited from possessing landed estates there.

Notes

  1. §49.16.9.prpaterna — This is a neuter plural accusative substantival use of the adjective paternus ("paternal"), where praedia ("estates") or bona ("goods/property") is understood.
  2. §49.16.9.prstipendiis impletis — An ablative absolute construction. While stipendium originally means "pay" or "salary," the plural stipendia refers to "military service" or "years of service," combined with implere ("to complete") to mean "after completing one's military service."
  3. §49.16.9.prsi delatus fuerit — Since delatus is a masculine singular passive perfect participle, it does not agree in gender with the subject of the main clause, the neuter noun praedium ("estate"). Therefore, the subject "soldier" (miles) or "buyer" (emptor) who made the illegal purchase must be supplied.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §49.16.9.pr-49.16.9.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:49.16.9.pr-49.16.9.1

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