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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §50.12.4.pr

Binding Force of Promises Made on Account of Public Disasters

Passage 8786 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

It is established that a promise made on account of a disaster, such as a fire, earthquake, or collapse that has befallen the state, legally binds the promisor.

[MARCIANUS libro tertio institutionum. ] §50.12.4.prPropter incendium uel terrae motum uel aliquam ruinam, quae rei publicae contingit, si quis promiserit, tenetur.
[MARCIANUS, in the third book of Institutes.] If anyone, on account of a fire, an earthquake, or any ruin which has befallen the state, should make a promise, he is bound.

Notes

  1. §50.12.4.prquae rei publicae contingit — The relative pronoun `quae` is feminine singular, grammatically agreeing only with its immediate antecedent `aliquam ruinam` (feminine singular). However, contextually, all three disasters (fire, earthquake, and collapse) are understood to be those that have befallen the public entity (state or municipality).

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §50.12.4.pr. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:50.12.4.pr

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