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Justinian I · The Digest of Justinian §6.1.76.pr-6.1.76.1

Vindication of Parts and Uncertain Shares

Passage 1147 of 9271 · Latin

Summary

This chunk explains that the rules for vindicating a whole thing apply equally to its parts, and that a vindication of an uncertain share is permitted when there is a just cause, such as a deduction under the Falcidian Law.

[GAIUS libro septimo ad edictum prouinciale. ] §6.1.76.prQuae de tota re uindicanda dicta sunt, eadem et de parte intellegenda sunt, officioque iudicis continetur pro modo partis ea quoque restitui iubere, quae simul cum ipsa parte restitui debent.
What has been said about the vindication of the whole thing must also be understood concerning a part; and it is within the duty of the judge to order that those things also which ought to be restored together with the part itself be restored in proportion to the share of the part.
§6.1.76.1Incertae partis uindicatio datur, si iusta causa interueniat.
A vindication of an uncertain part is granted if a just cause intervenes.
iusta autem causa esse potest, si forte legi Falcidiae locus sit in testamento, propter incertam detractionem ex legatis, quae uix apud iudicem examinatur: iustam enim habet ignorantiam legatarius, cui homo legatus est, quotam partem uindicare debeat: itaque talis dabitur actio.
Moreover, there can be a just cause if, for instance, there is room for the Falcidian law in a testament, on account of an uncertain deduction from legacies, which is with difficulty examined before the judge; for the legatee to whom a slave has been bequeathed has a justifiable ignorance as to what share he ought to vindicate; therefore, such an action will be granted.
eadem et de ceteris rebus intellegemus.
We shall understand the same also regarding other things.

Notes

  1. §6.1.76.prde tota re uindicanda — A gerundive attraction where the gerundive (uindicanda) agrees with the noun phrase in the ablative after 'de', expressing the noun-equivalent meaning 'concerning the vindicating of the whole thing'.
  2. §6.1.76.profficioque iudicis continetur ... iubere — The actual subject of the passive verb 'continetur' (is contained/included), used here impersonally, is the subsequent infinitive clause starting with 'iubere' (to order). 'officio' is an ablative of means or place ('within/by the duty').
  3. §6.1.76.1homo — In classical Roman legal texts, 'homo' is frequently used as a technical term for 'a slave' as a legal object, rather than a generic human being. Here too, it refers to a slave who has been bequeathed.
  4. §6.1.76.1quotam partem uindicare debeat — An indirect question clause with the subjunctive 'debeat', explaining the content of the preceding noun 'ignorantiam' (ignorance). 'quota' is an interrogative adjective meaning 'what fraction of' or 'how great a share of'.

Cite this passage

Justinian I, The Digest of Justinian §6.1.76.pr-6.1.76.1. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi2806.phi002.humanitext-lat1:6.1.76.pr-6.1.76.1

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