Contents

1     Sources and Historical Development of Roman Law................................... 1

1.1    Divisions of Roman Legal History.........................................................

1.2size=1 face="Times New Roman">    The Legal System of Archaic Rome........................................................ 2

1.2.1               Historical and Constitutional Background................................. 2

1.2.2               The Customary Origins of Roman Law...................................... 8

1.2.3               The Law of the Twelve Tables and the Rise of Legislation         12

1.2.4               The Role of Pontifical Jurisprudence........................................ 17

1.3    Legal Development During the Late Republic...................................... 19

1.3.1               Historical and Constitutional Background............................... 19

1.3.2               Legislation................................................................................

1.3.3               The Development of Magisterial Law-Making..................          24

1.3.4               The Growth of Legal Science.................................................... 31

1.4    Law in the Age of Empire..................................................................... 35

1.4.1               Historical and Constitutional Background............................... 35

1.4.2               The Demise of Popular Legislation..........................................  42

1.4.3               The Consolidation of Magisterial Law.....................................  42

1.4.4               Senatorial Law-Making............................................................ 43

1.4.5               Imperial Legislation.................................................................. 45

1.4.6               The Culmination of Roman Legal Science................................

1.5    Legal Development in the Later Imperial    Era.................................... 56

1.5.1               Historical and Constitutional Background..............................  56

1.5.2               The Emperor as a Law-Maker.................................................  62

1.5.3               The Law of the Jurists.............................................................. 65

1.5.4               Custom and the Rise of ‘Vulgar Law'....................................... 69

1.6    The Codification of Justinian................................................................ 70

1.6.1               Historical Background.............................................................. 70

1.6.2               The Goals of Justinian’s Legislative Programme..............          72

1.6.3               The Code.................................................................................. 73

1.6.4               The Digest................................................................................

1.6.5               The Institutes............................................................................ 77

1.6.6               The Novels................................................................................ 78

1.6.7               Concluding Remarks................................................................. 80

1.7    The ‘Second  Life'   or Roman Law: A Brief Overview......................... 80

2     The Law of Persons...................................................................................... 85

2.1    Introductory......................................................................................... 85

2.2    Status and Capacities   of  a Person...................................................... 85

2.2.1               The Institution of Slavery......................................................... 86

2.2.3               Family Relationship..................................................................

2.2.4               Capitis Deminutio..................................................................... 96

2.3    Marriage............................................................................................... 96

2.3.1               The Betrothal............................................................................ 97

2.3.2               Requirements for a Valid Marriage........................................... 98

2.3.3               Forms of Marriage: Cum Manu and Sine Manu................        101

2.3.4               Matters Relating to Matrimonial Property:

Dos and Donatio Propter Nuptias...................................................................... 104

2.3.5               Dissolution of Marriage.......................................................... 107

2.4    Guardianship and Curatorship........................................................... 108

2.4.1               Tutela Impuberum...................................................................

2.4.2               Tutela Mulierum..................................................................... 114

2.4.3               Curatorship............................................................................ 114

3     The Law of Property.................................................................................. 119

3.1    Introductory....................................................................................... 119

3.2    Definition and Classification of Res.................................................... 119

color=black face="Times New Roman">3.2.1               Res in Nostro Patrimonio and Res Extra Nostrum

Patrimonium...................................................................................................... 120

3.2.2               Res Corporales and Res Incorporales...................................... 121

3.2.3               Res Mancipi and Res Nec Mancipi.......................................... 122

3.2.4               Res Mobiles and Res Immobiles............................................... 123

3.2.5               Other Classifications of Res.................................................... 123

3.2.6               Real and Personal Actions and Rights..................................... 125

3.3    Ownership.......................................................................................... 126

3.3.1               Forms of Ownership............................................................... 126

3.3.2               Acquisition of Ownership....................................................... 127

3.3.3               Protection of Ownership......................................................... 148

3.3.4               Limitations on Ownership...................................................... 153

3.3.5               Joint Ownership..................................................................... 155

3.4    Possession.......................................................................................... 156

3.4.1               Acquisition, Maintenance and Loss of Possession............        160

3.4.2               Protection of Possession........................................................  161

3.5      Servitudes......................................................................................... 164

color=black face="Times New Roman">3.5.1                 Praedial Servitudes................................................................ 164

3.5.2                 Personal Servitudes............................................................... 168

3.5.3                 Constitution of Servitudes..................................................... 171

3.5.4                 Protection of Servitudes........................................................ 173

3.5.5                 Termination of Servitudes..................................................... 174

3.6      Emphyteusis and Superficies.............................................................. 174

3.6.1                 Emphyteusis........................................................................... 175

3.6.2                 Superficies.............................................................................. 176

3.7      Real Security..................................................................................... 176

3.7.1                 Fiducia.................................................................................. 177

3.7.2                 Pignus................................................................................... 178

3.7.3                 Hypotheca.............................................................................. 179

3.7.4                 Termination of Real Security................................................. 182

4     The Law of Obligations............................................................................. 183

4.1      Introductory...................................................................................... 183

4.2      The Nature of Obligations................................................................. 183

name=bookmark1420>4.2.1                 Sources and Classifications of Obligations........................... 185

4.3      Obligations Arising from Contracts.................................................. 187

4.3.1                 Content and Classification of Contracts................................ 187

4.3.2                  Formation of a Valid Contract.............................................. 190

4.3.3                  Defects in Agreement............................................................ 192

4.3.4                  Conditions and Terms in Contracts.....................................  195

4.3.5                  Contractual Liability............................................................. 198

4.3.6                  Representation...................................................................... 200

4.3.7                  Contractual Agreements in Favour of a Third Party..           203

4.3.8                  Contractual Agreements Involving More Than One

Debtor and/or Creditor......................................................... 204

4.3.9                  Breach of Contract................................................................ 205

4.4      Real Contracts.................................................................................  207

4.4.1                 Mutuum................................................................................. 207

4.4.2                  Commodatum........................................................................ 209

4.4.3                  Depositum............................................................................. 211

4.4.4                  Pignus................................................................................... 213

4.5      Verbal Contracts............................................................................... 214

4.5.1                 Stipulatio............................................................................... 214

4.6      Literal Contracts............................................................................... 218

4.7      Consensual Contracts......................................................................  219

4.7.1                 Emptio Venditio..................................................................... 220

4.7.2                  Locatio Conductio................................................................. 229

4.7.3                  Societas................................................................................. 234

4.7.4                  Mandatum............................................................................. 237

4.8      Quasi-Contracts................................................................................ 239

4.8.1                   Negotiorum Gestio................................................................ 240

4.8.2                   Solutio Indebiti..................................................................... 241

4.8.3                   Other Quasi-Contractual Condictiones.................................. 242

4.9      Other Types of Contractual Relationship......................................... 244

4.9.1                   Contractus Innominati.......................................................... 244

4.9.2                   Pacta.................................................................................... 245

4.9.3New Roman">                   Donation.............................................................................. 247

4.9.4                   Suretyship............................................................................ 248

4.10    Obligations Arising from Delicts...................................................... 251

4.10.1                 Furtum................................................................................ 254

4.10.2                  Rapina.................................................................................. ISI

4.10.3                  Damnum Iniuria Datum...................................................... 258

4.10.4                  Iniuria................................................................................. 263

4.11    Quasi-Delicts.................................................................................... 266

4.11.1                 Iudex Qui Litem Suam Facit................................................ 266

4.11.2                  Res Deiectae Vel Effusae...................................................... 266

4.11.3                  Res Suspensae Vel Positae................................................... 267

4.11.4                  Nauta, Caupo, Stabularius.................................................. 267

4.12    Other Forms of Delict....................................................................... 267

4.12.1                 Praetorian Delicts................................................................ 267

4.12.2                  Noxal Liability.................................................................... 270

4.13    Termination of Obligations............................................................... 271

face="Times New Roman">4.13.1                 Performance........................................................................ 272

4.13.2                  Release................................................................................ 272

4.13.3                  Set-Off................................................................................ 274

4.13.4                  Merger................................................................................ 275

4.13.5                  Novation............................................................................. 275

4.13.6                  Delegation........................................................................... 276

4.13.7                  Cession..............................................................................  276

4.13.8                  Further Modes by Which Obligations

Were Extinguished.............................................................. 277

5     The Law of Succession............................................................................... 279

5.1      Introductory...................................................................................... 279

5.2      Intestate Succession.......................................................................... 280

5.2.1                   Intestate Succession Under the Law of the Twelve Tables 280

5.2.2                   Praetorian Intestate Succession............................................ 281

5.2.3                   Intestate Succession in Justinian’s Law................................ 283

5.3      Testamentary Succession.................................................................  284

5.3.1                   Early Forms of Will............................................................. 284

5.3.2size=1 face="Times New Roman">                   Testamentum Tripertitum...................................................... 286

5.3.3                   Extraordinary Wills............................................................  286

5.3.4                   Testamenti Factio................................................................. 287

5.3.5                   Institution of Heirs............................................................... 289

5.3.6               Substitution............................................................................ 290

5.3.7               Disinheritance......................................................................... 291

5.3.8               Querela Inofficiosi Testamenti................................................. 292

5.3.9               Invalidity and Revocation of a Will........................................ 294

5.4    Codicil................................................................................................ 295

5.5    Acquisition and Administration of the Inheritance.............................. 296

5.5.1               Acceptance of the Inheritance................................................. 296

5.5.2               Separatio Bonorum................................................................. 297

5.5.3               Beneficium Inventarii.............................................................. 298

5.5.4               Co-heirs.................................................................................. 298

5.5.5               Collatio Bonorum................................................................... 298

5.5.6               Remedies of the Heir............................................................... 299

5.6New Roman"'>    Legacy................................................................................................ 301

5.6.1               Restrictions on Legacies......................................................... 303

5.6.2               Remedies of the Legatee.......................................................... 304

5.7    Fideicommissum.................................................................................. 305

5.8    Donatio Mortis Causa......................................................................... 307

6     The Law of Actions.................................................................................... 309

6.1    Introductory....................................................................................... 309

6.2    The Legis Actio Procedure.................................................................. 310

6.3    The Formulary System....................................................................... 317

6.3.1               The Course of the Formulary Procedure................................. 324

6.3.2               Extraordinary Praetorian Remedies........................................ 330

6.4    Civil Procedure in the Principate Era.................................................. 333

6.4.1               The Formulary Procedure......................................................  333

6.4.2               The Cognitio Extraordinaria................................................... 334

6.5    Civil Procedure in the Late Imperial Age............................................ 337

6.5.1            Resolving Private Disputes Through Arbitration.................... 341

Bibliography..................................................................................................... 343

Index................................................................................................................. 349