Status in Roman legal system

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== Status in Roman Legal System ==

In the Roman legal system, the concept of status (status) was a fundamental aspect that determined an individual's legal rights and obligations. The status of a person was primarily categorized into three main types: status libertatis, status civitatis, and status familiae.

Status Libertatis

Status libertatis referred to the condition of freedom. Individuals were classified as either free (liberi) or slaves (servi). Free individuals were further divided into those who were born free (ingenui) and those who were freed from slavery (libertini).

• Liberti: Freed slaves who had certain legal rights but were not fully equal to those born free.
• Ingenui: Individuals born free, enjoying full legal rights.

Status Civitatis

Status civitatis defined the citizenship status of an individual. The primary categories were cives Romani (Roman citizens), Latini (Latins), and peregrini (foreigners).

• Cives Romani: Full Roman citizens with complete legal rights, including the right to vote, marry, and own property.
• Latini: Residents of Latium who had limited rights compared to Roman citizens.
• Peregrini: Non-citizens or foreigners who had limited legal rights and were subject to different laws.

Status Familiae

Status familiae pertained to an individual's position within the family structure. The Roman family was headed by the paterfamilias, who held extensive power over the family members.

• Paterfamilias: The male head of the family with legal authority over all family members.
• Sui iuris: Individuals who were legally independent.
• Alieni iuris: Individuals under the legal authority of another, typically the paterfamilias.

Legal Implications

The status of an individual in the Roman legal system had significant implications for their legal capacity, rights, and duties. For example, only Roman citizens could participate in the Roman Senate and hold public office. Slaves had no legal personhood and were considered property.

Related Pages

• Roman law
• Roman citizenship
• Paterfamilias
• Slavery in ancient Rome
• Latium
• Roman Senate