De bonorum possessione ex testamento militis
(Concerning prætorian possession of an estate in the case of the will of a soldier.)
1 Ulpianus libro quadragensimo quinto ad edictum. Non dubium est, quin debeant ratae voluntates esse eorum, qui in hosticolo suprema iudicia sua quoquo modo ordinassent ibidemque diem suum obissent. quamquam enim distet condicio militum ab his personis constitutiones principales separent, tamen qui in procinctu versantur cum eadem pericula experiantur, iura quoque eadem merito sibi vindicant. omnes igitur omnino, qui eius sunt condicionis, ut iure militari testari non possint, si in hosticolo deprehendantur et illic decedant, quomodo velint et quomodo possint, testabuntur, sive praeses quis sit provinciae sive legatus sive quis alius, qui iure militari testari non potest. 1Item nauarchos et trierarchos classium iure militari posse testari nulla dubitatio est. in classibus omnes remiges et nautae milites sunt. item vigiles milites sunt et iure militari eos testari posse nulla dubitatio est. 2Si quis militum ex alio numero translatus sit in alium, quamvis et hinc sit exemptus et illo nondum pervenerit, tamen poterit iure militari testari: est enim miles, quamvis in numeris non sit.
1 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XLV. There is no doubt that the wishes of those who make their last wills while in arms against the enemy, no matter in what way they may do so, and who die while in the army, should be observed. For, although the condition of a soldier is different from that of those persons who are privileged by the Imperial Constitutions, still, as men who constantly go into battle are exposed to the same dangers, it is only reasonable that they should claim the same privileges for themselves. Therefore, all who are in such a position that they cannot make wills under military law, if they are found in the train of the army and die there, can execute wills in whatever way they desire, and in whatever way they may be able, whether they are Governors of provinces, Imperial Deputies, or any others who are incapable of testation in accordance with military law. 1Moreover, there is no doubt that the captains of ships and the commanders of triremes can make wills under military law. All the oarsmen and sailors of fleets are considered as soldiers, and also the guards are classed as such; and there is no doubt that all these are capable of testation in accordance with military law. 2If a soldier is transferred from one command to another, even though he may have left one and not yet have been enrolled in another, he can, nevertheless, make a will according to military law; for he is still a soldier, although he may not yet have been assigned to any particular legion.