De capite minutis
(Concerning the Change of Condition.)
1 Gaius libro quarto ad edictum provinciale. Capitis minutio est status permutatio.
1 Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book IV. Capitis Minutio is a change of condition.
2 Ulpianus libro duodecimo ad edictum. Pertinet hoc edictum ad eas capitis deminutiones, quae salva civitate contingunt. ceterum sive amissione civitatis sive libertatis amissione contingat capitis deminutio, cessabit edictum neque possunt hi penitus conveniri: dabitur plane actio in eos, ad quos bona pervenerunt eorum. 1Ait praetor: ‘Qui quaeve, posteaquam quid cum his actum contractumve sit, capite deminuti deminutae esse dicentur, in eos easve perinde, quasi id factum non sit, iudicium dabo’. 2Hi qui capite minuuntur ex his causis, quae capitis deminutionem praecesserunt, manent obligati naturaliter: ceterum si postea, imputare quis sibi debebit cur contraxerit, quantum ad verba huius edicti pertinet. sed interdum, si contrahatur cum his post capitis deminutionem, danda est actio: et quidem si adrogatus sit, nullus labor: nam perinde obligabitur ut filius familias. 3Nemo delictis exuitur, quamvis capite minutus sit. 4Ei, qui debitorem suum adrogavit, non restituitur actio in eum, postquam sui iuris fiat. 5Hoc iudicium perpetuum est et in heredes et heredibus datur.
2 Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XII. This Edict has reference to such changes of condition as happen without affecting the rights of citizenship. But where a change of condition takes place either through loss of citizenship or of freedom, the Edict will not apply, and such persons cannot, under any circumstances, be sued, but it is clear that an action will be granted against those into whose hands their property has passed. 1The Prætor says: “If any man or woman is said to have suffered the loss of civil rights after having performed some act, or made some contract, I will permit an action to be brought against him or her, just as if such change of condition had not occurred.” 2Those whose condition has been changed remain naturally bound, for the reason which existed before said change took place; but if they arose afterwards, anyone who agrees to pay the said parties money, or enters into a contract with them, will have only himself to blame, so far as relates to the terms of this Edict. Sometimes, however, an action should be granted where a contract is made with them after their change of condition; and, indeed, where the party is arrogated, there is no difficulty, for then he will be liable just like the son of a family. 3No one is exempt from the penalty for crime, even though his civil condition be changed. 4Where a party has arrogated his debtor, his right of action against him will not be restored after he becomes his own master. 5This right of action is perpetual, and is granted both to and against heirs.
3 Paulus libro undecimo ad edictum. Liberos qui adrogatum parentem sequuntur placet minui caput, cum in aliena potestate sint et cum familiam mutaverint. 1Emancipato filio et ceteris personis capitis minutio manifesto accidit, cum emancipari nemo possit nisi in imaginariam servilem causam deductus: aliter atque cum servus manumittitur, quia servile caput nullum ius habet ideoque nec minui potest:
3 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XI. It is established that children, when they follow their father who has been arrogated, sustain a loss of civil rights, since they come under the control of another, and change their family. 1A change of condition evidently takes place where a son or other persons are emancipated, since no one can be emancipated without having been first reduced to a fictitious servile condition. The case is entirely different where a slave is manumitted, as a slave enjoys no civil rights whatever, and therefore he cannot change his condition:
4 Modestinus libro primo pandectarum. hodie enim incipit statum habere.
4 Modestinus, Pandects, Book I. For he first begins to have a civil status on the day when he is manumitted.
5 Paulus libro undecimo ad edictum. Amissione civitatis fit capitis minutio, ut in aqua et igni interdictione. 1Qui deficiunt, capite minuuntur (deficere autem dicuntur, qui ab his, quorum sub imperio sunt, desistunt et in hostium numerum se conferunt): sed et hi, quos senatus hostes iudicavit vel lege lata: utique usque eo, ut civitatem amittant. 2Nunc respiciendum, quae capitis deminutione pereant: et primo de ea capitis deminutione, quae salva civitate accidit, per quam publica iura non interverti constat: nam manere magistratum vel senatorem vel iudicem certum est.
5 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XI. A change of condition takes place by loss of citizenship, as in the case of the interdiction of fire and water. 1Those who desert lose their civil rights, and they are said to desert, who abandon the person under whose command they are, and place themselves in the class of enemies; and this applies to persons whom the Senate declares to be enemies, or renders them such by an enactment to the extent that they forfeit their citizenship. 2It should now be considered what things are lost by a change of civil status; and in the first place, with reference to that loss of condition which happens when citizenship is retained, and by which it is established that a party is not deprived of his public rights; for it is certain that the rank of magistrate, Senator, or judge is preserved.
6 Ulpianus libro quinquagensimo primo ad Sabinum. Nam et cetera officia quae publica sunt, in eo non finiuntur: capitis enim minutio privata hominis et familiae eius iura, non civitatis amittit.
6 Ulpianus, On Sabinus, Book LI. For other public offices are not lost by a person whose status is changed in this way; for a change of status deprives a man of certain private and domestic rights, but it does not deprive him of those of citizenship.
7 Paulus libro undecimo ad edictum. Tutelas etiam non amittit capitis minutio exceptis his, quae in iure alieno personis positis deferuntur. igitur testamento dati vel ex lege vel ex senatus consulto erunt nihilo minus tutores: sed legitimae tutelae ex duodecim tabulis intervertuntur eadem ratione, qua et hereditates exinde legitimae, quia adgnatis deferuntur, qui desinunt esse familia mutati. ex novis autem legibus et hereditates et tutelae plerumque sic deferuntur, ut personae naturaliter designentur: ut ecce deferunt hereditatem senatus consulta matri et filio. 1Iniuriarum et actionum ex delicto venientium obligationes cum capite ambulant. 2Si libertate adempta capitis deminutio subsecuta sit, nulli restitutioni adversus servum locus est, quia nec praetoria iurisdictione ita servus obligatur, ut cum eo actio sit: sed utilis actio adversus dominum danda est, ut Iulianus scribit, et nisi in solidum defendatur, permittendum mihi est in bona quae habuit mitti. 3Item cum civitas amissa est, nulla restitutionis aequitas est adversus eum, qui amissis bonis et civitate relicta nudus exulat.
7 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XI. A change of condition does not deprive a person of the rights of guardianship; except in those cases where they are given to parties who are subject to the authority of others; and therefore guardians appointed by will, by law, or by a decree of the Senate will still remain such; but legal guardianships based on the law of the Twelve Tables are abrogated, for the same reason as legitimate inheritances, because they are given to agnates who cease to be such when their families are changed. Both inheritances and guardianships based upon new laws are generally so bestowed that the parties who receive them are designated by their natural relations; as, for instance, where decrees of the Senate confer inheritances on mothers and sons. 1Obligations arising from injuries, and actions derived from crimes, follow the individual everywhere. 2Where a party is deprived of freedom, he changes his condition in consequence, and no right of restitution can be granted against a slave, because a slave cannot be bound so as to be liable even in an action under Prætorian jurisdiction; but an equitable action will be granted against his master, as Julianus asserts, and unless he is defended for the entire amount, an order must be granted me to seize the property which he formerly held. 3Likewise, where citizenship is forfeited, there is no justice in admitting restitution against a party who has lost his property, and having left the city, goes into exile stripped of everything.
8 Gaius libro quarto ad edictum provinciale. Eas obligationes, quae naturalem praestationem habere intelleguntur, palam est capitis deminutione non perire, quia civilis ratio naturalia iura corrumpere non potest. itaque de dote actio, quia in bonum et aequum concepta est, nihilo minus durat etiam post capitis deminutionem,
8 Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book IV. Those obligations which are understood to be fulfilled in accordance with natural law, it is evident cannot be lost by a change of condition, because no civil rule can destroy natural rights; therefore a right of action for dowry which is founded on what is good and equitable, will still remain unimpaired after a change of condition.
9 Paulus libro undecimo ad edictum. ut quandoque emancipata agat.
9 Paulus, On the Edict, Book XI. So that a woman, even after she has been emancipated, may bring suit.
10 Modestinus libro octavo differentiarum. Legatum in annos singulos vel menses singulos relictum, vel si habitatio legetur, morte quidem legatarii legatum intercidit, capitis deminutione tamen interveniente perseverat: videlicet quia tale legatum in facto potius quam in iure consistit.
10 Modestinus, Differences, Book VIII. Where a legacy is left to be paid every year, or every month, or a legacy of habitation is bequeathed, it is extinguished by the death of the legatee; but where there is a change of condition it continues without interruption, for the reason that a legacy of this kind is rather dependent upon fact than upon law.
11 Paulus libro secundo ad Sabinum. Capitis deminutionis tria genera sunt, maxima media minima: tria enim sunt quae habemus, libertatem civitatem familiam. igitur cum omnia haec amittimus, hoc est libertatem et civitatem et familiam, maximam esse capitis deminutionem: cum vero amittimus civitatem, libertatem retinemus, mediam esse capitis deminutionem: cum et libertas et civitas retinetur, familia tantum mutatur, minimam esse capitis deminutionem constat.
11 Paulus, On Sabinus, Book II. There are three kinds of changes of condition, the greatest, the intermediate, and the least; as there are three conditions, which we may have, namely, those of freedom, citizenship, and family. Therefore, when we lose all of these, that is to say freedom, citizenship, and family, the greatest change of condition ensues; but where we lose citizenship and retain freedom, intermediate loss of condition occurs; and when freedom and citizenship are retained, and only the family position is altered, it is established that the least change of condition takes place.