Define: Devadiatus

Devadiatus is a term used in ancient Roman law to refer to a person who has been declared free from the control of their master. It essentially means “freed slave.”

In ancient Rome, a slave could become a Devadiatus through manumission, which is the act of granting freedom to a slave by their master. This could be done through various means, such as a formal ceremony or a written document.

Once declared a Devadiatus, a former slave would have most of the rights enjoyed by free Roman citizens. They could own property, engage in business, and even participate in political life to some extent.

While a Devadiatus had many rights, there were still some limitations. For example, they might not have the same legal standing as a freeborn citizen, and there could be certain restrictions on their ability to hold public office or marry certain individuals.

Devadiatus was just one form of manumission in ancient Rome. Other forms included being granted citizenship or becoming a client of the former master. Devadiatus specifically referred to the status of being freed from slavery.

In some cases, a master might provide financial support or a small sum of money to a Devadiatus upon their release. However, this was not a requirement, and the extent of financial support would vary depending on the circumstances.

In general, once a person was declared a Devadiatus, they were considered permanently free and could not be re-enslaved. However, there might be exceptional cases where a Devadiatus could lose their freedom due to criminal activities or other legal reasons.

The exact prevalence of Devadiatus in ancient Rome is difficult to determine, as it varied over time and in different regions. However, manumission and the granting of freedom to slaves were relatively common practices, so it is likely that there were a significant number of Devadiatus individuals.

The status of Devadiatus did not automatically confer any legal benefits or disadvantages to the descendants of a freed slave. However, being born to a Devadiatus might provide some social advantages, such as a higher social standing or increased opportunities for education and advancement.

No, the status of Devadiatus is specific to ancient Roman law and is not recognized in modern legal systems. The concept of slavery and manumission has evolved significantly over time, and the legal rights and status of individuals are now determined by different principles and laws.