The Lex Fufia Caninia, also known as the Fufian Caninian law or Fusian Caninian law, was an ancient Roman law that restricted owners from freeing excessive numbers of their slaves through their will. Justinian later abolished this law.
The law known as Lex Fufia Caninia in ancient Rome imposed restrictions on the number or proportion of slaves that an owner could emancipate through a will. Justinian later abolished this law. For instance, under Lex Fufia Caninia, if a Roman citizen possessed 10 slaves, they could only liberate a maximum of 5 slaves through a will. Any attempt to emancipate more than 5 slaves would be prohibited by the law. Similarly, if a Roman citizen owned 100 slaves, they could only free a maximum of 20 slaves through a will. Any effort to emancipate more than 20 slaves would be prevented by the law. These examples demonstrate how Lex Fufia Caninia restricted the ability of slave owners to liberate their slaves through a will. The purpose of this law was to prevent the sudden release of a large number of slaves, which could have resulted in social and economic issues in ancient Rome.
Lex Fufia Caninia was a Roman law enacted in 2 BC that limited the number of slaves that could be freed in a person’s will.
The purpose of Lex Fufia Caninia was to prevent excessive manumission (freeing of slaves) in order to maintain social order and prevent potential uprisings.
Under this law, the number of slaves that could be freed in a person’s will was limited based on the number of slaves they owned. The more slaves a person owned, the fewer they could free.
Yes, there were exceptions to the limitations. For example, if a slave had rendered exceptional services to their master, they could be freed regardless of the number of slaves owned.
Yes, there were penalties for non-compliance with Lex Fufia Caninia. If a person exceeded the allowed number of manumissions, the excess freed slaves would be re-enslaved, and the person responsible could face fines or other punishments.
There is limited historical evidence regarding the enforcement of Lex Fufia Caninia. However, it is believed that the law was not strictly enforced and that many individuals found ways to circumvent its limitations.
Lex Fufia Caninia aimed to maintain the social hierarchy by limiting the number of freed slaves. However, its impact on Roman society is debated, as manumission continued to occur, and the law may not have been effectively enforced.
There is no evidence of Lex Fufia Caninia being repealed or modified. However, as the Roman legal system evolved, the law’s significance likely diminished over time.
No, there are no direct equivalents to Lex Fufia Caninia in modern legal systems. The concept of limiting manumission based on the number of slaves owned is not present in contemporary laws.
Lex Fufia Caninia serves as a historical example of how societies have attempted to regulate and control the institution of slavery. It highlights the complexities and ethical considerations surrounding the treatment of enslaved individuals, which continue to be relevant in modern discussions on slavery and human rights.
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This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
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