The Senatus Consultum Velleianum, enacted by the Roman Senate in AD 46, aimed to safeguard women from being bound by unjust commitments or debts on behalf of their husbands or others. This legislation rendered it unlawful to enforce such obligations, ensuring that women could not be held accountable for agreements they did not consent to.
The senatus consultum Velleianum, passed by the Roman Senate in AD 46, aimed to safeguard women from being held accountable for their husband’s or others’ debts. This decree rendered it unlawful to enforce any guarantees, suretyship undertakings, or debt assumptions made by women. For instance, if a woman’s husband borrowed money and failed to repay it, the lender was prohibited from compelling the woman to settle the debt under the senatus consultum Velleianum. This example demonstrates how the decree protected women from being liable for their husband’s financial obligations. Even if a woman had agreed to guarantee her husband’s loan, the lender could not enforce that agreement due to this decree.
The Senatus Consultum Velleianum was a Roman legal provision that restricted the ability of women to act as sureties for loans.
The exact date of enactment is not known, but it is believed to have been established during the early Roman Empire.
The purpose of the Senatus Consultum Velleianum was to protect women from being coerced into assuming financial obligations as sureties for loans.
The provision applied to Roman citizens, but not to non-citizens or women who were emancipated from their fathers’ authority.
There is no evidence to suggest that the provision was ever officially repealed, but its practical application may have diminished over time.
The consequences for violating the provision are not well-documented, but it likely resulted in the invalidation of any surety agreements made by women.
The provision limited women’s ability to enter into financial agreements, but it also served to protect them from potential exploitation.
The provision is not directly applicable to modern legal systems, but it is studied as part of Roman law and its historical impact on women’s rights.
There were some exceptions, such as when a woman acted as a surety for her husband or when the loan was for the benefit of the woman’s household.
While the provision itself is not directly relevant, it is studied as part of legal history and serves as a reminder of the historical treatment of women in the legal system.
This site contains general legal information but does not constitute professional legal advice for your particular situation. Persuing this glossary does not create an attorney-client or legal adviser relationship. If you have specific questions, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
This glossary post was last updated: 17th April 2024.
To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.
- Page URL:https://dlssolicitors.com/define/senatus-consultum-velleianum/
- Modern Language Association (MLA):Senatus Consultum Velleianum. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. May 09 2024 https://dlssolicitors.com/define/senatus-consultum-velleianum/.
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):Senatus Consultum Velleianum. dlssolicitors.com. DLS Solicitors. https://dlssolicitors.com/define/senatus-consultum-velleianum/ (accessed: May 09 2024).
- American Psychological Association (APA):Senatus Consultum Velleianum. dlssolicitors.com. Retrieved May 09 2024, from dlssolicitors.com website: https://dlssolicitors.com/define/senatus-consultum-velleianum/
Our team of professionals are based in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. We offer clear, specialist legal advice in all matters relating to Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Lasting Power of Attorney and Court of Protection.
All author posts