Calumnia (Roman law)

In Roman law during the Republic, calumnia was the willful bringing of a false accusation, that is, malicious prosecution.^[1] The English word "calumny" derives from the Latin.

The Roman legal system lacked state

libel.^[2] The person found guilty of calumnia was subject to the same punishment the person he falsely accused would have received.^[3]

One particularly well-documented trial that resulted in calumnia was that of

equites, and two of twenty-five tribuni aerarii ("tribunes of the treasury"). Ten of these jurors voted that two of the prosecutors, Marcus Pacuvius Claudius^[4] and his brother Quintus, had committed calumnia, and three voted that a third prosecutor, Lucius Marius,^[5] had also done so.^[6] Although the presiding praetor allowed charges of calumnia to proceed, all three were acquitted, even though the jury seems to have been the same.^[7]

Another case involving calumnia is mentioned by Cicero in his first speech against

Verres.^[8]

During the time of Sulla, Afrania,^[9] a senator's wife, appeared so often before the praetor that muliebris calumnia ("woman's calumny") became regarded as pernicious to the legal system. An edict was consequently enacted that prohibited women from bringing claims on behalf of others, though they continued to be active in the courts in other ways.^[10]

During the Imperial era, a charge of calumnia could also result from an ill-considered accusation, even if made without malice.^[11]

References

^ Mary Beard, J.A. North, and S.R.F. Price, Religions of Rome: A History (Cambridge University Press, 1998), vol. 1, p. 238.
^ Cicero, Rosc. Am. 19.55; Richard A. Lafleur, "Horace and onomasti komodein: The Law of Satire," Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II.31.3 (1981), p. 1822; H. Galsterer, "The Administration of Justice," in The Cambridge Ancient History: The Augustan Empire, 43 B.C.–A.D. 69 (Cambridge University Press, 1996), p. 402.
^ George Mousourakis, The Historical and Institutional Context of Roman Law (Ashgate, 2003), p. 317; Beard et al., Religions of Rome, p. 238.
^ The cognomen is uncertain, and may be Caldus.
^ A quaestor in 50 BC.
^ Michael C. Alexander, Trials in the Late Roman Republic, 149 BC to 50 BC (University of Toronto Press, 1990), pp. 143–144.
^ T. Corey Brennan, The Praetorship in the Roman Republic (Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 497.
^ Cicero, In Verrem 1.6.
^ The name is vexed; it may also be Carfrania.
^ Richard A. Bauman, Women and Politics in Ancient Rome (Routledge, 1992, 1994), pp. 50–51. See also Women and the law in ancient Rome.
^ Mousourakis, The Historical and Institutional Context of Roman Law, p. 317.

[1] Mary Beard, J.A. North, and S.R.F. Price, Religions of Rome: A History (Cambridge University Press, 1998), vol. 1, p. 238.

[2] Cicero, Rosc. Am. 19.55; Richard A. Lafleur, "Horace and onomasti komodein: The Law of Satire," Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II.31.3 (1981), p. 1822; H. Galsterer, "The Administration of Justice," in The Cambridge Ancient History: The Augustan Empire, 43 B.C.–A.D. 69 (Cambridge University Press, 1996), p. 402.

[3] George Mousourakis, The Historical and Institutional Context of Roman Law (Ashgate, 2003), p. 317; Beard et al., Religions of Rome, p. 238.

[4] The cognomen is uncertain, and may be Caldus.

[5] A quaestor in 50 BC.

[6] Michael C. Alexander, Trials in the Late Roman Republic, 149 BC to 50 BC (University of Toronto Press, 1990), pp. 143–144.

[7] T. Corey Brennan, The Praetorship in the Roman Republic (Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 497.

[8] Cicero, In Verrem 1.6.

[9] The name is vexed; it may also be Carfrania.

[10] Richard A. Bauman, Women and Politics in Ancient Rome (Routledge, 1992, 1994), pp. 50–51. See also Women and the law in ancient Rome.

[11] Mousourakis, The Historical and Institutional Context of Roman Law, p. 317.

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See also

References