The current view of the extra-judicial vadimonium

Metzger, E. (2000) The current view of the extra-judicial vadimonium. Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte: Romanistische Abteilung, 117, pp. 133-178.

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Abstract

How did a lawsuit begin in classical Rome? There is a common view that it began with a contract: the parties made an agreement for the day and hour when they wished to appear before the magistrate. The contract was called vadimonium, a formal promise to appear. We know that these vadimonia were used by magistrates to bring defendants back before the court. The question is whether the parties used them voluntarily, as a way to commence the lawsuit itself.

The theory that lawsuits began in this way was based on an obvious error: a misreading of the Digest 2.6 rubric by 16th century Humanists. When the error was discovered, the theory changed, along with the evidence on which it was based. When two large collections of written vadimonia were discovered in the 1930s and 1950s, the theory underwent a second change. At no time did the common opinion ask whether, in fact, lawsuits began with a vadimonium.

This article argues that we have no evidence that lawsuits began with a vadimonium. The vadimonium evidence we possess, to the contrary, are instances of the ordinary, compulsory vadimonium, used by magistrates to bring defendants back to court.

This article is a study preliminary to the author's Litigation in Roman Law (2005).

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This is an electronic reprint from Roman Law Resources (www.IusCivile.com). Copyright © 2000 by Böhlau Verlag, Dr Peter Rauch Ges. m. b. H., Wien. All rights reserved. This piece originally appeared as E. Metzger, 'The Current View of the Extra-Judicial Vadimonium', Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte, romanistische Abteiliung (2000), 133-78, and is reprinted here with the kind permission of the publisher. Authors should cite to the original work. All enquiries concerning the use or reproduction of this material should be addressed to the publisher.
Keywords:Roman law, Vadimonium, Civil procedure
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Metzger, Professor Ernest
Authors: Metzger, E.
Subjects:D History General and Old World > DE The Mediterranean Region. The Greco-Roman World
K Law > K Law (General)
College/School:College of Social Sciences > School of Law
Journal Name:Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte: Romanistische Abteilung
Publisher:Böhlau Verlag
ISSN:0323-4096
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2000 Böhlau Verlag
First Published:First published in Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung für Rechtsgeschichte, romanistische Abteiliung 117:133-178
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

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