Importance of tutelage. 63 solum tantisper sufficit admonuisse, quod quidam quinque genera esse dixerunt, ut Quintus Mucius; alii tria, ut Servius Sulpicius; alii duo, ut Labeo; alii tot genera esse crediderunt, quot etiam species essent. nec fere 189. Sed inpuberes quidem in tutela esse omnium civitatium iure contingit; quia id naturali rationi conveniens est, ut is qui perfectae aetatis non sit alterius tutela regatur. ulla civitas est, in qua non licet parentibus liberis suis inpuberibus testamento tutorem dare: quamvis, ut supra diximus, soli cives Romani videantur tantum liberos in potestate habere. (190.) Feminas vero perfectae aetatis in tutela esse fere nulla pretiosa ratio suasisse videtur. nam quae vulgo creditur, quia levitate animi plerumque decipiuntur, et aequum erat eas tutorum auctoritate regi, magis speciosa videtur quam vera. muli sufficient to make this remark only, that some have held that there are five classes, as Quintus Mucius; others three, as Servius Sulpicius; others two, as Labeo'; whilst others have thought that there are as many classes as species3. 189. But for those under puberty to be in tutelage is a rule established by the law of all communities; because it is agreeable to natural reason that he who is not of full age should be guided by the tutelage of another: and there is scarcely any community where ascendants are not allowed to give by testament a tutor to their descendants under puberty; although, as we have said above, Roman citizens alone seem to have their children in potestas3. 19c. But there is scarcely any reason of value to be assigned for the notion that women of full age should be put under tutelage. For the one generally received, that owing to their feebleness of intellect, they are so often deceived, and that it is right they should be directed by the authority of tutors, appears more specious than true. For women who are 1 This Q. M. Scaevola (son of Pub. M. Scaevola) is the man of whom Pomponius speaks as the earliest systematic writer on the Civil Law, and whom Cicero styles the most erudite, acute, and skilful lawyer of his day, "juris peritorum eloquentissimus, eloquentium juris peritissimus." See D. 1. 2. 41. Cic. de Orat. 1. 39. For a memoir of Servius Sulpicius Rufus see Cicero, 2 For an account of the various 4 I. 144. 5 See Livy, XXXIV. 2; Cic. pro Muraena, c. 12; and Ulp. XI. I. eres enim quae perfectae aetatis sunt ipsae sibi negotia tractant, et in quibusdam causis dicis gratia tutor interponit auctoritatem suam; saepe etiam invitus auctor fieri a Praetore cogitur. (191.) Unde cum tutore nullum ex tutela iudicium mulieri datur: at ubi pupillorum pupillarumve negotia tutores tractant, eis post pubertatem tutelae iudicio rationem reddunt. (192.) Sane patronorum et parentum legitimae tutelae vim aliquam habere intelleguntur eo, quod hi neque ad testamentum faciendum, neque ad res mancipi alienandas, neque ad obligationes suscipiendas auctores fieri coguntur, praeterquam si magna causa alienandarum rerum mancipi obligationisque suscipiendae interveniat. eaque omnia ipsorum causa constituta sunt, ut quia ad eos intestatarum mortuarum hereditates pertinent, neque per testamentum excludantur ab hereditate, neque alienatis pretiosioribus rebus susceptoque aere alieno minus locuples ad eos hereditas perveniat. of full age manage their affairs for themselves, and the tutor affords his authorization as a mere formality in certain matters; and is even often compelled by the Praetor to intervene as auctor against his will'. 191. Therefore a woman is allowed no action against her tutor on account of his tutelage: but when tutors manage the business of pupils, male or female, they render them an account by an actio tutelae3, after they have reached the age of puberty. 192. The legitimate tutelages of patrons and ascendants may clearly be seen to have some binding force, from the fact that these tutors are not compelled to authorize either the making of a testament, the alienation of res mancipi, or the contracting of obligations, unless some urgent cause arise for the alienation of the res mancipi, or the contracting of the obligation. And all these regulations are made for the advantage of the tutors themselves, that, since the inheritances of the women, if they die intestate, belong to them, they may neither be excluded by a testament from the inheritance, nor may the inheritance come to them depreciated in value through the more precious articles being alienated and debt incurred. 193. Amongst foreign nations women are not 1 II. 122. Ulpian, XI. 25. 2 It should be noticed that Gaius uses judicium and actio as interchangeable terms. (193.) Aput peregrinos non similiter, ut aput nos, in tutela sunt feminae; set tamen plerumque quasi in tutela sunt: ut ecce lex Bithynorum, si quid mulier contrahat, maritum auctorem esse iubet aut filium eius puberem. 194. Tutela autem liberantur ingenuae quidem trium liberorum iure, libertinae vero quattuor, si in patroni liberorumve eius legitima tutela sint. nam et ceterae quae alterius generis tutores habent, velut Atilianos aut fiduciarios, trium liberorum iure liberantur. (195.) Potest autem pluribus modis libertina alterius generis habere, veluti si a femina manumissa sit: tunc enim e lege Atilia petere debet tutorem, vel in provincia e lege Iulia et Titia: nam patronae tutelam libertorum suorum libertarumve gerere non possunt. Sed et si sit a masculo manumissa, et auctore eo coemptionem fecerit, deinde remancipata et manumissa sit, patronum quidem habere tutorem desinit, incipit autem habere eum tutorem a quo manumissa est, qui fiduciarius in tutelage as they are with us: but yet they are generally in a position analogous to tutelage; for instance, a law of the Bithynians orders that if a woman make any contract, her husband or son over the age of puberty shall authorize it. 194. Freeborn women are freed from tutelage by prerogative of three children; freedwomen by that of four', if they be in the legitimate tutelage of a patron or his children. For the other freedwomen who have tutors of another kind, as Atilian or fiduciary, are also freed by the prerogative of three children. 195. Now a freedwoman may in various ways have tutors of a different kind (from legitimate), for instance if she have been manumitted by a woman; for then she must apply for a tutor in accordance with the Lex Atilia, or in the provinces in accordance with the Lex Julia et Titia: for patronesses cannot hold the tutelage of their freedmen or freedwomen. Besides, if she have been manumitted by a man, and with his authorization have made a coemptio, and then been remancipated and manumitted, she ceases to have her patron as tutor, and begins to have as tutor him by whom she was manumitted, and such an one is called a fiduciary tutor. Likewise, if a patron 1 This privilege was conferred by the Lex Papia Poppaea, A. D. 10. 2 1. 115. dicitur. Item si patronus sive filius eius in adoptionem se dedit, debet sibi e lege Atilia vel Titia tutorem petere. Similiter ex iisdem legibus petere debet tutorem liberta, si patronus decedit nec ullum virilis sexus liberorum in familia relinquit. 196. Masculi quando puberes esse coeperint, tutela liberantur. Puberem autem Sabinus quidem et Cassius ceterique nostri praeceptores eum esse putant qui habitu corporis pubertatem ostendit, hoc est qui generare potest; sed in his qui pubescere non possunt, quales sunt spadones, eam aetatem esse spectandam, cuius aetatis puberes fiunt. sed diversae scholae auctores annis putant pubertatem aestimandam, id est eum puberem esse existimandum, qui XIIII annos explevit― [24 lineae.] or his son have given himself in adoption, she ought to apply for a tutor for herself in accordance with the Leges Atilia and Titia. So also a freedwoman ought to apply for a tutor under these same laws, if her patron die and leave in his family no descendant of the male sex. 196. Males are freed from tutelage when they have attained the age of puberty'. Now Sabinus and Cassius and the rest of our authorities' think that a person is of the age of puberty who shows puberty by the development of his body, that is, who can procreate: but that with regard to those who cannot attain to puberty, such as eunuchs-born, the age is to be regarded at which persons (generally) attain to puberty. But the authors of the opposite school think that puberty should be reckoned by age, i. e. that a person is to be regarded as having attained to puberty who has completed his fourteenth year 3 the letter permitted. Much has been written on the distinctions between the two sects, and their influences on the laws and jurisprudence of Rome: among the leading authorities are Gravina, de Ortu et Prog. Jur. Civ. § 45; Hoffman's Historia Juris, Pt. I. p. 312; Mascow, de sectis Sab. et Proc.; Hugo, Rechtsgeschichte, translated into French by Jourdan, Tom. II. $$ 324-329. Gibbon, c. 44. Fourteenth year if a male, twelfth if a female. Just. I. 22. 3 197. Satisdations of tutors and curators. 67 aetatem pervenerit in qua res suas tueri possit. idem aput peregrinas gentes custodiri superius indicavimus. (198.) Ex iisdem causis et in provinciis a Praesidibus earum curatores dari voluit. 199. Ne tamen et pupillorum et eorum qui in curatione sunt negotia a tutoribus curatoribusque consumantur aut deminuantur, curat Praetor, ut et tutores et curatores eo nomine satisdent. (200.) Set hoc non est perpetuum. nam et tutores testamento dati satisdare non coguntur, quia fides eorum et diligentia ab ipso testatore probata est; et curatores ad quos non e lege curatio pertinet, set qui vel a Consule vel a Praetore vel a Praeside provinciae dantur, plerumque non coguntur satisdare, scilicet quia satis idonei electi sunt. 1 198. Under 197. shall have arrived at the age at which he can take care of his own affairs. That the same rule is observed among foreign nations we have stated above. the same circumstances he ordained that curators should be given in the provinces also by the governors thereof. 199. To prevent, however, the property of pupils and of those who are in curation from being wasted or diminished by tutors and curators, the Praetor provides that both tutors and curators shall furnish sureties as to this matter. 200. But this rule is not of universal application. For, firstly, tutors given by testament are not compelled to furnish sureties, because their integrity and carefulness are borne witness to by the testator himself: and, secondly, curators to whom the curation does not come by virtue of a lex, but who are appointed either by a Consul, or a Praetor, or a governor of a province, are in most cases not compelled to furnish sureties, for the reason, obviously, that men suitable for the office are selected. |