The Roman Law of Inheritance - by Ulrike Babusiaux

About the Book

Traces the evolution of the Roman legal system through a study of the law of inheritance.

Book Synopsis

Fritz Schulz once famously described the Roman law of inheritance as "labyrinthine" and it is deemed to be the most complex part of the Roman legal system. As Rome evolved from a city-state to an imperial power, the rules of inheritance often changed because of the economic importance of acquisition at death. These changes are reflected in the Corpus iuris civilis, despite the best efforts of the compilers of the Corpus to eliminate variations in the text in order to standardise the existing material for the purposes of their compilation.

The Roman Law of Inheritance gives the reader an insight into the content, structure and evolution of Roman inheritance law and provides an understanding of a fundamental part of Roman legal thought. In addition, it tackles the most difficult features of Roman law of inheritance, including the fideicommissa and the interpretation of wills which are explained against the background of historical stratification.

Review Quotes

A long-overdue, accessible English-language introduction to the Roman law of Inheritance. Presenting a balanced mix of documentary evidence and Roman jurisprudence, the book illustrates the mechanisms of law reform playing out in imperial Rome -- cutting-edge scholarship, written by an internationally acclaimed expert in the field.--Wolfgang Ernst, University of Oxford

The teaching of Roman law in the Anglophone world is flourishing. The law of succession is an integral part of teaching Roman law as it demonstrates the real-world concerns informing the opinions of the Roman jurists. Babusiaux's insightful work on the Roman law of succession is an essential addition to the subject. It will undoubtedly be used widely.--Paul J. du Plessis, University of Edinburgh