Relegation

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The relegatio was a graduated form of exile in the ancient Roman Empire , which could be imposed as a possible sanction on certain offenses.

In the Roman Republic it was pronounced by the Senate or by the judicial magistrates . The relegatio could also be used by the pater familias due to his patria potestas as a permanent or temporary exclusion of a member of the family from the family.

In the Roman Empire , the relegatio came as a legal consequence of offenses such as fornication and adultery, preferably against members of the higher classes ( honestiores ). The relegatio could be pronounced for a specific period, usually from half a year to ten years, or for life ( relegatio perpetua ).

In contrast to the aquae et ignis interdictio, the punished person retained their civil rights ( civitas ). However, it was either assigned a location (e.g. a distant province, an island) or forbidden to enter certain areas of the Roman Empire. An infringement of the requirements resulted in the next higher level of the criminal norm. With a few exceptions, the assets of the relegated were basically untouched.

Expulsion from Rome or a province often meant a loss of influence for politically active people. In contrast to the much harder deportation , which in addition to the loss of civil rights also meant the complete confiscation of the property, the person concerned went himself to the place of exile without being escorted there or placed under supervision.

Known people under relegation

literature