Legal Definitions - legatarius

Definition: Legatarius (leg-uh-tair-ee-uh-s) is a Latin term that has two meanings:

1. In Roman law, it refers to the person who is named as the recipient of a legatum or property that is bequeathed to them. This person is also known as a legatee.
2. In history, it refers to a legate, which is a messenger or envoy.

Examples:

• When John's grandfather passed away, he was named as the legatarius of his grandfather's estate.
• The legatarii were sent to negotiate a peace treaty between the two warring nations.

The first example illustrates the first meaning of legatarius, where John is named as the recipient of his grandfather's estate. The second example illustrates the second meaning of legatarius, where messengers or envoys were sent to negotiate a peace treaty.