Legal Definitions - lex Aelia Sentia

Definition: Lex Aelia Sentia is a law in Roman law that established the minimum age requirements for an owner and a slave in a valid manumission. It also voided manumissions made to defraud creditors and created the status of dediticii for some manumitted slaves, especially criminals.

Examples:

• If a slave owner wanted to free their slave, they had to wait until the slave was at least 30 years old. This was to ensure that the slave was mature enough to handle their newfound freedom.
• If a slave owner tried to free their slave in order to avoid paying their debts, the manumission would be considered void.
• If a slave had committed a crime, they could be freed through manumission but would be considered dediticii, which meant they lost their Roman citizenship and could be punished more severely for any future crimes.

The examples illustrate how Lex Aelia Sentia set rules and regulations for manumission in Roman law. It aimed to prevent abuse of the system and ensure that manumitted slaves were able to integrate into society successfully.