Legal Definitions - res mancipi

Definition: Res mancipi refers to property in Roman law, specifically Italic land with its rustic servitudes and beasts of draft or burden, that can only be transferred by a formal ceremony of mancipation.

Example: An example of res mancipi would be a piece of land in ancient Rome that was used for farming and had animals like oxen or horses for plowing. This type of property could only be transferred through a formal mancipation ceremony.

Explanation: Res mancipi was a specific type of property in ancient Rome that had strict rules for transfer. It was considered more valuable than other types of property and required a formal ceremony with witnesses to transfer ownership. This ensured that the transfer was legitimate and binding. The example of land and animals used for farming illustrates the type of property that was considered res mancipi and the strict rules that governed its transfer.