Legal Definitions - servus

Servus

Servus is a Latin word that has two meanings:

1. In Roman law, servus referred to a person who was considered property and could be bought, sold, and inherited like an object. These people were called slaves and had no rights. If a slave was freed, they became a Roman citizen.
2. In history, servus referred to a bondman or servant.

1. In ancient Rome, wealthy people owned many servus (slaves) who did all the work in their homes and businesses. These slaves had no freedom and were treated like objects.

2. In medieval Europe, serfs were servus (bondmen) who worked on the land of their lord and were not allowed to leave without permission. They were not slaves, but they had very few rights and were tied to the land.

These examples illustrate how servus was used to describe people who were considered property or had limited rights and freedoms.