Legal Definitions - vadimonium

Definition: Vadimonium (vad-uh-moh-nee-uhm) is a term used in Roman law. It refers to a guarantee made by a litigant that they will appear in court. This guarantee was originally backed by sureties. It can also refer to a solemn promise made by the litigant to appear in court.

Examples:

• When Marcus was sued by his neighbor, he gave a vadimonium to the court, promising to appear on the appointed day.
• Lucia's father acted as a surety for her vadimonium, guaranteeing that she would appear in court.

These examples illustrate how vadimonium was used in Roman law. Litigants would give a vadimonium to the court as a guarantee that they would appear on the appointed day. This was important because if a litigant failed to appear, they could be fined or even lose their case. The use of sureties added an extra layer of security to the guarantee. The solemn promise aspect of vadimonium emphasized the seriousness of the litigant's obligation to appear in court.