Some remarks on the criminal liability of slaves based on Lex Iulia de adulteriis coercendis

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to attempt to answer the question whether a slave or female slave were criminally responsible for adultery. The Lex Iulia de adulteriis coercendis promulgated in 18 B.C., belonged to the so-called Augustan marriage legislation, introduced the term adulterium understood as a crime of public law. This law was very widely commented on by Roman jurists. However, the opposite views on the criminal liability of slaves under this statute are noticed in accessible legal sources. In the literature devoted to the Julian Act, this issue has not been sufficiently analyzed.