La patria potestad en el derecho romano y en el derecho altomedieval visigodo

Abstract

Patria potestas arises as an absolute, primary and exclusive right of Roman citizens over their sons and daughters, which guaranteed the family unity and governance and the paternal line of descent. All in all, the scope of this right became gradually limited and underwent evolutionary changes in its legal nature over the historical periods in Roman life. The fall of the Western Roman Empire did not entail its derogation. On the contrary, this personal civil right of the Roman pater familias was projected onto the law in the Late Middle Ages Visigothic Kingdom.