Digesta seu Pandectae III / Digesta neboli Pandekty III

The fourth volume of the Fontes Iuris Romani series, which presents translations of basic sources of Roman law into Czech, is a continuation of the previous volumes, devoted to Emperor Justinian’s legislative efforts. The first of these was the legal textbook Institutiones, published in 533 AD. This was followed by the first two volumes of the Digesta seu Pandectae by the same author, published in 2015 and 2019. This third and final volume of the Digest features selected titles from Books 36 through 50.
It includes sections focusing on informal bequests and intestate succession. It also covers the legal framework governing gifts, the acquisition of possession by an heir, and abandoned property. Great attention is devoted to a specific instrument for the protection of heirs, known in Roman law as interdicta, that is, orders or prohibitions issued by officials outside of court proceedings. Other topics include selected issues related to court proceedings, such as procedural objections, dismissal of a claim, and, above all, the title called “On Obligations and Actions.” The volume also includes a comprehensive section on verbal obligations, as well as regulations on debt forgiveness and guarantees intended to ensure compliance with a judgment.
While the titles from the previous books were selected to be as representative as possible, or to be relevant to current legal regulations, or perhaps to serve as inspiration for today’s lawmakers, Books 47 and 48 have been translated in their entirety. Roman criminal law, as set out in these two books, is today the least well-known part of ancient Rome’s legal system. In addition to detailed provisions on various types of theft, defamation, and robbery, the books introduce regulations on crimes such as murder, electoral fraud, violence, and forgery. The next book addresses issues related to appeals. The final book of the Digest is devoted to local administration, and most importantly, it contains definitions of various legal terms and lists 211 legal principles that have remained valid until today.
The translation is provided alongside the original Latin text. This is a critical edition. Therefore, the Czech text is accompanied by an extensive critical apparatus (more than 3,000 entries). The book includes a name, a place, and a subject index. This is the first translation of the Digest into Czech.