Právněhistorické studie / Legal History Studies (Charles University journal; below referred to as PHS or Journal) is a scientific journal listed in the international prestigious database SCOPUS. The journal is published by Charles University in Prague under the guarantee of the Department of Legal History of the Faculty of Law of Charles University. It is published by the Karolinum Press. The journal focuses on the field of legal history and related topics.
Issue 1 of the Journal was published by the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences Publishing in June 1955. The Journal was initially published by the Cabinet of Legal History of the Czechoslovak Academy of Science (CSAV), later by the Institute of State and Law (CSAV) and then by the Institute of Legal History of the Faculty of Law of Charles University.
PHS is issued three times a year in April, August, and December and it presents original scientific works/papers as well as reviews, annotations and news from the scientific field of legal history. It also introduces annotated texts of a legal history nature. PHS accepts manuscripts from domestic as well as foreign authors. Manuscripts submitted by foreign authors are published in original language, namely in English, Slovak, German, French, Italian or Polish.
PHS (ISSN 0079-4929) is registered in the Czech national ISSN centre (supervised by the State Technical Library). The Journal is registered by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic according to Act No. 46/2000 Sb., on Rights and Liabilities for the Publishing of Periodicals and Change of Some Acts (Press Act), and it is allocated with registration number of periodical press MK E 18813.
PHS is an open journal and ensures open access to scientific data (Open Access). The entire content is released as open to the public on the web pages of the journal.
The journal is archived in Portico.
PRÁVNĚHISTORICKÉ STUDIE, Vol 56 No 2 (2026), 233–246
ArticleThe Concept of Possession in Roman Law and Common Law
Barbora Hniličková
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/2464689X.2026.559
published online: 06. 10. 2026
abstract
This article examines the legal regulation of possession in Roman law and in contemporary common law. Its objective is to identify and assess the key similarities and differences between these two legal traditions and to demonstrate that, despite their fundamental systematic distinctions, the influence of Roman law on the development of common law has been more substantial than often assumed. The analysis shows that, notwithstanding divergent historical developments and systematic characteristics, both systems articulate conceptually comparable understandings of possession. The findings further confirm that Roman law contributed, at least to some degree, to the shaping of common law, underscoring the enduring reach of Roman law not only within continental legal systems but also within modern common law jurisdictions.
keywords: Roman law; common law; possession
references (20)
1. BAKER, J. H., An Introduction to English Legal History. 2nd ed. London: Butterworths, 1979.
2. BLAHO, P. Držba v dejinách práva: Rímskoprávna náuka o držbe a jej vyústenie v terajšom čase. Trnava: TYPI UNIVERSITATIS TYRNAVIENIS, 2015.
3. CLARKE, A. - KOHLER, P. Property Law: Commentary and Materials. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005. CrossRef
4. Corpus Iuris Civilis: Institutiones, Digesta. Volumen primum. KRUEGER, P. - MOMMSEN, T. Berlin: Apud Weidmannos, 1889.
5. COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL. R. v. Cavendish, Decision from 1961, [1961] 1 WLR 1083, CCA. In: Cambridge.org. [online] Available at: https://www.cambridge.org/ch/files/3613/6690/0358/3024_2545_Ch7Exts.doc [cit. 2025-06-05].
6. GERLOCH, A. Teorie práva. 7. vyd. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2017.
7. GRAZIADEI, M., - SMITH, L. Comparative property law: global perspectives. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017. CrossRef
8. HEYROVSKÝ, L. Instituce římského práva. 2. vyd. Praha: J. Otto, 1894.
9. HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA. Radaich v. Smith, Decision from 1959, [1959] HCA 45; 101 CLR 209. In: Australasian Legal Information Institute. [online] Available at: https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCA/1959/45.html?context=1;query=Radaich%20%20v%20%20Smith;mask_path=[cit. 2025-05-19].
10. KINCL, J. - URFUS, V. - SKŘEJPEK, M. Římské právo. Praha: C. H. Beck, 1995.
11. POLLOCK, F. - WRIGHT, R. S. W. Essay on Possession in the Common Law. Reprint. Buffalo: Fred B. Rothman & Company, 1985.
12. SALMOND, S. J. W. - FITZGERALD, P. J. Salmond on Jurisprudence. 12th Ed. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 1966.
13. SAVIGNY, F. C. Von Savigny's treatise on possession, or, The jus possessionis of civil law. 6th Ed. Clark: Lawbook Exchange, 2003.
14. SKŘEJPEK, M. Římské soukromé právo. Systém a instituce. 2. vyd. Plzeň: Aleš Čeněk, 2016.
15. SOMMER, O. Učebnice soukromého práva římského. Díl I. Obecné nauky. Praha, 1946.
16. UNITED KINGDOM. Land Registration Act, 2002. In: Legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. [online] Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/9/contents [cit. 2025-06-03].
17. UNITED KINGDOM. Limitation Act, 1980. In: Legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives [online] Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/58/contents [cit. 2025-02-22].
18. TEE, L. Land Law. Cullompton, Devon, UK: Willan Publishing, 2002.
19. VAN ERP, S. - AKKERMANS, B. - DE GEEST, G. Property Rights: A Comparative View. In: Encyclopedia of Law and Economics. Volume V. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2010.
20. WONNACOTT, M. Possession of Land. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006. CrossRef
The Concept of Possession in Roman Law and Common Law is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
170 x 240 mm
periodicity: 3 x per year
print price: 250 czk
ISSN: 0079-4929
E-ISSN: 2464-689X
