Legal Definitions - bona castrensia et quasi castrensia

Bona castrensia et quasi castrensia is a concept from ancient Roman law that refers to specific types of property acquired by a son. In Roman society, the paterfamilias, or the male head of the family, traditionally held extensive legal authority over his household, including control over the property of his adult sons. However, bona castrensia et quasi castrensia represented a significant exception to this rule.

Specifically:

• Bona castrensia refers to assets a son acquired directly through his military service, such as pay, spoils of war, or gifts received in connection with his duties as a soldier.
• Bona quasi castrensia refers to assets a son acquired through public service, such as a salary earned from working for the state, or gifts received in recognition of his public duties.

Crucially, any property categorized as bona castrensia or bona quasi castrensia was considered the son's own. This meant he had the independent right to manage, sell, or bequeath these assets without needing the consent or approval of his paterfamilias.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1 (Military Service): A young Roman man named Marcus enlists in the legions and serves for several years. During his service, he receives regular pay, a share of the spoils from a successful military campaign, and a special bonus for exceptional bravery in battle. All these assets—his pay, the spoils, and the bonus—would be considered bona castrensia. Marcus could use this money to purchase a small plot of land, invest in a business, or even leave it to a friend in his will, all without requiring the permission of his father, the paterfamilias.

• Example 2 (Public Service): Lucius, another Roman citizen, secures a position as a scribe in the provincial governor's office, a role that involves significant public duties. His regular salary from this government employment, along with any gifts he receives directly because of his public service (e.g., a commendation bonus for efficiently organizing public records), would fall under bona quasi castrensia. Unlike other property he might acquire, such as an inheritance from a distant relative, Lucius would have full legal authority to manage and dispose of these specific earnings and assets independently, free from his father's control.

• Example 3 (Combined Context): Consider a Roman family where the eldest son, Gaius, serves as a centurion in the army, while his younger brother, Decimus, works as an architect on public building projects commissioned by the state. Gaius's military pay, his share of war booty, and any land grants he receives for his service are bona castrensia. Decimus's fees for designing public temples and aqueducts, and any tools or materials he acquires specifically for these state projects, are bona quasi castrensia. Both brothers, despite still being under their father's paterfamilias authority in many other aspects of their lives, would have independent control over these particular assets, able to dispose of them as they wished.