Legal Definitions - decoctor

A decoctor was a term used in ancient Roman law to refer to an individual who was unable to pay their debts. This could be a person who had declared bankruptcy or a debtor who had defaulted on their financial obligations. Essentially, it described someone who had become insolvent and could no longer meet their financial commitments to their creditors.

• Example 1: Imagine a Roman citizen named Marcus who borrowed a significant sum from a wealthy patrician to invest in a new olive oil pressing business. Unfortunately, a series of poor harvests and unexpected equipment failures meant his business never became profitable. Marcus found himself unable to repay the loan installments as agreed, despite his best efforts.

  Explanation: In this scenario, Marcus would be considered a decoctor because he defaulted on his debt to the patrician due to his financial ruin, making him a bankrupt debtor under Roman legal principles.

• Example 2: Consider Lucius, a Roman merchant who took out multiple loans to finance a large shipment of exotic spices and silks from the East. His trading vessel, however, was captured by pirates, resulting in the complete loss of his valuable cargo. With no goods to sell and no means to recover his investment, Lucius found himself unable to pay back the moneylenders and suppliers who had financed his venture.

  Explanation: Lucius's inability to meet his financial obligations after the catastrophic loss of his entire investment would classify him as a decoctor. He had become a defaulting debtor, unable to satisfy his creditors according to Roman law.

• Example 3: A Roman publican (a private contractor who undertook public works or collected taxes) named Gaius secured a contract to construct a new public bathhouse. He severely underestimated the costs, mismanaged his budget, and overspent on lavish materials. Eventually, he ran out of funds entirely and could not complete the project or pay his laborers and suppliers, leaving him deeply in debt to multiple parties, including the Roman state.

  Explanation: Gaius's financial mismanagement led to his insolvency, making him unable to fulfill his contractual obligations and pay his creditors. Under Roman law, his status as a defaulting and bankrupt individual would have designated him as a decoctor.