Legal Definitions - falsarius

Historically, a falsarius was an individual who created counterfeit items, particularly documents, currency, or official seals, with the intent to deceive or defraud.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of a falsarius:

• Imagine a scenario in ancient Rome where a skilled artisan secretly produced forged wills and land deeds. This individual would meticulously copy existing legal documents, altering names, dates, and property descriptions, and then apply counterfeit seals to make them appear authentic. By creating these fraudulent documents, this artisan would be acting as a falsarius, enabling illegal transfers of property or inheritance.

• Consider a craftsman in medieval Europe who, instead of working for the royal mint, secretly established a clandestine operation to produce fake coins. This individual would melt down cheaper metals, cast them into coin shapes, and then stamp them with dies designed to mimic the official currency of the realm. By manufacturing and circulating these deceptive coins, this person would be functioning as a falsarius, undermining the economy and defrauding those who accepted the fake money.

• Picture a scribe in a historical kingdom who was tasked with maintaining official records. If this scribe, driven by personal gain or political motives, deliberately altered royal decrees, official edicts, or historical chronicles to change their meaning or create false precedents, they would be considered a falsarius. Their actions involved the creation of false information within what should be authentic documents, intended to mislead or manipulate.