Legal Definitions - indictio

Indictio refers to a term primarily used in Roman law with a few distinct meanings:

• In ancient Roman law, an indictio was an official imperial announcement that initiated a 15-year cycle for re-evaluating property values. This re-evaluation was crucial for determining tax obligations across the empire. The term could also refer to the 15-year period itself.

  • Example 1: Emperor Diocletian might issue an indictio decreeing that all landholdings in a specific province must undergo a new assessment to update their taxable value, thereby starting a fresh 15-year fiscal cycle.

    Explanation: This illustrates the indictio as the imperial proclamation that sets in motion the process of property reassessment for tax purposes.

  • Example 2: Historians studying Roman taxation might refer to "the third indictio of the 4th century" when discussing a particular 15-year period during which specific tax rates and property valuations were in effect.

    Explanation: Here, indictio refers to the actual 15-year fiscal cycle itself, a defined period for tax administration.

• More broadly, an indictio can mean any formal public declaration or proclamation.

  • Example 1: A monarch might issue an indictio announcing a new national holiday to commemorate a significant historical event, making it a public and official declaration.

    Explanation: This demonstrates indictio as a formal public announcement from an authority figure.

  • Example 2: In a historical context, a city-state's council might issue an indictio outlining new trade regulations that all merchants must follow, publicly declaring the new rules.

    Explanation: This example shows indictio as a formal proclamation of new policies or laws to the public.

• In some legal contexts, indictio can also refer to an indictment, which is a formal accusation of a serious crime issued by a grand jury after reviewing evidence presented by a prosecutor.

  • Example 1: After hearing testimony and reviewing evidence, a grand jury might issue an indictio against a suspect, formally charging them with felony embezzlement and allowing the case to proceed to trial.

    Explanation: This illustrates indictio as the formal accusation of a crime made by a grand jury.

  • Example 2: A prosecutor might inform the victim of a crime that the grand jury has returned an indictio, meaning there is sufficient evidence to formally charge the alleged perpetrator and move forward with the prosecution.

    Explanation: Here, indictio signifies the formal legal document or decision that brings criminal charges against an individual.