Legal Definitions - inquilinus

In Roman law, an inquilinus referred to an individual who rented or resided in a dwelling owned by someone else. It specifically denoted a tenant, particularly one living in an urban area.

• Example 1: Urban Apartment Dweller
  Imagine a young Roman citizen named Lucius, who has recently moved to the bustling city of Rome to pursue a career. He rents a small, multi-room apartment on the third floor of an insula (a Roman apartment building) from its owner, Decimus, agreeing to pay a monthly sum.

  Explanation: Lucius is an inquilinus because he is leasing and residing in a dwelling (the apartment) that belongs to someone else (Decimus) within an urban environment, making him a tenant.

• Example 2: Family Renting a House
  Consider the family of Cornelia, who have relocated to a different Roman city for her husband's new government post. They rent a modest, standalone house with a small garden from a local landowner, Gaius, agreeing to pay a monthly sum for its use.

  Explanation: Cornelia and her family are inquilini because they are occupying and paying for the use of Gaius's house, making them tenants of his property.

• Example 3: Scholar Renting a Room
  A scholar named Titus, visiting Rome for an extended period to study ancient texts, arranges to rent a single room within a larger private house owned by a widow, Livia. He pays Livia a regular fee for his lodging and use of the room.

  Explanation: Titus is an inquilinus because he is living in a part of Livia's dwelling, paying for the right to reside there, thus functioning as a tenant or lodger in her property.