Legal Definitions - latro

In Roman law, latro refers to an individual who commits robbery, often characterized as a brigand or a highwayman. This term specifically denotes someone who unlawfully seizes property through force, violence, or the threat of harm, typically operating outside the direct oversight of established authorities or in remote areas.

• Example 1: A group of armed men ambushes a merchant caravan traveling along a remote Roman road, seizing their goods and money through intimidation and force.

  Explanation: This scenario perfectly illustrates a latro, as the individuals are acting as brigands, using force to rob travelers in a less-governed area, fitting the historical context of highway robbery.

• Example 2: Within the bustling city of Rome, a notorious gang systematically targets wealthy citizens leaving public baths or temples, using threats of violence to steal their valuables.

  Explanation: Even within a city, a group engaging in organized robbery through force or intimidation would be considered latrones (the plural of latro) under Roman legal principles, as they are unlawfully taking property by violent means.

• Example 3: A small vessel, manned by armed individuals, intercepts a trading ship off the coast of Sicily, boarding it and forcibly taking its cargo and the crew's possessions.

  Explanation: This act of piracy on the seas, involving the violent seizure of property from others, aligns with the definition of a latro, as it represents a form of brigandage and robbery, often carried out by those operating outside formal legal structures.