Legal Definitions - libellos agere

libellos agere

In ancient Roman law, libellos agere describes the specific duty of assisting the emperor in reviewing and responding to various written requests, appeals, or petitions. This role involved helping to manage the incoming correspondence from citizens, officials, and other parties, and then formulating the emperor's official replies or decisions.

• Imagine a wealthy Roman citizen who believes his neighbor has encroached upon his land. He drafts a formal petition, known as a libellus, directly to the emperor, seeking imperial intervention to resolve the dispute. An official performing libellos agere would be responsible for reviewing this petition, summarizing its key points for the emperor, and then helping to draft the emperor's official rescript or ruling to send back to the citizen.

• Consider a governor in a distant Roman province who faces a complex legal question regarding the interpretation of a new imperial decree. Unsure how to proceed, the governor sends a detailed letter to the emperor requesting clarification. The individuals tasked with libellos agere would process this request, present the legal dilemma to the emperor, and then assist in composing the authoritative imperial response that would guide the governor's actions.

• A group of soldiers, having completed their military service, might collectively submit a petition to the emperor requesting the land grants they were promised upon their honorable discharge. The administrative staff engaged in libellos agere would meticulously review their claims, verify their service records, and then aid the emperor in formulating a fair and just response, ensuring that the veterans received their due or explaining any necessary delays.