Legal Definitions - majestas

In Roman law, *majestas* originally denoted the supreme power, authority, or prerogative of the state or sovereign. It also came to signify the crime of treason committed against this supreme power. Later, the term evolved into an honorific title for monarchs, such as "Her Majesty."

Majestas refers to the supreme power, authority, or prerogative held by a state or its sovereign. In ancient Roman law, it specifically denoted the ultimate power of the Roman people, often embodied by their highest representatives, such as the consuls or the emperor.

It also refers to:

• The crime of treason, which involves acts that undermine or betray this supreme authority of the state or its ruler.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of majestas:

• Example 1 (Supreme Power): When a nation's highest court issues a ruling that sets a binding legal precedent for all lower courts and citizens, it is exercising an aspect of the state's majestas. This action demonstrates the judiciary's inherent and supreme authority to interpret laws and ensure their consistent application across the entire jurisdiction, reflecting the state's ultimate power to maintain legal order.
• Example 2 (Crime of Treason): Imagine a high-ranking government official who, for personal gain, sells highly sensitive national security secrets to a rival foreign power. This act would be considered a crime against majestas because it directly betrays the supreme authority and security of their own state, aiming to weaken or harm its sovereign power and undermine its integrity.
• Example 3 (Crime of Treason - different context): Consider a group of individuals who conspire to violently overthrow the democratically elected government of their country, aiming to replace it with an unelected regime. Their actions constitute a crime against majestas, as they are directly challenging and attempting to subvert the established supreme power and legitimate authority of the state through illegal means.