Legal Definitions - mensis

Mensis refers to a period of one month, particularly as understood and applied within the legal framework of ancient Roman law.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of mensis:

• Imagine a historical Roman contract for the construction of a public building. The agreement might have stipulated that progress payments were to be made to the builder at the end of each mensis, provided certain milestones were met. This means payments were scheduled on a monthly basis, ensuring regular financial disbursements throughout the project's duration.

• Consider a Roman legal statute concerning the duration of a guardianship. A law might have specified that a guardian was appointed for a minor until the minor reached a certain age, or for a fixed period, such as "sex menses" (six months), after which the guardianship would be reviewed or transferred. Here, mensis clearly defines the length of the legal responsibility.

• In the context of Roman military service, a legionary's enlistment might have been for a set number of years, but their pay or leave entitlements could have been calculated on a monthly cycle. A soldier might receive their stipend "per mensis," indicating a regular, monthly payment for their service to the Roman state.