Legal Definitions - mobilia

Mobilia is a Latin term used in Roman law to refer to movable things or movable property.

Essentially, it describes any item that is not permanently attached to land or a building and can be easily transported from one place to another. While it primarily referred to inanimate objects, in the historical context of Roman law, it could also encompass animals and, regrettably, slaves.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of mobilia:

• Imagine a Roman merchant who travels between cities to sell his wares. His inventory, which might include rolls of fine cloth, jars of olive oil, and handcrafted pottery, would all be considered mobilia. These items are not fixed to any location; they are designed to be moved, transported, and traded, perfectly fitting the definition of movable property.

• Consider a Roman farmer who owns a flock of sheep, a herd of goats, and several oxen for plowing. These animals, being capable of movement and not permanently affixed to the land, would be classified as mobilia under Roman legal principles. They represent valuable assets that could be moved, sold, or exchanged.

• Think about the contents of a wealthy Roman citizen's home, such as ornate furniture, valuable scrolls, intricate jewelry, and chests filled with coins. None of these items are part of the structure of the house itself; they can all be picked up, rearranged, or taken away. Therefore, they would all fall under the category of mobilia, representing the owner's personal movable possessions.