Legal Definitions - mors

Mors is a Latin term used in Roman law. It refers primarily to death itself, but can also denote the punishment of death.

Mors

In Roman law, mors refers to:

• The cessation of life; the natural end of a person's existence.
• The legal penalty of capital punishment; a sentence resulting in execution.

Examples:

• Example 1 (Cessation of life): A Roman citizen's will, detailing the distribution of their estate, would typically specify that its provisions would come into effect upon their mors. This meant the will became legally binding and enforceable only after the individual's death.

  This example illustrates the first meaning of mors, referring to the natural or biological end of a person's life, which triggers specific legal consequences like the execution of a will.

• Example 2 (Capital punishment): During a trial for high treason against the Roman Empire, if the accused was found guilty, the court could impose mors as the ultimate penalty. This would signify a death sentence, leading to their execution.

  This example demonstrates the second meaning of mors, where it denotes the judicial punishment of death, or capital punishment, imposed for severe offenses.