Legal Definitions - perduellio

Perduellio is a term from ancient Roman law that describes the crime of acting with extreme hostility against one's own country. It is essentially the Roman equivalent of what is known today as high treason, involving actions that directly threaten the state's security, stability, or sovereignty.

This serious offense encompassed various acts of disloyalty and betrayal, reflecting a fundamental breach of allegiance to the Roman state.

• Example 1: A high-ranking Roman official, secretly discontent with the current Senate, begins to pass sensitive military strategies and troop deployment plans to a rival city-state. This information allows the enemy to anticipate Roman movements and gain a significant advantage in an ongoing conflict.

  Explanation: This action constitutes perduellio because the official is deliberately undermining Rome's military security and aiding an external enemy, directly demonstrating hostility towards their native country.

• Example 2: During a period of political tension, a powerful Roman citizen uses their influence and resources to incite a violent uprising among the populace, openly calling for the forceful overthrow of the existing republican government and the establishment of a new, autocratic regime under their own leadership.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates perduellio as it involves an attempt to subvert the established form of government through violence and internal rebellion, directly threatening the state's political structure and stability.

• Example 3: A Roman general, commanding a legion stationed on a critical border, intentionally neglects the maintenance of key defensive fortifications and spreads false intelligence to his superiors about the strength of an approaching barbarian horde. His deliberate actions weaken Rome's defenses, allowing the invaders to breach the border with minimal resistance.

  Explanation: This act falls under perduellio because the general is intentionally sabotaging the defense of the Roman state and promoting the success of external foes, thereby betraying his duty and acting with hostility against his country.