Legal Definitions - praedo

Praedo (plural: praedones) is a Latin term originating from Roman law that refers to a robber.

In the context of Roman law, a praedo was an individual who committed robbery, meaning the forceful taking of property from another person, often accompanied by violence, intimidation, or the threat of harm. This distinguished them from other types of thieves who might steal covertly without direct confrontation.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of a praedo:

• Imagine a scenario in ancient Rome where a lone merchant, traveling with a cart of goods, is ambushed on a secluded road outside the city. An armed individual steps out from the trees, brandishes a weapon, and demands the merchant's valuables and the contents of the cart. This assailant, forcibly taking property through intimidation and the threat of violence, would be considered a praedo.

• Consider a group of armed individuals who board a passenger ship sailing along the Mediterranean coast. They overpower the crew and passengers, seize control of the vessel, and appropriate all valuable cargo, personal belongings, and money found on board. These individuals, engaging in piracy and the forceful seizure of goods at sea, would be referred to as praedones under Roman legal principles.

• During a period of political instability, a band of armed men breaks into a wealthy Roman citizen's country estate. They threaten the household staff and the owner, then proceed to ransack the property, making off with valuable artwork, precious metals, and coin. This group, using force to unlawfully take possessions from the villa, would be categorized as praedones.