Legal Definitions - repudium

Repudium

In ancient Roman law, repudium referred to the unilateral act by which one party formally ended an engagement (betrothal) or a marriage. This legal concept allowed either the man or the woman to terminate the relationship. Over time, particularly after the reign of Emperor Augustus, the process became more formalized, often requiring a written declaration or letter of repudiation to be sent to the other party to legally dissolve the union.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of repudium:

• Ending a Betrothal: Imagine a young Roman woman named Claudia who was betrothed to a senator's son, Decimus. Before the marriage ceremony could take place, Claudia decided she no longer wished to marry Decimus. She formally communicated her decision to Decimus and his family, effectively exercising her right of repudium to revoke the betrothal and terminate their engagement.
• Husband Terminating a Marriage: Consider a Roman citizen named Quintus who was married to Valeria. After several years, Quintus decided he wanted to end their marriage. In accordance with Roman legal custom of the time, he sent Valeria a formal letter stating his intention to dissolve their marital bond. This act of sending the letter constituted his repudium, unilaterally ending the marriage from his perspective.
• Wife Terminating a Marriage: Suppose a Roman wife, Livia, found herself in an irreconcilable marriage with her husband, Marcus. Desiring to end the union, Livia, exercising her legal rights, sent a formal notice to Marcus declaring her decision to terminate the marriage. This formal declaration by Livia was an act of repudium, legally dissolving their marital status.