Ius trium liberorum
Encyclopedia
The ius trium liberorum (or "right of three children") was part of the social legislation of Augustus
aimed at motivating larger families by granting privileges to parents of three or more freeborn children. It was formally introduced as part of the Lex Papia Poppaea
of AD 9, though there were instances of it being granted prior to that. For men, privileges included the advantages in political careers and freedom from jury duty. For women, the privilege freed them from the necessity of having a formal guardian (tutela) and gave her certain legal right of inheritance.
The right could sometimes be granted to reward other services. In 9 BC, for example, this privilege was given to Livia
, although she had had only two children (Dio 55.2). The Emperor Titus
granted the poet Martial
the ius trium liberorum (and Domitian
renewed it), although he was unmarried. Pliny the Younger (thanks to emperor Trajanus) and Suetonius
were also given the right.
The spelling of this term varies; classical Latin did not distinguish between i and j.
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
aimed at motivating larger families by granting privileges to parents of three or more freeborn children. It was formally introduced as part of the Lex Papia Poppaea
Lex Papia Poppaea
The Lex Papia Poppaea was a Roman law introduced in AD 9 to encourage and strengthen marriage. It included provisions against adultery and celibacy and complemented and supplemented Augustus' Lex Julia de Maritandis Ordinibus of 18 BC and the Lex Iulia de Adulteriis Coercendis of 17 BC. The lex...
of AD 9, though there were instances of it being granted prior to that. For men, privileges included the advantages in political careers and freedom from jury duty. For women, the privilege freed them from the necessity of having a formal guardian (tutela) and gave her certain legal right of inheritance.
The right could sometimes be granted to reward other services. In 9 BC, for example, this privilege was given to Livia
Livia
Livia Drusilla, , after her formal adoption into the Julian family in AD 14 also known as Julia Augusta, was a Roman empress as the third wife of the Emperor Augustus and his adviser...
, although she had had only two children (Dio 55.2). The Emperor Titus
Titus
Titus , was Roman Emperor from 79 to 81. A member of the Flavian dynasty, Titus succeeded his father Vespasian upon his death, thus becoming the first Roman Emperor to come to the throne after his own father....
granted the poet Martial
Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis , was a Latin poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan...
the ius trium liberorum (and Domitian
Domitian
Domitian was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.Domitian's youth and early career were largely spent in the shadow of his brother Titus, who gained military renown during the First Jewish-Roman War...
renewed it), although he was unmarried. Pliny the Younger (thanks to emperor Trajanus) and Suetonius
Suetonius
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius , was a Roman historian belonging to the equestrian order in the early Imperial era....
were also given the right.
The spelling of this term varies; classical Latin did not distinguish between i and j.