Bequest and Security in Roman Law

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K16974
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Fundamental law
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: SASAKI Takeshi 京都大学, 法学研究科, 教授 (70437185)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: ローマ法 / 相続 / 遺贈 / 担保 / 用益権

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research the practice of Roman bequest, which influenced Japanese Law of succession, was analysed on the basis of interpretation of Ciceronian forensic speech and other legal writings. The outcomes are my monograph, edition of academic book and articles on law reviews. The view point of socio-economic history was introduced into jurisprudential research, so the background of elite’s bequest culture in antiquity was solved. In this way an analysis of Roman real situation based on the academic latest studies was presented. Furthermore, the consolidation of hereditary obligation investigated, so the significance and social function of hereditary security for the insolvency was clarified

Free Research Field

ローマ法

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本の現行民法にも規定された遺贈に関する担保請求について、立法時には十分に参照されなかった淵源を検討することで、それを必要とした以下の社会背景を析出した。貴族が遺贈を競う文化の下、実際に遺贈が履行されることを担保するため、遺贈対象を提示する義務を課し、不提示に際しては金銭評価して制裁金を支払わせた。また、制裁金は遺贈額に充当され、遺贈義務者である相続人も一定程度保護されたのである。