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Simple English definitions for legal terms
dediticii
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A quick definition of dediticii:
Dediticii were a group of people in ancient Rome who were considered the lowest class of freemen. They were not eligible for Roman citizenship and included enemies who surrendered to the Romans, as well as manumitted slaves who were convicted of a crime or punished by their former owners. These people were not slaves, but they were not allowed to make a will, inherit property, or improve their status in any way. They were also not allowed to live within 100 miles of Rome. This status was abolished by Justinian.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Dediticii (ded-i-tish-ee-Ior dee-di-tI-shee-I) were the lowest class of freemen in Roman law who were ineligible for Roman citizenship. This group included enemies who surrendered and were granted freedom, or manumitted slaves who were convicted of a crime in court, branded, or put in chains by their former owners.
Former slaves who were dediticii were not allowed to live within 100 miles of Rome. Justinian abolished this status.
Example: A man named Marcus was a slave who was branded by his owner for stealing. He was later manumitted but was considered a dediticius and could not become a Roman citizen or live within 100 miles of Rome.
Explanation: This example illustrates how a man who was once a slave and then granted freedom could still be considered a dediticius and not have the same rights as a Roman citizen. Marcus was not allowed to live near Rome and could not improve his status, even though he was no longer a slave.