Majestas - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition majestas

Definition :

Majestas is defined by Ulpian (Dig. 48, tit. 4, s. 1) to be 'crimen illud quod adversus populum Romanum vel adversus securitatem ejus committitur.' He then gives various instances of the crime of majestas, some of which pretty nearly correspond to treason in English law; but all the offences included under majestas comprehend more than our term treason. One of the offences included in majestas was the effecting, aiding in, or planning the death of a magistratus popli Romani, or of one who had imperium or potestas. Though the phrase 'crimen majestatis' was used, the complete expression was crimen l's' majestatis.

Majestas, The majesty, sovereign authority, or supreme prerogative of the State or sovereign; supreme power of the people, especially as represented by their highest representative, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn., p. 966.