Plagium

Abstract A lex Fabia , enacted in the 1st century bce , introduced the crime of plagium , which sanctioned the abduction, sale, or unauthorized control of Roman citizens or slaves. The law imposed fines and, later, capital punishment for these acts. Over time, the definition of plagium and its prosecution evolved, thanks to numerous imperial constitutions and juristic interpretation. By the 3rd century ce , jurisdiction over plagium cases shifted to various Roman officials, leading to procedural changes. The term plagium and its derivatives is likely to have become associated with the crime during the Classical period.