institution
Centumviri
the Hundred Men
also: the centumviral court
Roman court of (originally) 105 men chosen by tribe, hearing inheritance and property cases. The setting of several of De Oratore's reference cases (M.' Curius and Coponius, etc.).
Reading notes
- Brutus §144 before the centumviri
The centumviral court (literally 'the Hundred Men') was a large standing tribunal that heard property and inheritance suits, especially over wills. The causa Curiana, on the interpretation of a will, was its most famous case.
- Brutus §197 a centumviral suit
The court of the centumviri ('hundred men'), which heard cases of inheritance and property. Crassus mocked Scaevola for building a great centumviral inheritance suit out of a single verbal quibble.
- On the Orator §1.180 Hundred Men
The centumviral court at Rome, hearing inheritance and property cases, with judges drawn by tribe. Crassus's defence of M.' Curius before the Hundred Men (in 92 BC, against Q. Mucius Scaevola the Pontifex) is a recurring touchstone of the dialogue.