law
lex de maiestate
the maiestas law
also: maiestas, maiestatis, maiestate, de maiestate
The standing law against maiestas (treason, or diminishing the majesty of the Roman people), the Sullan lex Cornelia de maiestate as later amended; Appius Claudius Pulcher was prosecuted and acquitted under it in 50 BC. Cicero notes Sulla framed it so no one could be attacked with impunity (Fam. 3.11.2).
Reading notes
- Ad Familiares 3.11 §1 your acquittal on the \textit{maiestas} charge
Maiestas was the crime of treason or impairing the sovereign majesty of the Roman people; Appius, back from governing Cilicia, was prosecuted on this charge and acquitted in 50 BC.
- Ad Quintum Fratrem 3.1 §15 who has already laid the charge of
The charge is maiestas (full: crimen laesae maiestatis), diminishing the majesty of the Roman state --- the nearest Roman equivalent to treason. Gabinius faced it for his unauthorized Egyptian campaign.