The Tables

Throughout the Empire there are a set of ‘Common Laws’, which are typically transcribed onto a set of twelve tablets that are displayed in the market squares of towns and villages (and the forums of cities). These are usually referred to as ‘the Tables’ and cover a range of basic ideals that are intended to enable a ‘civilised’ Empire to exist. For those historians among you, they are (very broadly) analogous to the Twelve Tables of early Roman law.

These ‘Common Laws’ are not intended as a comprehensive corpus of jurisprudence, merely to establish a ‘baseline’ legal framework that can be used throughout the Empire.

The ‘Common Laws’ are presented thus:

Table 1: Right to a hearing

All citizens of the Empire have the right to have a claim of wrongdoing brought before a Magistrate.

• If no Magistrate is available then a meeting of Councillors must be convened. At least three Councillors must be present for any decision to be enforceable.

Table 2: Arrest

If a party to a claim does not wish to have the claim heard they may be arrested.

• An arrest of a citizen of the Empire can only be carried out by the lawful representatives of either a Magistrate or Councillors.
• These representatives must clearly state the reason for the arrest and the nature of their authority.
• Citizens of the Empire who are arrested must be held in designated place of arrest. Access to food and water must be provided at reasonable intervals.
• Citizens of the Empire are entitled to representation by a third party if unable to represent themselves.

Table 3: Debts

Claims of debt must be substantiated via legally accepted documents or significant verbal evidence.

• Debtors must settle all claims of debts within one month.
• Failure to settle all debts can result in arrest and chattels equal to the sum of the debt seized.
• A debtor without the means to settle a debt will be held in stocks for a period up to one month as decided by the Magistrate.

Table 4: Slaves

Slaves may only be purchased by a legally appointed slave trader.

• No citizen of the Empire can be lawfully enslaved.
• Slaves must be treated with care at least equal to that of cattle or hunting dogs. Failure to do so will result in a fine equal to 5% of the purchase price of the slave.
• Slaves may only be freed with the consent of both the owner and a Magistrate.
• Dead slaves must be disposed of in accordance with the law. Failure to do so will result in a fine equal to 10% of the purchase price of the slave.

Table 5: Taxes

All owners of businesses must pay an annual tax of 10% of their income. Business owners are obliged to keep ledgers of their income to prove their tax payment is correct.

• In the absence of such ledgers, Magistrates may claim such goods such that taxes will be paid.
• Slaves running a business on behalf of their owner are considered to pass their business to their owners for the purposes of tax payments.

Table 6: Property (Sale)

The purchase and sale of any property must be registered with a Magistrate and the nearest property register.

• Failure to do so within 3 months of a purchase will render the sale void and the property will revert to its former registered owner.

Table 7: Property (Boundaries)

Property boundaries must be clearly marked and enforced.

• Disputes over unclear or unenforced boundaries will fall in the favour of the smaller property.

Table 8: Property (Theft)

Theft from a property is punishable by the return of goods stolen (or an agreed sum equal to the value of the property).

• In addition the thief will be arrested and publicly given six lashes of the whip.
• The punishment for further offences will be at the discretion of the Magistrate but must not result in death or critical maiming.
• Any theft by a slave will be considered to have been committed by both the slave and the owner.

Table 9: Assault

Any citizen who harms another citizen, outside of the legal authority of the Empire will be held to account unless a reasonable claim of defence can be offered.

• If the harm is verbal then a fine shall be levied by the Magistrate and a public apology must be made
• If the harm does not maim then the victim is entitled to equal retaliation. If the harm does maim then the victim is entitled to equal retaliation plus compensation for loss of earnings.
• If the harm results in death then the sentence shall be death.

Table 10: Honesty (Officials)

Magistrates and Councillors are forbidden from taking bribes whilst in the execution of their duties as representatives of the Empire.

• The penalty for such is forfeiture of their estates and imprisonment for life.
• Magistrates and Councillors who attempt to raise arms against the Empire are considered treasonous. The penalty for such is forfeiture of their estates and imprisonment for life.
• Magistrates and Councillors who put to death any freeman, who has not been rightfully convicted, will be removed from office. The penalty for such is forfeiture of their estates and imprisonment for life.

Table 11: Marriage

All citizens are permitted to marry regardless of race.

• All marriages must be performed by a cleric from a recognised religion.
• No party to a marriage may be currently married at the time of the marriage.
• No party to a marriage may be a slave at the time of marriage.
• Physical impairment or wealth will not be a barrier to marriage.
• Children born outside of wedlock are not considered ‘legitimate’ until legally recognised.
• A child born outside of wedlock cannot be legally recognised before the marriage of the parents except where one parent is deceased.
• Parties to a marriage may end that marriage by agreement with the Magistrate.

Table 12: Local Laws

All laws are passed by individual nations, where those laws are not in conflict with the Tables, are hereby officially recognised as legally binding within the borders of the nation in which those laws are passed.