Occupatio

Nicholas argues this is the "archetype" of all other Roman law methods of original acquisition.{{Cite book|last=Nicholas, Barry.|title=An introduction to Roman law|date=1962|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=0-19-876063-9|location=Oxford|pages=131|oclc=877760}} According to the Roman jurist Gaius, any previously unowned thing becomes the just property of the first occupant able to "capture" it:{{cite web|url=http://oll.libertyfund.org/quote/271|title=Gaius states that according to natural reason the first occupier of any previously unowned property becomes the just owner (2nd Century) |website=Online Library of Liberty}}

{{Blockquote|§ 66. Another title of natural reason, besides Tradition, is Occupation [occupatio], whereby things previously the property of no one become the property of the first occupant, as the wild inhabitants of earth, air, and water, as soon as they are captured.}}

{{Blockquote|§ 67. For wild beasts, birds, and fishes, as soon as they are captured, become, by natural law, the property of the captor, but only continue such so long as they continue in his power; after breaking from his custody and recovering their natural liberty, they may become the property of the next occupant; for the ownership of the first captor is terminated. Their natural liberty is deemed to be recovered when they have escaped from his sight, or, though they continue in his sight, when they are difficult to recapture.}}

Abandoned goods (res derelictae) was also res nullius and subject to acquirement through occupatio. Land, however, was excluded and could not be acquired using occupatio.{{Cite journal | url=http://www.ejil.org/pdfs/16/1/289.pdf | title=Argument from Roman Law in Current International Law: Occupation and Acquisitive Prescription | first=Randall |last=Lesaffer | journal=The European Journal of International Law | volume=16 | issue=1}}

The Roman law occupatio has continued relevance in present times, partly due to its adoption by legal systems across Europe, Africa and North America. It is also used in international law.

Legal systems across the modern world continue to employ a form of occupatio. A full discussion of each legal system is outside the scope of this article, see: South African property law, civilian property law, Scots Law, Occupatio (Scots law).

{{see also|Terra nullius|Acquisition of sovereignty}}International law adopts much of Roman property law in regards to acquisition of sovereignty due to the European nature of early European discovery voyages such as Christopher Columbus.{{Cite book|last=Klabbers, Jan.|title=International law|year=2016|isbn=978-0-521-19487-7|pages=76|publisher=Cambridge University Press |oclc=808810891}} Occupatio was later employed under public international law as the basis of acquisition of states ownership of vacant territory (often including land already possessed by indigenous populations).{{Cite book|last=Nicholas, Barry.|title=An introduction to Roman law|date=1962|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=0-19-876063-9|location=Oxford|pages=132|oclc=877760}} An example of occupatio under international law is the United Kingdom's acquisition of ownership of Rockall in the North Atlantic Ocean by the Island of Rockall Act 1972.Stair Memorial Encyclopaedia, Vol 18,"'Property", para 558.D L Gardner "Legal Storm Clouds over Rockall" 1976 SLT (News) 257J J Rankin "Life on Rockall" 1985 SLT (News) 321

• Adverse possession
• Usucapio
• Homestead principle
• Squatting
• Terra nullius
• Acquisition of Sovereignty

{{Reflist}}

Category:Roman law

Category:International law

Category:Sovereignty

Category:Aboriginal title

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