MANCIPIATIO, was a term made use of in the Roman law, and may be thus explained; every father had such a regal authority over his son, that before the son could be released from his subjection and made free, he must be three times over sold and bought, his natural father being the vender. The vendee was called pater fiduciarius. After this fictitious bargain, the pater fiduciarius sold him again to the natural father, who could then, but not till then, manumit or make him free. The imaginary sale was called mancipatio; and the act of giving liberty or setting him free after this was called emancipatio.
MANCIPIATIO also signifies the selling or alienating of certain lands by the balance, or money paid by weight, and five witnesses. This mode of alienation took place only amongst Roman citizens, and that only in respect to certain estates situated in Italy, which were called mancipia.
MANCIPLE.
Manciple
Mandarins.