1. The legal capacity to wed.
2. The collection of rights that accompany a marriage between persons who have the capacity to marry. — Also spelled connubium.
— Also termed jus connubii. See CONCUBINATUS; JUSTAE NUPTIAE.
“The word connubium denotes properly the right to intermarry with Roman citizens; and hence to contract a Roman marriage, according to the peculiar forms and with the peculiar incidents and effects of marriage between Roman citizens. Chief among these incidents or effects was the patria potestas, or life-long control of the father over his children … which was among the most remarkable peculiarities of the Roman system. In general, con-nubium embraces the peculiar rights of Roman citizens, so far as they pertain to family relations.” James Hadley, Introduction to Roman Law 116 (1881).
