Mancipi Res

Lat. In Roman law. Co.rtain classes of things which could not be aliened or transferred except by means of a certain formal ceremony of conveyance calied "mancipatio," '(q. vt) These included land, houses, slaves, horses, and cattle. All other things were called "res nec mancipi." The distinction was abolished by Justinian. The distinction corresponded as nearly as may be to the early distinction of English law into rent and personal property; res mancipi being objects of a military or agricultural character, and res nec mancipi being all other subjects of property. Like personal estate, res nec mancipi were not originally either valuable in se or valued.

Brown.