Capitis deminntio

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In the civil law. The loss of a status or civil qualification; the change of a man's former condition. Capitis deminutio maxima: the highest kind of capitis deminutio, when liberty was lost, which carried with it citizenship and family. Capitis deminutio media: the less or middle kind of capitis deminutio, when the right of citizenship was lost (which carried with it family), but liberty was retained. Capitis deminutio minima: the least or lowest kind of capitis deminutio, when liberty and citizenship were "retained, but family or family relations underwent a change, as by arrogation of a person sui juris, or emancipation of afiliusfamilias.