Peregrīnus
The description in Roman law of any foreigner or person other than a citizen sojourning or
domiciled within Roman territory. Originally peregrini were entirely without rights, unless
they obtained a
patronus, except in cases where there was a treaty (
foedus) with the State to which they belonged, regulating the legal position
of the subjects of the two States respectively. But the increasing intercourse between Rome
and other States, and the consequent growth in the number of peregrini in Rome, made it
necessary to grant to all foreigners a definite competency to acquire property, enter into
obligations, and the like; and for the decision of civil suits between foreigners and
citizens, or of foreigners among themselves, a special
praetor (q.v.) was appointed. From the public, private, and sacrificial law of Rome
they were always excluded. See Morey,
Outlines of Roman Law (N. Y.
1891), and the article
Civitas.
