DESERTOR
DESERTOR is defined by Modestinus to be one “qui per
prolixum tempus vagatus, reducitur,” and differs from an
emansor,
“qui diu vagatus ad castra egreditur” (
Dig.
49, tit. 16, s. 3). Those who deserted in time of peace were
punished by reduction to the ranks (
gradus dejectio,
V. Max. 2.7.4), corporal chastisement, fines,
or ignominious dismissal from the service (
missio
ignominiosa, [Caes.]
B. Afr. 54). Those who
left the standards in time of war were usually punished with death (
Dionys. A. R. 11.43; Liv.
Epit. lvi.;
Tac. Ann. 13.36;
Lamprid.
Al. Sev. 51). The
transfugae, or deserters to the enemy, when taken, were sometimes
deprived of their hands or feet (
Liv. 26.12;
V. Max. 2.7.11), but generally were put
to death. In imperial times they were exposed to wild beasts (Val. Max.
l.c. § § 13, 14; Dig.
l.c. § 10). (Marquardt,
Staatsverw. 2.553.)
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