INTRODUCTION

Around AD 100, on the death of Asudius Curianus, Pliny received a legacy, worth unknown, in Curianus' will. There was a history. Some three years previously Curianus had been disinherited by his mother's will which distributed her fortune between a number of distinguished Romans, including Pliny himself. Curianus was a wealthy man in his own right and had no children. Clearly mortified by his mother's actions Curianus asked Pliny to give him his share, promising to return its capital value in due course. Pliny declined to do so but rather offered to refuse his share, to Curianus' eventual benefit, if Curianus could persuade him that he had been improperly disinherited. Curianus then asked Pliny to look into the matter formally, which Pliny agreed to do, indicating that if he found that Curianus' mother was justified he would have no hesitation in so finding. Sitting in his own house with two other friends Pliny heard argument from Curianus, himself formally presenting the case on the other side. After a period of discussion judgment was given in favour of Curianus' mother having had good reason to disinherit her son.

Despite this setback Curianus proceeded to sue the other beneficiaries of his mother's estate in the centumviral court. They, being anxious to compromise the case, it being not unusual for the emperor Domitian to intervene in such matters to general discomfiture, approached Pliny to act as mediator.