treason Copy link Outline 1. expr. by mājestas (the supreme greatness or dignity of the state)2. perduellio (hostile conduct towards the state3. prōdĭtio (act of betrayal)4. rhetor. expr. • treason: 1. expr. by mājestas (the supreme greatness or dignity of the state): to be guilty of the crime of high t. [lit. of impairing the majesty of the state], majestatem minuere, laedere, Cic. Inv. 2, 17: hence, charge or crime of high t., majestatis crimen, i. e. laesae s. minutae [imminutae] majestatis crimen, Cic. Verr. 4, 41, 88: the law concerning t., lex majestatis, Cic. Clu. 35, 97 (lex Julia majestatis, Ulp. Dig. 48, 4, 10): to be brought in guilty of t., majestatis condemnari, ib.: trial for t., laesae majestatis quaestio, Papin. Dig. 48, 4, 8. 2. perduellio (hostile conduct towards the state: such offences being more usually dealt with under the lex majestatis): trial for t., perduellionis judicium, Cic. C. Rab. 3, 10: to accuse of t., actionem perduellionis alicui intendere, id. Mil. 14, 36: to charge with t., perduellionem alicui judicare, Liv. 26, 3. [N.B.--Perduellio denotes the nature of the illegal act more explicitly than majestas, which might indicate a lighter shade of guilt: cf. Ulp. Dig. 48, 4, 11, from which it appears that perduellio was always a capital charge, majestas not necessarily so.] 3. prōdĭtio (act of betrayal): v. treachery. 4. rhetor. expr.: patriae parrĭcīdium: Cic. Ph. 2, 7, 17. Phr.: to be guilty of t., contra rempublicam facere, Sall. Cat. 50.