Jus gentium, Latin for "law of nations", was originally the part of Roman law that the Roman Empire applied to its dealings with foreigners, especially provincial subjects. In later times the Latin term came to refer to the natural or common law among nations considered as states within a larger human society, especially governing the rules of peace and war, national boundaries, diplomatic exchanges, and extradition, that together with jus inter gentes makes up international law..

Jon Roland, of the Constitution Society, lists^[1] several rules of law that make up the jus gentium, including:

1. Not attacking other nations, except in declared wars and similar situations;
2. Honoring truce, peace treaties, and boundaries;
3. Protecting wrecked ships and persons thereon;
4. Prosecuting piracy;
5. Caring decently for prisoners of war;
6. Protection of embassies and diplomats;
7. Honoring extradition treaties;
8. Prohibiting slavery and trading in slaves.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

1. ^ The meaning of "Offenses against the Law of Nations", Jon Roland, 1998

[edit] References

• Relectiones, Franciscus de Victoria (lect. 1532, first pub. 1557). Available online here.
• The Law of War and Peace, Hugo Grotius (1625). Available online here.
• The Law of Nature and of Nations, Samuel Pufendorf (1674, tr. Basil Kennett 1703). Available online here, under construction.
• Questions of Public Law, Cornelius van Bynkershoek (1737). Available online here.
• The Law of Nations, Emmerich de Vattel (1758). Available online here.
• Tucker's Blackstone, St. George Tucker (1803). Available online here.

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