The Law of Angary

The origin of the right of angary is traceable to early Roman times, and a study of its origin and development throws much light on the right as it is understood today. Several writers on international law refer to the first chapter, 41st verse, of Saint Matthew’s Gospel, as showing a possible origin of the term angary. This verse reads: Quicumque te angariaverit mille passus, vade cum illo et alia duo . (And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.) The Greek word for compel or force is also cited, and it is clear that the idea of compelling some service was linked up with the early notion of angary. The following passage from the Justinian Code (529 A.D.) shows the word angary in its noun form, and shows that all classes alike were subject to the law: Nullus penitus cuius libet ordinis seu dignitatis, vel sacrosancta ecclesia, vel domus regia tempore expeditionis excusationem angariarum seu parangarium habeat

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