Capitis diminutio – this term comes from Latin and within the Roman law it referred to losing legal status). Nowadays it is part of the Constitutional Law in some legal systems. It refers to permanent loss of legal status or personality, depending of its three versions:

1) Capitis diminution minima (loss of family relations, without loss of liberty or citizenship);

2) Capitis diminution medium (losing family relations and citizenship, where possible), and

3) Capitis diminution maxima – meaning loss of family relations, citizenship and independence. The last type was applicable to slaves and war prisoners.