emancipati

Emancipati is a term used in several Romance languages, notably Italian and Romanian, to refer to people who have been granted emancipation or to the state of being emancipated. It stems from the Latin emancipatus, the past participle of emancipare, meaning freed from control or obligation. In Romanian and Italian, emancipati can function as a noun meaning “the emancipated ones” or as an adjective describing someone who has gained freedom or independence.

In general usage, emancipati describe individuals or groups freed from various forms of subjection. This commonly includes the emancipation of slaves or serfs, where a formal release granted freedom and often new legal rights. Historical milestones include abolitionist movements in the 18th and 19th centuries and the 1861 emancipation of serfs in the Russian Empire. Emancipation also occurs in civil law, where emancipation of a minor is a legal process that grants a young person the capacity to manage their own affairs, contract, and reside independently, subject to jurisdictional rules.

The term continues to appear in legal, historical, and sociological discussions, typically in reference to individuals or groups released from slavery, serfdom, or parental authority. The precise legal consequences of emancipation vary by country and era, but commonly include increased autonomy and adult-like rights, sometimes with ongoing conditions or oversight.

See also: emancipation, emancipated minor, serf emancipation, abolition.