uti possidetis

In Roman law, uti possidetis was an interdict used to determine the right of possession for immovable property and maintain the status quo until a decision could be made. This contrasts with utrubi, which was used for movable property. Roman law emphasized dominium, or absolute ownership, which was distinct from possession. Possession, while often a physical fact, evolved into a legal concept representing control with the intention of ownership. In Roman legal development, possession often held more importance than proprietary rights, serving as prima facie evidence of ownership against all but the rightful owner. Various methods existed for acquiring property, including formal transfers like mancipatio and in jure cessio, as well as acquisition through prolonged possession (usucapio), finding ownerless things (occupatio), and the principle that additions to property become part of the principal item (accessio).123