In the Roman empire you had Pater Familias, doesn't mean those 'rights' were exercised. > In theory at least, he held powers of life and death over every membe

In the Roman empire you had Pater Familias, doesn't mean those 'rights' were exercised. > In theory at least, he held powers of life and death over every member of his extended familia through ancient right. In practice, the extreme form of this right was seldom exercised. It was eventually limited by law.[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pater_familias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pater_familias