II.   Sovereign

The phrase “Modus Operandi” also listed by the initials M.O. was the Roman equivalent to “Bar an Measúir” of the ancient Holly Irish for millennia before. Modus means “measure” and Operandi from opera means “exertion, work, service”.

The Roman system of measurements was based on a newly invented standard unit of measurement being the pedis or “foot” being four (4) palms (a palm being approx 3 inches), sixteen (16) digits (a width of finger or 0.75 inches) and twelve (12) unciae (inches) to replace the sacred cúbith of the Holly irish and Celts.

The reason the Romans invented the unit of pedis/pedes, or foot was to determine how quickly they could move legions from one (1) location to another to quell any uprising for freedom or basic rights. Thus, by vigorously training their legions to march in step and certain speed, the Romans perfected their measure of long distances with great accuracy - using the Celtic roads as central to their conquest of Europe before West Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.

The unit called gradus, also known as “step” was approximately two and one half ( 2 ½)  feet as a standard march, whereas the unit called passus or “pace” being a rapid march was double that at five (5) feet. Thus one (1) millarium or “mile” was equivalent to two thousand (2,000) steps of standard march at three (3) miles an hour or  one thousand (1,000)  paces of rapid march at six (6) miles an hour.

While the Romans were precise with their measurement of the pedes (foot), their interest in precise measurement and survey of conquered land was less precise - a reflection of measurement being a focus of military control and control of trade, than the fair use of land.

The Romans were so poor at land management that periodically the Empire was faced with massive famine and food shortages due to poor planning and administration. Indeed, almost all of the claimed writings concerning the Romans creating the "acre" and perfecting agriculture production, are deliberate frauds and forgeries to depreciate much older and fairer land systems.

The Romans preferred to rest their claims and controls on their sophisticated registers called tabulae, especially their slave rolls and the recording of goods being transported and controlled through ports, warehouses and markets, especially a "census". Indeed, the concept of survey was less about minimizing the risk of dispute of adjacent land holders than the maintenance of claims of absolute land ownership by ceremonial and ritual of the Censor touring the provinces and undertaking a census periodically.

The Romans considered a census as both a land survey and property survey. But instead of spending huge amounts of time going out and re - measuring boundaries, terrain and border disputes, a census focused on the concept of occupatio of a valid record of ownership within the register.

Thus within the Roman system, entry into a valid and superior register has always played a more significant part of "survey" and claim of ownership than actual rights of possession.