Hadrian codified the customary legal privileges of the wealthiest, most influential or highest status citizens (described as "splendidiores personae" or "honestiores"), who held a traditional right to pay fines when found guilty of relatively minor, non-treasonous offences. Low ranking persons – "alii" ("the others"), including low-ranking citizens – were "humiliores" who for the same offences could be subject to extreme physical punishments, including forced labour in the mines or in public works, as a form of fixed-term servitude. While Republican citizenship had carried at least notional equality under law, and the right to justice, offences in Imperial courts were judged and punished according to the relative prestige, rank, reputation and moral worth of both parties; senatorial courts were apt to be lenient when trying one of their peers, and to deal very harshly with offences committed against one of their number by low ranking citizens or non-citizens. For treason (maiestas) beheading was the worst punishment that the law could inflict on "honestiores"; the "humiliores" might suffer crucifixion, burning, or condemnation to the beasts in the arena.