Corpus Juris Civilis
Foundation of civil law jurisdictions, compiled under Roman Emperor Justinian I.
The Corpus Juris Civilis, meaning "Body of Civil Law," is the modern designation for a foundational collection of legal works enacted under the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I between 529 and 534. The project was overseen by the official Tribonian in Constantinople, whose team was permitted to edit the materials they selected; the extent of these alterations is largely unknown, as most original sources have not survived. The compilation was intended as the exclusive source of law, forbidding reference to any other texts, including the originals from which it drew. It was composed and distributed almost entirely in Latin, the official language of the imperial government at the time, though Greek was the common tongue of merchants, farmers, and seamen. The work originally comprised three parts: the Codex, a selection of imperial enactments; the Digest or Pandects, an encyclopedia of extracts from Roman jurists; and the Institutes, a student textbook introducing the Code. All three parts, including the textbook, were given the force of law. Justinian later issued additional laws, now considered a fourth part, the Novellae Constitutiones or Novels. The Corpus was later revised into Greek as the Basilika, which formed the basis of Byzantine law through the 15th century and influenced legal codes in the Balkans and modern Greece. In Western Europe, it was recovered in the Middle Ages and became the foundation of private law in all civil law jurisdictions, also influencing canon law and public international law. Its impact on common law systems has been less direct, though its concepts and terminology persist.
- commissioned_by
- Roman Emperor Justinian I
- directed_by
- Tribonian
- original_language
- Latin
- parts
- Code, Digest, Institutes, Novels
- field
- Jurisprudence
- known_for
- Foundation of civil law jurisdictions
Quick Facts
- Short Title
- Body of Civil Law / Corpus Juris Civilis
- Territorial Extent
- Eastern Roman Empire
- Enacted By
- Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus, Roman emperor
- Date Effective
- 534 · df=y
- Introduced By
- John the Cappadocian, Tribonian
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Corpus Juris Civilis is the modern name for a collection of fundamental works in jurisprudence enacted from 529 to 534 by order of Roman Emperor Justinian I. It is also sometimes called the Code of Justinian after one of its parts. The work was directed by Tribonian, an official in Justinian’s court in Constantinople, whose team was authorized to edit the material they included, though the extent of these amendments is largely unknown because most original sources have not survived. The text was composed and distributed almost entirely in Latin, the official language of the Eastern Roman Empire’s government at the time, even though Greek was the prevalent language of merchants, farmers, and other citizens. The collection was planned in three parts: the Code, a compilation of imperial enactments; the Digest or Pandects, an encyclopedia of extracts from Roman jurists; and the Institutes, a student textbook. All three parts, including the textbook, were given force of law and intended to be the sole source of legal authority, forbidding reference to any other source. Justinian later enacted further laws, now counted as a fourth part, the Novels. The work was later revised into Greek and formed the basis of the Byzantine Basilika, which in turn influenced legal codes in the Balkans and modern Greece. In Western Europe, it was recovered in the Middle Ages and became the foundation of law in all civil law jurisdictions, also influencing Catholic canon law and public international law.
Reader's Guide
The Corpus Juris Civilis was revised into Greek when that became the predominant language of the Eastern Roman Empire and continued to form the basis of the empire's laws, the Basilika, through the 15th century. The Basilika served as the basis for local legal codes in the Balkans during the Ottoman period and later formed the basis of the legal code of Modern Greece. In Western Europe, the Corpus was only recovered in the Middle Ages, being 'received' or imitated as private law. Its public law content was quarried for arguments by both secular and ecclesiastical authorities. This recovered Roman law became the foundation of law in all civil law jurisdictions. Its influence on common law legal systems has been markedly less, although still significant, with Latinate legal concepts and terminology surviving through Norman law, canon law, and civil law influences. The Corpus continues to have a major influence on public international law.
Did You Know?
- The Corpus Juris Civilis is also sometimes referred to metonymically after one of its parts, the Code of Justinian.
- Excerpts from 38 jurists appear in the Digest.
- The Justinian Code's doctrines provided a sophisticated model for contracts, rules of procedure, family law, wills, and a strong monarchical constitutional system.
- The Basilika, based on the Corpus Juris Civilis, served as the basis for local legal codes in the Balkans during the Ottoman period.
- The Corpus Juris Civilis was revised into Greek when that became the predominant language of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Corpus Juris Civilis?
Corpus Juris Civilis is a vast compilation of Roman legal texts produced in the 6th century under the direction of the jurist Tribonian. It is widely regarded as the foundational document set for the entire Western legal tradition.
Who commissioned Corpus Juris Civilis and who led the project?
Roman Emperor Justinian I ordered the collection to be assembled, and the legal scholar Tribonian was appointed to oversee the compilation effort. The finished work was written entirely in Latin.
What are the four parts that make up Corpus Juris Civilis?
The collection is divided into the Code, the Digest, the Institutes, and the Novels. Together these four components cover imperial legislation, juristic commentary, a student textbook, and later imperial enactments.
Why is Corpus Juris Civilis considered so important?
It laid the doctrinal groundwork that every modern civil-law jurisdiction still builds upon, from contract and property rules to the structure of legal education. Without it, the Western tradition of codified private law would look fundamentally different.
Is Corpus Juris Civilis known by any other name?
Yes—people sometimes call it the Code of Justinian, using the name of just one of its four parts metonymically to refer to the whole collection. This shorthand is common in popular and academic writing alike.
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