History I - Law

Roman Monarchy

Period: 753 BCE to 509 BCE

Roman Republic

Period: 509 BCE to 27 BCE

Law of the Twelve Tables

450 BCE

It was a set of laws created in the ancient Rome by a committee denominated the decemviri. They covered main areas of private law and regulated the relations between citizens. They created a new approach to laws that should be kept among governments, ensuring roman to be treated equally.

Roman Principality

Period: 27 BCE to 235

Edict of Caracalla

212

Through this edict, citizenship was conferred to every free inhabitant in the Roman Empire. In addition, every free women in the empire would have the same rights as any roman woman. The impact of these edict was huge, since 30,000,000 people got the citizenship since 11th of July 212. It is believed Caracalla wanted to increase the fiscal income through this concession.

Roman Dominate

Period: 235 to 527

Codex Gregorianus

291

It was the first private law compillation ever created in history. Although it was lost, we have got to know it through lex romana visigothorum. Gregorius compilated in this codex imperial constitucions focusing in the period from the Severus to Diocletian.

Codex Hermogenianus

295

It is the second private law compillation, after the codex gregorianus. It covers the content in the imperial constitutions published in 293 and 295.

Roman Empire division

395

Following Theodosius I death, the Roman Empire splitted up into: Western Roman Empire, which capital was in Milan (altough Rome remained having a lot of importance) and whose emperor become Honorius, the youngest child; and Eastern Roman Empire, which capital was Constantinople and whose emperor was Honorius.
video

Suevs, Vandals and Alans first reach the Iberian Peninsula

409

Law of citations

426

Theodosius II (East) promulgated this law, but Valentinian III (West) accepted it expanding its geographical use. This law determined that, when dealing with a controversy, they should only be taken in account five jurists opinions: Papinian, Paul, Gaius, Ulpian and Modestinus. If the majority agreed in the matter, the judge was required to follow this opinion. In a tie, Papinian prevailed.

Codex Theodosianus

438

This compilation, in opposition to the codex gregorianus and the codex hermogenianus, was formulated with an official statue. Valetinian III, from the Eastern Roman Empire, ordered it to compile every constitution since Constantine. It was pretended to be a much vaster codex, but this aim could not be fulfilled.
It is divided in 16 books in chronological ordered and picks up private and public law.

Fall of Rome

476

This event means to most historian the end of the Ancient Era and the beginning of the Middle Ages, from a Western Roman Empire. Rome fell in this year due to external attack from the barbarians, coming from the north and west, put together with religion conflicts and an internal decay of the city itself short documental

Code of Euric

480

This visigoth code was ordered to do by Euric and written by Leo. It recognised visigoth custumes and underscored some matters such as barbaric land distribution.
It enhaces visigoth tradition altered by Roman Law

Effective penetration of the Visigoths in the Iberian Peninsula

495

Breviary of Alaric II

506

It is also known as Lex Romana Visigothorum.
It was a compilation of contemporary Roman law, since it was intended to be applied to the Roman element of the population, cince the Germanic element followed the code of Euric.

Codex vetus

529

This was the first edition of the code of Justinian. It followed the goal of compiling pre-justinian codices and imperial statues.
The committee of jurists was presided by Tribonian, and started the work on 528. When approved, it invalidated any previous code.
In 533 it had to be updated. The committee was also presided by Tribonian.

Imperatoris Iustiniani Institutiones

533

This set of books, included in the Corpus Iuris Civilis, had a didactical purpose, with the aim to be useful for beginners in the study of law. They were divided into 4 books, regarding different matters (law of persons, law of things and law of actions).
They were essential for any first year law student, as well and they played a key role in the School of Bologna later on.
Its precedent were the Instituiones written by Gaius (from the II century).

Digesta Iustiniani

533

It is the main part of the Corpus Iuris Civilis and, subsequently, its great importance in legal history is undeniable. A committee of 16 jurists headed by Tribonian followed the aim of making a compilation trying to put together the best juristic writing into an applicable ius.
It is divided into 50 books.

Codex Revisus

580

Leovigild intended to revise the Code of Euric; modifyingm deleting and adding laws. His aim was to update this original code, that was losing importance, and unify the nation.
One of the most important changes introduced by this code was that it allowed Hispano-Roman people and Visigoth people to get legally married, putting them on the same legal level.

Liber Iudiciorum

654

The king Recesvinth approved this twelve books which served for trials and could be applied to both Romans and Visigoths. It played a key role during the Visigoth monarchies specially, but its importance has been kept up until now, even in other European countries. Visigoths in Spain video

Dictatus Papae

1075

It is a compilation of the political-religious ideas of the Pope Gregory VII, reflected in 27 statements click here to read them which showed the Gregorian reform in the canonical life.

Decretum Gratiani

1140

It is also known as Concordia Discordantium Canonum.
It is an important compilation of canonic law. Some law cases are analyzed through hypothetical causae. It was used by the School of Bologna as well as other great European Universities.

Fall of the Eastern Roman Empire

1453

Constantinople fell against the Ottoman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire fell, almost 1000 years after the Western side of the Roman Empire. The black plague, crusades and gap in support from the Catholic Church were some of the factors that led to Easter Roman Empire defeat.
short documental