Corpus Juris Civilis

(noun)

The modern name for a collection of fundamental works in jurisprudence, issued from 529–534 CE by order of Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I.

Related Terms

Examples of Corpus Juris Civilis in the following topics:

  • The Justinian Code

    • Justinian I achieved lasting fame through his judicial reforms, particularly through the complete revision of all Roman law that was compiled in what is known today as the Corpus juris civilis.
    • The total of Justinian's legislature is known today as the Corpus juris civilis.
    • As opposed to the rest of the corpus, the Novellae appeared in Greek, the common language of the Eastern Empire.
    • The provisions of the Corpus Juris Civilis also influenced the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church: it was said that ecclesia vivit lege romana — the church lives by Roman law.
    • The Corpus continues to have a major influence on public international law.

  • Intellectual Life

    • Secular law, or Roman law, was advanced greatly by the discovery of the Corpus Juris Civilis in the 11th century, and by 1100 Roman law was being taught at Bologna.