Chapter 3: Justinian, Tribonian, and Irnerius: How Statesmen and Scholars Rescued Roman Law (Twice)

Civil law

The legal tradition rooted in Roman codification.

Twelve Tables

Rome’s earliest public, written legal code.

Decemvirs

The ten officials charged with drafting the Twelve Tables.

Special legislation

Laws created for particular cases or individuals, not general principles.

Jurisconsults

Legal experts whose interpretations shaped Roman law.

Forum

The civic center where Rome’s legal and political life converged.

English common law

A legal system that evolved from Roman law but is based on judicial precedent.

Praetors

Roman magistrates responsible for administering justice.

Papinian

A preeminent Roman jurist whose writings influenced legal thought.

Justinian

The Byzantine emperor who codified and consolidated Roman law.

Tribonian

The leading legal scholar who organized Justinian’s legal compilations.

Code

The comprehensive collection of imperial laws under Justinian.

Institutes

A textbook summarizing the core principles of Roman law within Justinian’s system.

Digest

A compilation of legal opinions and writings.

Novels

Additional laws issued by Justinian following the initial codification.

Corpus Juris Civilis

The complete body of civil law compiled under Justinian.

Jus civilis

The law applicable specifically to Roman citizens.

Jus gentium

The law governing relations between Romans and non-Romans.

Romano-Germanic legal system

The synthesis of Roman legal principles with Germanic customs.

Irnerius

A medieval scholar credited with reviving the study of Roman law.

Glossators

Scholars who annotated and clarified Roman legal texts.

Commentators

Later experts who expanded on the glossators’ interpretations.

Bartolus

A prominent medieval jurist whose work influenced European legal systems.

Napoleonic Code

The French legal system inspired by Roman codification.

Jean Portalis

One of the principal architects of the Napoleonic Code.

Civil law systems

Modern legal frameworks derived from the Roman tradition of codified law.