How did the Ecloga revise the Roman law code of Justinian I?
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Leo III
Leo III, gold solidus from Constantinople, 717–741.
The Ecloga, issued by Emperor Leo III in 726, served as a significant revision of the 6th-century Code of Justinian. While it remained grounded in Roman law, Leo III adapted the code to reflect Christian principles and a spirit of greater humanity.12
Key revisions included:
- Language: The code was written in Greek rather than the traditional Latin to ensure it was accessible to the public and served as a practical manual for judges.1
- Civil Law: The rights of women and children were strengthened, while the traditional power of the father was sharply curtailed.1
- Criminal Law: The application of capital punishment was restricted to specific crimes, such as treason, desertion, and certain homicides. For many other offenses, the death penalty was replaced with mutilation.12
- Social Equality: The code mandated equal punishment for individuals regardless of their social class.1
- Judicial Integrity: To combat bribery and favoritism, the code introduced salaries for judicial officials and strictly prohibited the acceptance of gifts.12