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Why did Justinian I create the Code of Justinian?
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Byzantine Empire
The Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child (centre), Justinian (left) holding a model of the Hagia Sophia, and Constantine (right) holding a model of the city of Constantinople; mosaic from the Hagia Sophia, 9th century.
When Justinian I ascended the throne in 527 CE, he found the legal system of the Roman Empire in a state of profound disarray. The law was divided into "old law" and "new law," both of which were characterized by confusion, inconsistency, and a lack of comprehensive organization.1
Justinian created the Code of Justinian for several critical reasons:
- Consolidation: The existing body of law consisted of numerous statutes, senatorial decrees, and juristic writings that were often scarce, lost, or of doubtful authenticity.1
- Eliminating Contradictions: Both the old statutes and the newer imperial ordinances were frequently contradictory. Justinian sought to purge these inconsistencies by selecting valuable provisions and omitting conflicting passages.12
- Simplification: The sheer volume of legal material made it difficult to navigate. Justinian appointed commissions to compile, clarify, and simplify these laws into a manageable Corpus Juris Civilis.12
- Accessibility: Justinian was genuinely concerned with promoting the well-being of his subjects by providing more accessible justice and rooting out corruption.3