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Lex Romana Visigothorum

Germanic law
Also known as: Breviary of Alaric

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The Lex Romana Visigothorum, also known as the Breviary of Alaric, was a legal code promulgated in 506 CE for the Roman population within the Visigothic kingdom. It was based on Roman law, adapted to the social and economic conditions of the late Roman Empire. This code was a significant innovation because it designated territorial laws, meaning laws applied based on where a person lived rather than their ethnicity.12

The Liber Judiciorum, issued by King Recceswinth in 654 CE, later revised the Visigothic law code. It was written in Latin and heavily influenced by Roman tradition, dealing with various aspects of life such as family law, contracts, and crimes. The Liber Judiciorum provided valuable insights into the Visigothic kingdom's organization and the practical application of Roman law in the post-Roman era. This code continued to be used even after the Muslim conquest of Spain and gained renewed prestige during the Christian Reconquista.2

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