Ordonnance Civile

France [1667]

Also known as: Code Louis

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July 1, 2026

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The Ordonnance Civile of 1667, also known as the Code Louis, was a comprehensive code enacted in France under Louis XIV. This ordinance aimed to standardize and regulate civil procedure across all of France, consolidating many of the procedural principles that had been in place since the late Middle Ages.1

The code was a significant step in the development of a unified legal system, moving away from the varied customs and procedures that existed previously. It reflected a broader trend towards codification and the centralization of law, emphasizing written evidence and the role of learned counsel and judges. This move towards uniformity in civil procedure was part of a larger effort to strengthen royal authority and create a more cohesive state structure in France.2134

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procedural law
Medieval European law
…by Louis XIV of the Ordonnance Civile, also known as Code Louis, a comprehensive code regulating civil procedure in all of France in a uniform manner. The Code Louis continued, with some improvements, many of the basic principles of procedure that had prevailed since the late Middle Ages.
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…by Louis XIV of the Ordonnance Civile, also known as Code Louis, a comprehensive code regulating civil procedure in all of France in a uniform manner. The Code Louis continued, with some improvements, many of the basic principles of procedure that had prevailed since the late Middle Ages.
Read More