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Which types of imperial decisions counted as constitutiones principum?
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Roman law
Augustus from Prima Porta, marble statue, c. 20 bce; in the Vatican Museums, Vatican City.
In Roman law, constitutiones principum refers to the enactments or legislation issued by the Roman emperors. These imperial decisions were categorized into four primary forms:
- Edicta: Proclamations issued by the emperor, similar to those issued by other magistrates.12
- Mandata: Instructions provided to subordinates, particularly provincial governors.12
- Rescripta: Written responses to officials or private individuals who consulted the emperor regarding specific legal questions.12
- Decreta: Judicial decisions made by the emperor while presiding as a judge.12
By the 2nd century CE, these forms of legislation became the primary method of law-making, as the emperor increasingly consolidated legislative power, eventually rendering other traditional sources of law obsolete.2