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Why was the Lex Romana Visigothorum issued in 506 CE?

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Germanic law Euric, statue in the Plaza de Oriente, Madrid.

The Lex Romana Visigothorum, also known as the Breviary of Alaric, was issued in 506 CE by the Visigothic king Alaric II primarily to provide a formal law code for his Roman subjects.12

At the time, the Visigothic kingdom contained a large population of Hispano-Romans who significantly outnumbered the Visigoths. While the Visigoths were governed by their own laws, such as the Codex Euricianus, the Roman population continued to be governed by Roman law, specifically the Theodosian Code. To address the legal needs of these Roman subjects, Alaric II appointed a commission to prepare an abstract of existing Roman laws and imperial decrees.21

This initiative was part of a broader effort to manage the distinct legal, cultural, and social differences between the Visigothic rulers and the Hispano-Roman population, helping to maintain order within the kingdom.2