edictum

Roman law

Also known as: edicta, praecepta

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Last updated

June 25, 2026

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In Roman law, an edictum (plural: edicta) was a proclamation issued by a superior magistrate, such as a praetor, concerning judicial matters. These edicts essentially served as the magistrate's program for their term in office. The office of praetor was established to handle the increasing legal work involving citizens, and later, a separate praetor was created for cases involving foreigners.12

The edicta became a significant tool for legal reform, especially during the later stages of the Roman Republic, and eventually, praetorian and magisterial edicts superseded legislation as a primary source of private law. The emperor Hadrian commissioned a reorganization and consolidation of these edicts around 131 CE, declaring them unalterable except by the emperor himself. The edicta were one of the forms of constitutiones principum, which were legislative enactments by Roman emperors.13

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praetor
…a civil administrator issued an edict stating the procedure by which he would be guided. About 67 bc, he became bound by law to follow his edict. Ultimately, the edict, as modified over centuries, became one of the most important factors in molding and adapting the Roman law to new…
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…a civil administrator issued an edict stating the procedure by which he would be guided. About 67 bc, he became bound by law to follow his edict. Ultimately, the edict, as modified over centuries, became one of the most important factors in molding and adapting the Roman law to new…
Read More