Basilica

civil law. This is derived from a Greek word which juris civilis of Justinian, too long and obscure, resolved to abridge it, and under his auspices the work proceeded to the fortieth book, which at his death, remained unfinished. His son and successor, Leo, the philosopher, continued the work, and published it in sixty books about the year 880. Constantine Porphyrogeneta, younger brother of Leo, revised the work, re-arranged it, and republished it, anno domini 910. From that time the laws of Justinian ceased to have any force in the eastern empire, and the Basilica were the foundation of the law observed there till Constantine XIII., the last of the Greek emperors, under whom in 1453, Constantinople was taken by Mahomet the Turkish emperor, who put an end to the empire and its laws. Histoire de la Jurisprudence; Etienne, Intr. a l'étude du Droit Romain, § LITT. The Basilica were written in Greek.