Code Justinian

civil law. A collection of the constitutions of the emperors from Adrian to Justinian; the greater part of those from Adrian to Constantine are mere rescripts; those from Constantine to Justinian are edicts or laws properly speaking. The code is divided in twelve books, which are subdivided in titles, under which are placed the constitutions, under proper heads. They are placed in chronological order, but often disjointed. At the head of each constitution is placed the name of the emperor who is the author, and that of the person to whom it is addressed. The date is at the end. Several of these constitutions have been corrupted by the neglect of copyists. Some of them have been restored by some modern authors, among whom may be mentioned Charondas, Cujas, and Contius, who translated them from Greek versions.