Tribonian
Encyclopedia
Tribonian or Tribonianos (Τριβωνιανός [trivonia'nos], c. 500–547) was a jurist
during the reign of the Emperor Justinian I
, who revised the legal code
of the Roman Empire
.
Tribonian was born in Pamphylia
around the year 500. He became a successful lawyer
in Constantinople
, and was appointed by Justinian in 528 as one of the commissioners to prepare the new imperial legal code, the Corpus Juris Civilis
, released in 529. In 530 he became quaestor sacri palatii
, and the chief editor of the compilation of the old Roman lawyers writings (Digesta or Pandecta, meaning Digest or Collection), which in total were much larger than the code itself.
The brief version of the new code, Codex repetitae praelectionis, containing the most relevant and useful parts of the selection of imperial constitutions , was released in 533. While this was being completed the participants in the Nika riots
of 532 called for his removal because of his alleged corruption. He was temporarily removed by Justinian until the riots were crushed. In 534 the full Codex Justinianus was released, along with a series of new laws created by Justinian to reflect contemporary needs (the Novellae
). His life is recounted in the writings of Procopius
.
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
during the reign of the Emperor Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
, who revised the legal code
Roman law
Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD — when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence — from the Twelve...
of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
Tribonian was born in Pamphylia
Pamphylia
In ancient geography, Pamphylia was the region in the south of Asia Minor, between Lycia and Cilicia, extending from the Mediterranean to Mount Taurus . It was bounded on the north by Pisidia and was therefore a country of small extent, having a coast-line of only about 75 miles with a breadth of...
around the year 500. He became a successful lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and was appointed by Justinian in 528 as one of the commissioners to prepare the new imperial legal code, the Corpus Juris Civilis
Corpus Juris Civilis
The Corpus Juris Civilis is the modern name for a collection of fundamental works in jurisprudence, issued from 529 to 534 by order of Justinian I, Eastern Roman Emperor...
, released in 529. In 530 he became quaestor sacri palatii
Quaestor sacri palatii
The quaestor sacri palatii , in English Quaestor of the Sacred Palace, was the senior legal authority in the late Roman and early Byzantine empires, responsible for drafting laws. In the later Byzantine Empire, the office of the quaestor was altered and it became a senior judicial official for the...
, and the chief editor of the compilation of the old Roman lawyers writings (Digesta or Pandecta, meaning Digest or Collection), which in total were much larger than the code itself.
The brief version of the new code, Codex repetitae praelectionis, containing the most relevant and useful parts of the selection of imperial constitutions , was released in 533. While this was being completed the participants in the Nika riots
Nika riots
The Nika riots , or Nika revolt, took place over the course of a week in Constantinople in AD 532. It was the most violent riot that Constantinople had ever seen to that point, with nearly half the city being burned or destroyed and tens of thousands of people killed.-Background:The ancient Roman...
of 532 called for his removal because of his alleged corruption. He was temporarily removed by Justinian until the riots were crushed. In 534 the full Codex Justinianus was released, along with a series of new laws created by Justinian to reflect contemporary needs (the Novellae
Novellae Constitutiones
The Novellae Constitutiones , or Justinian's Novels, are one of the four major units of Roman law created by Roman Emperor Justinian I in the course of his long reign . The other three pieces are: the Code, the Digest, and the Institutes. Together, the four parts are known as the Corpus Juris...
). His life is recounted in the writings of Procopius
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
.