Medieval political thinkers drew on a variety of legal
Roman Law
The collections of laws promulgated in the early sixth century by the Emperor Justinian I comprised much of classical Roman law and also many laws for religion made after the Empire’s official conversion to Christianity. Medieval study and application of this body of civil law (Corpus iuris civilis) began in the twelfth century and was continuously refined thereafter, peaking with the civilian Commentators of the fourteenth century.
Feudal Law
The rules governing the personal relationships of fidelity and mutual obligation between superior and inferior central to feudalism were only put into writing in the twelfth century, when the institution itself was in decline. Given its principles of consent and accountability, one should be cautious about using the term ‘‘feudal’’ pejoratively.
Church Law
Besides defining doctrine, general (ecumenical) and regional church councils decided many disciplinary issues. After the patristic period, the most important councils in the West were those held under Charlemagne in the eighth and ninth centuries and general councils called by popes, such as the Third and Fourth Lateran Councils of 1179 and 1214. Beginning in the twelfth century, collections of conciliar rules (canons) and other authoritative texts were made. The most influential was Gratian of Bologna’s Decretum (c. 1140). Later portions of the canon law (Corpus iuris canonici) consisted of papal doctrinal statements and decisions on practical matters. Each major portion of the canon law was subjected to learned commentary.
World History
