Justinian I

Died 565

Emperor Justinian commissions a systematic compilation of Roman law—the Corpus Juris Civilis. Rediscovered by European universities in the 12th century, it b…

• 533 CE

  Justinian Code unifies Roman law

  Emperor Justinian commissions a systematic compilation of Roman law—the Corpus Juris Civilis. Rediscovered by European universities in the 12th century, it becomes the foundation of legal systems across continental Europe, Latin America, and beyond.