Legal Definitions - Code Noir

Definition: Code Noir (kohd nwahr). [French “black code”] Hist. A body of laws issued by Louis XIV and applied in French colonies. The Code regulated slavery and banned Jews and non-Catholic religious practices from the colonies.

Examples:

• The Code Noir was a set of laws that regulated the treatment of slaves in French colonies.
• Under the Code Noir, Jews were not allowed to live in the French colonies.
• The Code Noir also banned non-Catholic religious practices in the colonies.

These examples illustrate how the Code Noir was a set of laws that controlled many aspects of life in French colonies. It regulated the treatment of slaves, restricted the presence of certain religious groups, and enforced Catholicism as the dominant religion. The Code Noir was a significant part of French colonial policy and had a lasting impact on the societies that it governed.