Legal Definitions - Lex Romana Visigothorum

Definition: The Lex Romana Visigothorum is an abridgment of Roman law that was compiled by order of the Visigoth king Alaric II in 506. It was published for the use of his Roman subjects and revised versions were known as the Lex Romana Visigothorum. It was also called the Breviarium Aniani after Alaric's chancellor, Anian, who edited and distributed the work.

Example: The Breviarium Alaricianum was a book of high authority throughout the whole of western Europe during the Middle Ages and it was one of the main channels through which Roman law entered western European law prior to the Reception.

Explanation: The Breviarium Alaricianum was a significant legal document that was used in southern France and Lombardy, which had passed under the dominion of the Franks. It was a concise summary of Roman law that was used by the Visigoths and later revised versions were used throughout western Europe. The example illustrates how important the Breviarium Alaricianum was in shaping western European law during the Middle Ages.