Legal Definitions - consistorium

The consistorium was a powerful and influential advisory body in the later Roman Empire, serving as the emperor's private council. It held a crucial dual role, functioning both as a top-level governmental council, advising on matters of state policy and administration, and as the supreme court, hearing and deciding legal cases of ultimate appeal.

• Example 1 (Council of State): Imagine Emperor Justinian is contemplating a major reform of the empire's tax system to address a budget deficit. He would convene the consistorium to discuss the proposed changes, analyze their potential economic and social impact across various provinces, and receive their expert advice on the best strategies for implementation. This illustrates its function as a general council of state, guiding imperial policy and administration.

• Example 2 (Supreme Court): Consider a complex legal dispute between two powerful senatorial families over vast landholdings, where the case has already been heard and appealed through several lower courts. If the legal questions are particularly intricate or involve significant imperial interests, the dispute could ultimately reach the consistorium. Acting as the supreme court, its members would review all evidence and legal arguments to issue a final, binding judgment, demonstrating its role as the ultimate judicial authority.