Legal Definitions - Liber Authenticorum

The Liber Authenticorum (Latin for "Book of Authentic Works" or "Book of Authoritative Texts") refers to an important historical collection of Roman laws. Compiled between A.D. 535 and 556, it contained a complete and translated version of Emperor Justinian's "Greek Novels." These "Novels" were new laws and decrees issued by Justinian during his reign, many of which were originally written in Greek. The Liber Authenticorum served as a crucial Latin translation, making these latest imperial enactments accessible to a wider legal audience in the Byzantine Empire. It is distinguished by its unabridged nature, presenting the full text of the laws rather than summaries.

• Imagine a legal historian researching the evolution of inheritance laws in the Byzantine Empire. To understand Emperor Justinian's final pronouncements on the subject, which were often issued in Greek, this historian would consult the Liber Authenticorum. This collection would provide the full, authoritative Latin translation of those specific "Novels," allowing for a detailed study of how Justinian modified or clarified existing statutes regarding property transfer upon death.

• A scholar specializing in comparative ancient law might be examining different methods of legal codification and dissemination across empires. They could study the Liber Authenticorum to see how a vast body of new imperial legislation, originally in Greek, was systematically translated and compiled into an accessible Latin volume. This illustrates a key historical effort to integrate new laws into the broader Roman legal tradition, ensuring their understanding and application beyond Greek-speaking regions.

• A student learning about the sources of Roman law might encounter the Liber Authenticorum as a primary text. Their professor might explain that while many of Justinian's earlier laws were in Latin, his later "Novels" were often in Greek. The Liber Authenticorum would then be presented as the essential compilation that preserved these Greek-originating laws in a comprehensive Latin form for future legal study and application, highlighting its role in bridging linguistic divides in the legal system.