Prawodawstwo Justyniana w dziełach Adama Mickiewicza

Abstract

Adam Mickiewicz is regarded as the greatest Polish poet of all time. His works have a timeless value, providing an inexhaustible source of inspiration for subsequent generations of readers. It is interesting, that in works by Adam Mickiewicz we can find many references to Roman law, including Justinian’s famous codification, which was written in the years 528-534 A.D. The poet expresses very favorable views on the legislation of the byzantine emperor Justinian the Great. He emphasizes many times its perfection and influence, which exerted itself on the development of modern legal provisions, especially on the French civil code from 1804, also known as the Napoleonic Code. The work of Justinian’s legislation, which is mentioned most often by Mickiewicz (in the poems Walka miodowa, Jamby. [Na imieninach Onufrego Pietraszkiewicza] and in Wykłady lozańskie written in prose, is the Digest (Digesta). The Digest was the most important part of Justinian’s codification. It was published in Latin in 533 A.D., but also translated into Greek, so is also known as the Pandects. Mickiewicz uses the Greek name in his works. The poet also references the other part of the codification of Roman law written during the reign of Justinian, namely the Institutions (Institutiones) from 533 A.D. It is interesting that Mickiewicz never mentions Tribonian, who was chair of the codification commissions.