59 Pagans, Jews, and Heretics Are Forbidden to Possess Christian Slaves
Justinian
Between 527 and 534
This law was given in Constantinople, probably by Justinian.
It has been partly preserved in CJ 1:10:2, which was later used as source to Bas, 60:54:32? The restoration of the inscription is based on the assumption that Justinian referred to this law in CJ 1:3:54:8, where he quoted a previous law concerning the possession of Christian slaves by Jews. It is to be assumed, therefore, that our law was given before 534, the date usually ascribed to CJ 1:3:54 (see below, No. 61).2In this law the legislator forbade pagans, Jews, Samaritans, and heretics to possess Christian slaves, granted freedom to such slaves, and imposed a fine of thirty gold pounds on their masters.
Codex Justinianus, 1:10:2, ed. Kruger, p. 62
[Αύτοκράτωρ* ’Ιουστινιανός A.]
Τλλην καί ’Ιουδαίος καί Σαμαρείτης καί πδς μή ών όρθόδοξος ού δύναται Χριστιανόν άνδράποδον έχειν, έπεί καί αύτό* έλευθερούται καί ό κτησάμενος δίδωσι τοίς πριβάτοις* λ' λίτρας.*
5 D. ΠΠ Κ. IUL.· CONSTANTINOPOLI.
(The Emperor Justinian Augustus)3
A pagan, Jew, Samaritan, and anyone who is not Orthodox, is unable to possess a Christian slave, for that4 slave shall be manumitted and he who had possessed him shall give thirty pounds5 to the Private Properties.6
GIVEN ON THE FOURTH DAY BEFORE THE CALENDS OF JULY7 AT CONSTANTINOPLE.
NOTES
1. See Basilica, ed. G. E. & C. W. E. Heimbach, V, Leipzig 1850, p. 895.
2. For a different opinion see Juster and Colorni.
3. The inscription restored according to CJ 1:3:54:8.
4. That: the legislator referred to the slave in neutrum, αυτό, indicating the slave’s legal status of a ‘res’, a “thing.” This is also the meaning of the term άνδράποδον, “slave.” See R. Lazzeroni, “Etimologia e semantica del greco άνδράποδον,” Studi e saggi linguistici, X (1970), pp. 165-173.
5. Pounds: the Basilica supplied the missing specification—thirty gold pounds.
6. Private Property: the term πριβάτοις is a Greek transcription of the Latin term ‘(res) privata’, the treasury which originated in the emperor’s private property. Its main revenues consisted of property confiscations and fines. Under Anastasius if was transferred to the public administration, but Justinian restored it again to the emperor’s direct control. See Stein, II, pp. 206, 403.
7. lang=EN-US style='font-size: 8.5pt;font-style:normal'>Given... July: 28 June.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
P. Krüger, “Über die Zeitfolge der im Justinianischen Codex enthaltenen Constitutionen Justinians,” ZRG, XI (1873), pp. 179, 185; Juster, II, p. 76, notes 3-4; Browe, p. 128; Colorni, GH ebrei, p. 36; Seyberlich, p. 73; Avi-Yonah, p. 248.