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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Novels
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A quick definition of Novels:
Novels are a bunch of rules made by a Roman emperor named Justinian and his friends. They are part of a bigger set of laws called the Corpus Juris Civilis. The Corpus Juris Civilis has four parts: the Institutes, the Digest, the Code, and the Novels. People use these laws to understand how to behave and what is right or wrong.
A more thorough explanation:
Novels refer to a collection of 168 constitutions that were issued by the Roman emperor Justinian and his successors. These constitutions are one of the four parts that make up the Corpus Juris Civilis, which is the body of civil law compiled and codified under the direction of Justinian in A.D. 528-556.
The Novels are also known as Novellae or Novellae Constitutiones. They were added to the Corpus Juris Civilis after the initial compilation of the Institutes, the Digest (or Pandects), and the Code.
For example, one of the Novels issued by Justinian was the Novella 50, which dealt with the rights of women in marriage and inheritance. This Novel illustrates how the Novels were used to update and expand upon the existing laws in the Corpus Juris Civilis.
Overall, the Novels are an important part of Roman law and provide insight into the legal system of the time.